The end of Skype

Skype is closing down in May.

This will include their VOIP service, which I use to phone home and for which I paid up to September - Microsoft has a poor reputation for refunding money.

I have read many accounts of people who paid for expensive services from Microsoft, only to be blocked and then refused refunds. I also read that they block about 1 million accounts per day - so they must get a huge income stream from that!

IMO, good riddance to a useless service by a useless company - however did they get away with providing a cr*p OS??? I know the answer, but still unbelievable.

Now I have to try new ways of phoning the UK and perhaps other companies might step into the gap.

 

mytello, I put 5 dollars in and still got 2.3 dollars in. Rang up the UK pension a few time no problem, it's an American company but Not sure about texting and it's cheap.
Cheap international calls from the Philippines - mytello.com

 

Thanks very much - I had already checked some alternatives and mytello (plus Rebtel) came out as strong possibilities. So it is really useful to have a favourable opinion from someone who has used mytello.

So if I give your name I already have $2.30 to spend? Great.

 

Does anyone have any comments on Viber?

 

I have no personal experience but as you come across as such a nice guy I decided to do some research for you.

The top rated is "Magic Wand Massager Rechargeable" - but at $130 on Amazon I think it's a bit stiff.

 

Oops! My bad. I thought you meant vibrators.

 

Skype is shutting down at the beginning of May, so I need another service to call to the US. I don't have a smartphone and anyway, I am located in cellphone dead zone, so I use my laptop. I have been using Skype to make a few phone calls to my bank each month to conduct personal business. Any suggestions or references are welcome.

 

Just download the new Teams on the skype page.All your contacts,numbers and your balance will be there for use after may 5..same service different name is all.Already did mine..took a few seconds

 

This may depend on the type of subscription you have - mine was monthly and as it renews on the 7th of the month, Microsoft ended it on April 7th and have not taken any money from my bank account. I have not yet seen any refund from them for the 6 months remaining on the yearly sum I paid for a UK-based phone number - it's anyone's guess if they will refund as it seems they are not a company that cares much about its customers. I think I may be able to receive calls (although that does not often work well) and they may use that as a justification to keep my fee until it expires in September.

They wrote on their website "Existing calling and Skype Number subscriptions will continue to automatically renew until April 3, 2025. After May 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free".

So the renewal until April 3 accords with my experience but I have no idea what this refers to "After May 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams Free". Who are these paid users? Maybe they are people who topped up a certain amount of credit and so are able to continue using that until it expires. But it seems certain that monthly subscribers have had it for any sub that expires after April 3.

 

Mytello was recommended by @jimeve and I will soon be using that. Does it work for the US?

Also, I once read about Google Voice but it seems to be available only for the US (and I think their friend Canada) - maybe you could research that.