Analogs of Skype for different devices. Five analogues of Skype

Skype company has been providing its users with the opportunity for free and unlimited time communication for several years now. During this time, the program was constantly updated and supplemented with new features. The developers of the Skype company did not let their fans down this time either. In July, the company updated its world-famous application. Now, all users of the service have the opportunity to exchange short video messages. This feature is available to all device users on most platforms that support Skype, including Windows 8, iOS, Mac, Android and BlackBerry. Let's take a closer look at all possible alternatives to Skype that are not inferior in functionality, and maybe even superior.

A new development is that video messages can be recorded for three minutes. Skype- this is an excellent service that helps you communicate and see your relatives who live far away, giving you the opportunity to be at least a little closer to them. But, unfortunately, no new technology can save us from overloaded everyday life, busy schedules and missed calls. This is where the need to introduce a new function manifests itself. Even if you missed a call from someone close to you, you will still see a familiar face and hear a familiar voice in a message that will wait for you for as long as you like.

There are, of course, a number of disadvantages that this innovation has, for example, a video letter cannot be sent to several subscribers; there is no way to share audio messages; The recorded audio clip cannot be saved in the memory of your gadget. Also, sent video messages, unlike text messages, cannot be canceled after sending. Despite the numerous discontent that was caused by Skype being caught in transferring confidential information about its users to the authorities, Skype still occupies a leading position in the Internet telephony market. If you decide not to look for a replacement for Skype, you can download Skype for free for Windows 7 on our website using a direct link.

The best alternative to Skype for computer and phone.

Analysts from the company Analysis Mason conducted an independent study which found that Skype is used by 79% of all Internet users. But, recently, new versions of the program have become less and less popular and are causing negative reviews. Some will wonder if there is alternative to Skype which can replace the outdated version of Skype.

Internet giant Google recently combined its services into one. Now, in order to take advantage of the many benefits of the search engine Google Hangouts You don't even need to install an additional program. This service is launched through a Chrome browser extension. The new service includes Gtalk chat, Gmail mail, and video communication service analogue of SkypeGoogle Voice.

Is ooVoo a real replacement for Skype?

ooVoo is another completely free application that can be replacement for Skype, but even if you don’t replace it completely, you will noticeably move “Skype”. The Oovoo program has many more different options when using video calling. The quality of the transmitted picture and sound is an order of magnitude higher than that of Skype. In addition, Oovoo users are given the opportunity to completely expand the conversation to the entire diagonal of the monitor. The application interface is also very convenient and easy to use.

One of the most convenient functions of the Oovoo program is the joint viewing of video information. That is, you can easily watch a movie or video remotely from each other at the same time and at the same time discuss it during the broadcast. The free version of the Oovoo service has a limit on group communication; the number of participants should not exceed 12 people. You can download the OoVoO program at

It would seem that choosing such a program is not a problem. But when it comes to adding a dozen new interlocutors to a conference, sharing the screen, recording a conversation or streaming on YouTube, it becomes clear that one or another function is missing. How not to make a mistake when installing a program for video calls from a computer, read our article.

Questions:

How to make free calls over the Internet?

How to send messages over the Internet?

How to register on Skype for the first time?

Other questions about communicating via the Internet

According to the results of our research by a wide margin Two applications are in the lead. Hangouts has the most universal functionality, but in terms of communication quality and ease of use - which is probably the most important thing - it is somewhat inferior to Skype.
In addition, the prevalence of programs must be taken into account. So, despite all its advancement, Hangouts has not yet been able to become the most used video calling application. In our opinion, the main reason for this is the focus on the web interface and, as a result, inconvenient management. In this regard, Skype definitely wins.

According to the authors, for full-fledged video communication at a distance using Skype, a PC with a dual-core processor and an Internet connection no slower than 512 kbps is enough. We also add that the developers from Microsoft decided to integrate the Skype application into Windows 10. And if everything suits you, you won’t have to look for alternatives.

Google Hangouts has replaced Google Talk. Windows users can use the web version of the application, available as an extension for common applications, or simply log into their GMail account in the Google Chrome browser.

If you have a Google account, working with this software is easier. You can start a call directly from Gmail or Google Plus. In Hangouts, you can create a group video conference for ten interlocutors, share the screen, chat, and take notes without minimizing the communication window. Plus, with Hangouts you can stream live content directly to YouTube. In general, there are so many functions that at first you even get a little confused.
Personally, our impression was also spoiled by the fact that establishing a connection from an application on a mobile platform to a user working with Hangouts in a browser is very problematic. Simply because the person may have another tab open and will not notice your call.

ooVoo is a popular free program for video calling from a computer. When compared with Skype, there are no fundamental differences in the level of communication. At the same time, this client program provides free group video chat in which up to 12 users can participate.

As for voice calls, a maximum of three people can communicate in this mode for free (you can connect up to six people, but for a fee). The Video Call Recording feature allows you to record a telephone or video conversation for free.
ooVoo is also actively expanding to tablets and smartphones. The ability to switch between interlocutors is also provided. The only drawback of the application is that it is not promoted. To be honest, during testing we personally liked the “picture” quality in ooVoo the most.

The program has become incredibly popular over the past few years. Millions of fans of comfortable online communication have managed to download Viber to their computers, although the majority of the application’s 450 million audience are mobile device users. The desktop version is often installed for video calls to acquaintances and friends who find themselves with a tablet or smartphone somewhere in nature or abroad.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to create a video conference in Viber. But during one-on-one video communication, you will not notice any “slowdowns”. Of course, provided that the Internet connection speed is good.

This messenger with support for video calls has gained great popularity in Asia and the USA. And recently, European users began to actively install it. And there is a reasonable explanation for this.

The application attracts with its minimalist interface and some options typical for social networks. So, you can view friends’ feeds, comment on photos and rate statuses. In addition, the program developers implemented the exchange of files of different formats. You can do this during a video session, as well as exchange messages.
Once launched, you will be able to import contacts from your mobile device and call anyone who also has LINE installed. It is noteworthy that the video call is available for recording, but there is a limit of no more than ten seconds.

In the latest version of ICQ, the developers have made a number of improvements in the quality of voice and video calls. The new engine on which the popular messenger runs will allow you to communicate in full screen mode, while VGA 640x480 resolution will be provided during video calls. But group video conferences on ICQ are not available.

To make a voice call, just one click is enough. But we can only talk for free with a user who also has an ICQ client installed. To make a call to a landline or mobile phone, you need to deposit money into a virtual account. As a rule, regular calls via ICQ occur without delays or interruptions.

Tango was designed primarily for mobile devices as a calling app for tablets, allowing users to call each other for free while connected to the Internet. The company thought about PC users only after releasing versions for Android and iOS.

It's easy to synchronize contacts from your phone with your computer - you just need to enter your phone number or email address. All that Tango for PC requires is Windows OS and a network connection with a speed of at least 4 Mbps. And, of course, a web camera and a headset (or speakers). I can't help but be pleased with the fact that to start Tango you don't need to create an account or log in.
This software will fit perfectly on most modern smartphones and communicators with front cameras. But on a PC you may be somewhat disappointed by the image quality during a video call.

How to improve the quality of communication?

During video calls, you may experience stuttering and stuttering. The reason for this is often not the speed of the Internet connection, but the processes running on the computer. Therefore, before making a video call, we recommend that you close all unnecessary applications. The same applies to browser tabs.
It also doesn’t hurt to clean your computer of components that “clog” the system. This can be done using optimizers such as or . To ensure security and high performance of your computer, we recommend installing an anti-virus suite equipped with tools for system optimization.

If you find interesting features in two or three programs at once, you can download them together. But be sure to keep in mind that such applications place a significant load on computer resources, so using them simultaneously is recommended only in exceptional cases.

Skype enjoys incredible popularity among users from all over the world. Most people can no longer imagine life without this communication service. However, in addition to Skype, there are other applications that can sometimes provide the user with even better quality services. This article focuses on some of these applications.

VSee

Provides a video conferencing service for sharing screen space. The principle of operation of the application practically repeats the well-known Skype. VSee has one serious advantage over Skype - better transmission of audio and video data. This is possible because the application uses less bandwidth. Another advantage of the application is the ability to share screen space with other users and use it for video conferencing.

The free version of the application gives the user unlimited group video calls.

Oovoo

Another free application that can, if not replace, then improve Skype. This program has much more possibilities when using video communication. Again, the quality of the transmitted sound and picture is an order of magnitude higher than Skype. In addition, the user is given the opportunity to expand the conversation screen to the entire diagonal of the monitor. The designers did their best here and made the interface as convenient as possible.

Probably the biggest feature of Oovoo, which also helps differentiate it from other competitors, is video call recordings and video messages. One of the features of Oovoo is the ability to record the entire video call and also send video messages. Another convenient feature of Oovoo is sharing information. That is, you can watch the film together remotely and discuss it during the broadcast. The free version of the Oovoo app limits group communication to 12 people.

Viber

The history of the application began with mobile platforms. The developers positioned their creation as a convenient voice communication service for mobile devices, but later rolled out the release to desktop platforms. Today Viber works great on Windows and Mac. In addition to being multi-platform, the application guarantees users high quality sound when making calls around the world. When installing Viber on a mobile device, the application is automatically synchronized with the built-in phone book and all your contacts will be available from the desktop the first time you launch it.

Similar apps

If for some reason you were unable to choose an alternative to Skype, then especially for you below we will present an expanded list of similar tools.

Convenient for making group calls. To communicate, you need to create a Google account. Recently available for Android OS users.

Convenient service for organizing video conferences.

A special tool that allows website developers to add the ability to make video calls to their resources.

A good alternative to Skype. Great opportunities for exchanging text messages.

All types of communication in one application with an integrated fax service.

The application is exclusively for users of Apple products. The quality of the transmitted video is at a high level.

A simple video chat service with no registration required. Limit of 12 people.

Conclusion

You probably already understood from the article that there are quite a few alternatives to the sometimes buggy Skype, but most likely, you didn’t even know about half of them. We may have helped you choose a communication client that is right for you.

You may or may not like Skype, but it is impossible to deny the popularity of this application. It is pre-installed on smartphones and laptops, even grandmothers and preschoolers use it, and the Skype login is found in contact information for online stores and on business cards almost as often as a mobile phone number. But while ordinary people are using the popular application with all their might, the more advanced audience, who worked with it back in the days when no one knew what a “Skype headset” was, is already looking for an alternative. After the takeover of the popular messenger by Microsoft, advertising appeared in the program, and not so long ago it became known that support for outdated versions of Skype would be stopped within the next couple of months.

In the official explanation, the developers explain this step by saying that older releases are incompatible with new messenger functions (for example, sending messages to contacts who are not online). In addition, if users are working with older versions, it is impossible for the program to work correctly when accessing the network from several devices. No one doubts that there are other reasons why Microsoft is not comfortable with older versions of Skype, but we can only guess about them. However, the main thing is that very soon users of Skype 6.13 for Windows and earlier versions, as well as Skype 6.14 for Mac and older releases, simply will not be able to use the program. When you try to log in from an old version of the application, you will be prompted to update the program, otherwise the connection will not be established.

When people are forced to do something, it invariably makes them want to abandon the service, no matter how familiar and convenient it may be. But finding an alternative to Skype is not easy, if only because over many years of its development the application has received a lot of functions that can be used on various devices: desktop computers and laptops, smartphones and tablets. And for most of us, giving up the usual app on a Windows computer means looking for an alternative on a mobile device. Although the problem is most likely with the desktop messenger. There are a lot of mobile applications for text messaging, VoIP telephony and video calls, but not all of them have versions for Windows. Most developers are focused on developing their products for mobile platforms. Nevertheless, there are instant messengers that work simultaneously on mobile devices and computers, and it is them that we will talk about today.

Jitsi - for now only for desktop

The developers of most modern instant messengers rely on supporting popular mobile platforms, and pay much less attention to desktop systems. In this regard, Jitsi is a unique program, since it works on all popular desktop platforms, but only Android is supported on mobile platforms, and even then only in alpha mode. The almost complete lack of support for mobile devices is compensated by a number of other advantages.

Firstly, in terms of basic functionality, Jitsi is not inferior to Skype - the same voice communication, video calls, including group calls, the presence of a chat, the ability to share your screen. Secondly, Jitsi is not just a free program, it is also open source. At the same time, it is quite secure, since all traffic is encrypted. Thirdly, the application has good compatibility with other open standards: for example, audio is transmitted using the Opus codec, Google, Facebook and other popular networks are supported, voice and video calls in Jitsi can be made through SIP and XMPP accounts.

The SIP protocol is convenient for communication between users who are on a local network. This method of communication does not require registration - just indicate your IP address and a custom login. And in order to make voice and video calls not only on the local network, you can use the free XMPP service from the Jitsi developers. To do this, you need to go through a simple registration on the jit.si website, and then enter your XMPP account information (the login is indicated in the format [email protected]).

Jitsi saves call history and allows you to keep track of missed calls. The application also allows you to transfer files - you just need to drag them into the application window. For voice calls, echo elimination, noise reduction, temporary microphone muting, call hold, and simultaneous voice chat with multiple interlocutors are supported.

Viber is useless without a smartphone

Viber is a project that has partially Belarusian roots. One of the founders of the messenger is Belarusian, and work on the application is being carried out in Brest, as well as in Israel. The first version of Viber was released for the iPhone, but today you can use the messenger on almost all platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, the forgotten BlackBerry OS, Series 40, Symbian and Bada. And since last year, Viber also works on the desktop platforms of Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, although with some reservations, which are discussed below.

Viber supports all the usual Skype functions: you can chat with friends (up to a hundred people can be in one chat at the same time), and also make calls - both in voice mode and with video. True, video calls currently only work in desktop versions of the application, and even then in beta mode.

If you want to use Viber as an alternative to Skype on the desktop, do not forget that this application was initially developed as a mobile one. This is why registration from the desktop client is not possible. To become a Viber user, you must first install the application on your smartphone. A phone number is used for authorization; the same number must then be entered in the desktop client. After this, an activation code will be sent to Viber mobile, which must be entered in the desktop program. Moreover, if you log out of your Viber account in the mobile application, the desktop version will immediately stop working.

Viber desktop picks up the list of contacts from your mobile phone and displays them in the main window. If you wish, you can also connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts - then your contact list will become even larger.

Those people who use Viber will be marked in the contact list with a special icon - you can call them or chat for free. You can also call other contacts, but using the paid Viber Out function. If you install Viber on two or more devices, the application will synchronize all messages between clients. If a message is deleted on one device, it will also be deleted on the other.

Viber offers quite a lot of ways to express yourself. When chatting from a mobile device, you can use not only words and the usual emoticons, but also stickers.

In addition, you can record funny animated videos directly in the application and send them to your interlocutors.

It is also possible to record regular voice messages, send video files and photos stored on the device, and send location information. You can also make drawings and send them to the chat. For desktop clients, it works to send emoticons, stickers, and photos that are stored on the computer.

Among the numerous settings of the application, we can note the ability to block numbers, automatically delete old multimedia files from the device, the ability to hide yourself from the Viber network, free reply to SMS via Viber (if the client is installed on the respondent).

Google Hangouts- video in browser

Google's communication service is integrated into various web services of the company, and also exists in the form of separate mobile applications for Android and iOS, and on Android devices the client is preinstalled by default. From your desktop, you can communicate via Hangouts from Gmail and Google+. There is also an extension for Google Chrome that adds a mini-app directly to the Windows taskbar. Authorization on all devices, of course, occurs through a Google account. At the same time, all events are synchronized between devices: if you missed a video meeting, you will see a message about this on all your devices, as well as the history of negotiations in a text chat.

It's also interesting that Hangouts syncs notification settings across devices. If, for example, your computer has turned on blocking notifications about incoming messages for three hours, then during this time the smartphone will also be silent.

Another feature that will be convenient for those who use Hangouts on different devices is the display of information about which device is currently active. The status can also show information that the user is currently talking to someone.

Using Hangouts, you can send text messages, location information, and photos to your interlocutors (on mobile devices you can take a photo from the application or select one from the gallery). Unfortunately, there is no convenient way to transfer files, like in Skype. Perhaps someday developers will also integrate their Google Drive service with Hangouts, but for now you can only upload images and videos.

On any device, you can start a video meeting, in which up to one hundred people can participate simultaneously. During a video call, the participant who is currently speaking is displayed in a large window, and the others are displayed in a feed of small windows located at the bottom of the screen. On a slow Internet connection, video calls in Hangouts work even better than Skype.

Mobile versions of Hangouts are integrated with SMS (if the user has enabled this feature), allowing the app to show general chat for text messages and those sent through the app.

Hangouts for Chrome has a spartan interface. The application is presented in the form of a separate small window, and also adds its own icon to the notification area (its display can be disabled). At the user's request, it can be launched automatically when the browser starts.

Telegram - only a chat, but safe

Telegram is the youngest of the messengers in our review; the oldest of its clients is not even a year old. Nevertheless, the number of its active users in the spring exceeded 35 million. Behind the promising project is the well-known Pavel Durov, who is investing money in it. Thanks to such powerful support, the application does not have any paid functions, as well as advertising (and, as the developers promise on the official website, it will not appear, since this project is not focused on making a profit).

Telegram is being developed by another Durov, Nikolai, who is Pavel’s older brother. Especially for the service, Nikolay created a special message transfer protocol called MTProto, which provides a high level of security. So high that for hacking the protocol they offered 200 thousand dollars in the virtual currency Bitcoin, but no one has earned it yet.

Like other mobile instant messengers, Telegram uses a mobile phone number as a login. It receives an SMS with an authorization code. If Telegram is used on multiple devices, you need to keep in mind that the first time you log in from new equipment, you will need to enter a verification code. Therefore, the phone number used for registration must be kept at hand. Interestingly, when authorizing on a new device, a message is sent to already activated devices for security purposes. In addition, in the application settings it is possible to remotely terminate all application sessions except the current one.

Telegram will be interesting for those Skype users who prefer text chat to all methods of communication. There are no VoIP telephony functions, as well as video calls, in Telegram (and are not planned yet). The app offers text messaging and also gives you the ability to send location information as a Google map tile, attach images, send voice messages and send videos up to 1GB in size. You can record a voice message, as well as take a photo or video for your interlocutor, right there, without leaving the chat window.

All forwarded messages are stored on a remote server and are therefore accessible from any device on which you are logged in with a service account. And there can be a lot of such devices, because Telegram officially supports iOS and Android, and also has unofficial clients for Windows Phone, Windows Desktop, Linux and Mac, works as an application for Google Chrome and as a web application in the browser.

You can communicate in Telegram not only with one person - to discuss issues that require the presence of more people, group chats are provided. Up to two hundred people can take part in such a chat, and not only the creator of the group, but also everyone who has already been invited to it can invite new participants. When you open a group chat window, you can see the total number of participants, as well as find out how many of them are currently online.

In addition to regular chats, Telegram also offers private ones with an increased level of security. During communication, data is sent directly between two devices, and the correspondence history does not remain on the remote server. Moreover, when communicating in a secret chat, you can set a time after which messages will be automatically deleted from the devices of the sender and recipient. However, secrecy also has a downside: in the name of security, you will have to sacrifice the ability to access messages from other devices, the function of forwarding messages to other people, and the ability to send messages to subscribers who are not online at the moment.

ooVoo - video calling, but with advertising

Another app that you can consider as an alternative to Skype is ooVoo. Its main advantages are support for both desktop and major mobile platforms (iOS, Android, Windows Phone), as well as the ability to make video calls on all supported devices. Moreover, making video calls is the main purpose of the service, and a lot of attention is paid to this function. The transmitted video can be equipped with various special effects that are applied on the fly.

Up to 12 people can communicate in a video chat at the same time, and not all of them must be users of the service. If you want to chat with those who do not have the ooVoo app installed, you can generate a link to a video chat. Those who receive this link will be able to join the video conference directly in the browser by entering their Facebook or ooVoo account details.

The ooVoo program for Windows is more functional than mobile applications. So, in the desktop client you can send any files (in the mobile version - only photos and videos), record calls and video messages, watch videos on YouTube with friends, and transfer a picture from your desktop.

Unfortunately, ooVoo has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. The main one is annoying advertising that appears on both computers and mobile devices. You can remove it by switching to the paid version of the service, which also includes the function of storing up to 1000 minutes of video on the service’s servers (remember that you can send videos up to 1 GB in size to Telegram for free).

⇡ Conclusion

Well, today it is hardly possible to find a messenger that is not inferior to Skype in functionality and convenience. Among the alternatives considered, the Google Hangouts service seemed to be the most worthy solution - there are no ads here, and video works well on mobile platforms, and you don’t even need to register specifically, and the contact list is loaded from Gmail. However, other programs may also be suitable - it all depends on which Skype functions you use most often and on what devices you are used to communicating. For example, Telegram is perfect for chat correspondence, Jitsi is perfect for voice and video calls from a desktop, and Viber is perfect for mobile voice communication.

Capable of becoming a worthy alternative to Skype.

In June, Skype updated its application. Now users of the service will be able to exchange short video messages; the function is available to users on most Skype-supporting platforms, including Windows 8, Mac, iOS, Android and BlackBerry. But what alternatives are there to a service that is outdated and late in delivering useful updates?

Skype video messages can be recorded up to three minutes long. “Skype helps people be closer to each other, but no technology can save you from overloaded schedules and missed calls,” this is how the service’s administration explained the need for the new function.

Meanwhile, the update raises more questions among users than joy. Thus, one video message cannot be sent to several recipients at once. Users still cannot share audio messages or videos from the memory of a smartphone or tablet. The recorded audio clip cannot be saved in the gadget’s memory. Finally, sent video messages, unlike text messages, cannot be canceled once sent.

The update, as critics of Skype and its mentor Microsoft rightly note, looks hastily and sloppy. All applications for Skype have recently become more and more cumbersome, and complaints against Microsoft, the owner of the service, began to be heard especially often after the company was convicted of transferring information about its subscribers to the authorities of the United States (and, possibly, other countries).

Skype still holds the lead in the Internet telephony market. According to a study conducted by telecom analysts at Analysis Mason at the end of last year, Skype is used by 79% of all users of VoIP applications and 16% of the total number of respondents of the total number of Internet users. But isn't it time to look for a replacement for the usual service? Moreover, there are really a lot of competitors on the market now. And almost each of them has significant advantages in comparison with the “monopoly”.

Google Hangouts. This year, the Internet giant Google combined its communication services - Gtalk chats, Gmail mail and Google Voice voice and video communication service - into one, Google Hangouts. Now, in order to use all this variety, you don’t even need to install a separate program on your computer: the service is launched through a special extension for the browser - Chrome or any other.

If you need to arrange a small video conference, then this happens right on the Google+ page. The main advantage of the service is that the user can start a conference in one of his circles with those participants who are currently interested in it, and then, as the dialogue progresses, other users can join the conversation. In the same Skype, if you are not a participant in the discussion initially, then you cannot find out about it and join the conversation. Up to 10 people can participate in a video conference.

A distinctive feature of Hangouts is its thoughtfulness and technology. During a conversation, the speaker will be displayed in a large window, and all other participants will be displayed in small windows located below. If two people say something to everyone else at the same volume, Google will select and show only one of them in a large window.

Experience shows that images and videos are displayed just fine on average-power laptops and average channel widths, but only as long as the number of conference participants does not exceed five or six. Then freezes and distortion of the picture are possible.

Apple FaceTime. An excellent service for video communication, however, available exclusively to users of Cupertino corporation equipment - Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod. Data from the App Store, an online application store, is used as login and password for authorization. The mobile version of FaceTime is distinguished by absolute minimalism, limited capabilities for fine-tuning and excellent quality of voice and picture transmission. The FaceTime mobile application loads much faster, works more clearly, and for unknown reasons it doesn’t crash offline once every half hour, which is what Skype constantly does. And here's another thing: when calling via Skype using mobile devices, there is almost always a slight lag between video and audio. FaceTime doesn't have this problem. This is obviously the highest quality service in terms of data transfer on the market today.

Viber is a wonderful, albeit young, service from Belarus, which was founded by two guys from Israel. However, the development of almost all the code for it is carried out in Minsk and Brest. Initially, Viber is aimed at users of smartphones and tablets, and this is its main advantage over Skype, which, after all, was originally conceived for PC architecture. Viber does not require registration: accounts are linked to a mobile phone number. It doesn't require you to search for friends: the program simply shows which of the people in your phone book have Viber installed, and offers to call them or send a free message - like SMS, only via the Internet.

In order to stay connected in Viber, the program does not even need to be launched: it always works in the background and consumes almost no traffic or smartphone battery resources. So you can use Viber in much the same way as we usually use mobile phones, but at the same time use exclusively the Internet for this. But the main advantage of the Belarusian-Israeli development is that it provides acceptable quality of voice communication even in conditions of completely poor Internet access speed. In order to clearly hear the interlocutor, using EDGE will be enough.

Recently, developers released a version of Viber for Windows and Apple OS X.

There are several disadvantages: you can only call other Viber users, there is no video calling.

Kakaotalk is a free cross-platform messenger that differs from others in its unusual fun design, excellent communication quality and availability exclusively for smartphone users. The creators believe that computers as a means of voice communication should be thrown aside long ago.

It works, like Viber, as if you can’t turn it off at all. At the same time, it allows you to exchange photos, videos, other files, conduct group video chats, use emoticons, send voice messages to the subscriber’s phone, etc. The main thing: there are functions of “sound filters” that allow you to distort your voice, making it funnier or giving it the desired intonation. KakaoTalk is a service for communicating exclusively with friends; it is distinguished by its “frivolity” in everything and the joy of using it. And here you can subscribe to newsletters of your favorite celebrities.

Jitsi. In March of this year, the official release of Jitsi 2.0, an open source SIP communicator, took place. Compared to Skype, this one of the most beloved programs among geeks encrypts all conversations using the ZRTP protocol - it is considered to be incredibly difficult to “open” it. Among the main innovations of Jitsi 2.0 are support for simultaneous multi-user video chat via XMPP, support for Outlook statuses and calls, a simple and elegant interface, fast loading and “lightweight” application, support for Opus and VP8 audio/video codecs with higher video quality compared to H. 264, which Skype uses. The number of chat participants is not limited in any way. But the main thing is that Jitsi has minimal requirements for data bandwidth - this means that good communication quality will be ensured even when only slow Internet is available.

As usual, there is only one downside: the development is new, and therefore is still popular only among geeks. There are few contacts in Jitsi yet. But this, by the way, is its main advantage: the intelligence services of all countries of the world are not yet paying attention to the unpopular service and its users.

ooVoo is a fairly convenient program for making video calls via a computer, a simple and affordable alternative to Skype. The service allows you to hold negotiations with six participants simultaneously, and such conferences can be organized directly from the company’s website, so there is no need to directly install a client for one-time calls from other people’s computers. ooVoo, like Skype, allows you to search for contacts, share files, chat, etc. The creators position the service as an alternative to the “overloaded Skype interface.” Plus, ooVoo is more stable: disconnections in it happen much less often. ooVoo is distributed free of charge, the interface is multilingual, Russian is supported.

In general, there are more than enough Skype alternatives for those who have fallen out of love (or have never loved) with this program. In this review, we deliberately did not touch upon messenger programs that combine multiple protocols on one platform. The same imo.im allows you to communicate via Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook and other services directly from the browser window. All you have to do is register. We would like to add on our own behalf: try, experiment, be inquisitive. Sometimes the traditional and most popular solutions are far from the best for you personally.