We’ve gotten used to hanging out with each other through rectangles.
Thanks to video conferencing software, most employees are no longer bound to their office buildings to get work done. No matter where we are, we can still collaborate with colleagues and contribute to meetings.
While plenty of corporate telecommunications apps have been launched in the last couple of decades, Skype remains a well-known name. As a part of the Microsoft collaboration tools, millions of people across the world use it every single day.
Skype is a free telecommunications software widely used for teleconferencing and remote work. Its platform provides video and voice calls, instant messages, conference calls, and file exchange.
Skype history takes us back to August 2003, when Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis launched its beta version. Skype was initially called Skyper, which was an abbreviation of Sky-Peer-to-Peer. The first public version of the application only allowed PC to landline calls on a fee schedule.
Better versions followed the initial 0.90 beta version, the most important of which was version 2.0, released in 2005. The new version revolutionized the internet calling industry, and Skype quickly gained popularity. In the same year, eBay acquired Skype for $2.5 billion and later backed off in 2008 after being dissatisfied with the investment.
Skype continued releasing new features like improved video calling and screen sharing in the newer versions in the following years. In 2010-2011, Skype made its way to the mobile marketplace. In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for a whopping $8.5 billion, further boosting the application's expansion.
Today, Skype remains one of the most popular telecommunication software, with more than 300 million monthly active users.
Since its inception in 2003, Skype has been one of the most successful video conferencing platforms because of the exceptional technology that goes behind connecting people.
At its core, Skype works on a shared technological architecture. Let's look into the different technologies and detail of how Skype works.
Getting started with Skype is quick and easy: just create an account on Microsoft. Then, download the application available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android or check out their web application.
To download Skype on your desktop or mobile, follow the steps below.
For a more personalized experience, you can also select different languages from the drop-down menu on the bottom left of the page.
Skype is available to download for both Android and iOS, and the website gives you the option to download the application on mobile via Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Scan the QR code displayed in the download window for a quicker download.
You can also open Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search for Skype to download the application on your Android, tablet, iPhone, or iPad. Click on install and launch the app. Sign in to start using Skype.
The drop-down menu in the Get Skype window features Mac, Windows, and Linux. It ensures that Skype functions properly in your operating system. Select your device from the list and start downloading.
Select Get Skype for Mac on the drop-down menu. Once downloaded, choose applications as your install location. Next, click on the Skype icon to run it. Log in using your Microsoft account info.
Select Get Skype for Windows on the drop-down menu for Windows 10 and older. Once downloaded and installed, double-click on the application to run it.
Did you know? Skype is also available to download for Alexa and Xbox. From the Download Skype window, scroll down to Looking for another device? section and select your desired device to begin.
Setting up Skype requires a device and a stable internet connection. Once you’ve installed the application, you’ll provide basics about yourself, such as name, email, and password, to create a new account. Customize your profile by adding more information, and then start enjoying high-quality audio and video chat.
The process of creating a Skype account is straightforward. Follow these steps to create an account.
Whether you made your account in middle school using an embarrassing name or you’re just looking to make a slight update to match your professional image, you can use the following steps to change your Skype name.
What is Skype ID?
Skype ID displayed as Skype name in your profile is a unique identifier given to you upon creating an account. It is helpful in searching for people and quickly adding them as contacts. Unlike Skype display name, Skype ID can not be changed.
How to find Skype ID?
To find your ID navigate to the Skype profile section by clicking on your display picture. You'll find some characters written next to Skype name, displayed as live:.cid.{string of letters and numbers}. That is your Skype ID. Click on it to copy the ID and share it with people.
When you create your Skype account, the email address you provide becomes your primary email associated with the account. It’s used for important communications from Skype, like account notifications, verification, billing information, and password reset requests.
If you no longer have access to the primary email address or want to change it to a different email, follow the instructions below:
You can also add multiple email addresses by clicking add email address.
Note: Changing your primary email address does not affect your contacts or conversation history.
Your profile picture on any application is an important aspect of your account. It makes it easy for other people to find you. By default, Skype uses a silhouette for your profile picture. To change it, follow the steps below:
Using Skype is quite intuitive. Add your contacts to your contact list by searching for their Skype name, number, or email address. Once your contacts have been added, you can go to their chat screen to make video calls, voice calls, or send instant messages. Skype also lets users share screens, record calls, and set customized ringtones to elevate user experience.
Read on to learn more about adding contacts, making calls, and using the other features below.
To chat with someone on Skype, you need to add them as a contact and wait for them to accept your invitation. However, in the paid version, you can even call or text people who don’t have a Skype account.
Follow the steps below to find people on Skype and add them as contacts.
Blocking a contact prevents them from sending you messages, calling, or checking your online activity. To avoid any further communication from a contact, follow the steps here.
Using the unblocking feature, you can restore communication with a contact. You’ll need to launch Skype on your computer or phone and sign in. Once you’ve done so, it’s time to learn how to unblock a user.
Skype is a reliable and cost-effective way to connect with friends or business associates. It allows you to make video and voice calls anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
You can make a call using your desktop, mobile, or laptop using these steps.
One of the more popular Skype features is screen share, which allows users to collaborate efficiently by sharing their screen on a call. Although Skype has rolled out different versions of its program for personal or professional use, all versions allow users to access the screen share feature.
Call recordings are very helpful in cases when you miss taking the minutes of a meeting or want to review an interview to prepare better for the next round. The built-in call recording feature works on desktops and mobile phones.
All participants are notified of the call recording once initiated. The maximum duration for recording is 24 hours, and the call recording is available to download from the chat for 30 days.
To record a Skype call on a desktop, follow the steps below:
Group calls are convenient for sharing a common message with a bunch of people, whether you’re hosting a business meeting, brainstorming ideas with your team, or connecting with family members. Skype lets users communicate with up to 100 people at a time using the group call feature. Participants can even share their screens and send instant messages during the call.
Follow the steps given below to call a new group.
You can create a group beforehand and use the video and voice call icons on the chat screen above to call the group.
With Skype’s meeting feature, it’s easy to schedule a meeting with your peers in advance and set a reminder, as well. You can add the date, time, agenda, and other information about the meeting before sending an invitation.
To schedule a meeting, go through these steps.
Skype provides a convenient way to send voice messages to your contacts, whether they’re online or offline. Voice messages are great for when you are on the go and can’t make a call or send a text. The voice message feature allows recording up to five-minute voice notes, which the recipient can listen to at their convenience.
To send a voice message:
Calling someone on their mobile or landline is a premium feature. It’s available through Skype credit or a subscription. To call a phone number through Skype, walk through these steps.
Although Skype is a great video conferencing software for businesses and individuals to use, there may come a time when you no longer need an account if you end up with duplicate accounts or if you don’t need video conferencing anymore.
The steps for deleting a Skype account are more convoluted than most and can be pretty frustrating. This is because your Skype account is directly linked to your Microsoft account, so deleting your Skype account will also remove access to your Outlook inbox, OneDrive documents, and other accounts tied to Microsoft.
Follow these steps to delete your Skype account:
To uninstall Skype on your Android device, go to the application manager under settings, search for Skype, and tap uninstall. On an iOS device, simply press and hold the Skype icon until a drop-down menu appears. Tap Remove App. In the next screen, tap Delete App to confirm.
Follow the steps below to uninstall Skype on Windows and Mac.
Skype for Business is an enterprise-oriented version of Skype with additional features, room for more people in meetings, enterprise-grade security, employee account management, and integration with other Office applications.
What is Skype for Business pricing?
Skype itself is a free video-conferencing tool with no premium plans. However, Skype for Business offers two basic plans for small businesses. The first one charges $2 per month for each user. The second plan costs $5.50 per month of service.
As per Microsoft, Teams is set to replace Skype for Business as the new business communication solution.
Microsoft Teams is a team communication tool that hosts up to 1000 participants in meetings. Users can record calls, transcript meetings, and chat in real-time with an individual or a group. It offers an additional cloud storage of 5 GB and can be integrated with 700+ ERPs. Microsoft Teams is available as a free trial or can be purchased on your Microsoft license.
Skype for Business is an advanced version of Skype built for enterprises. This version can host up to 250 participants and integrate with other Microsoft Office applications. Skype for Business offers enterprise-grade security to the users, along with other features like real-time chat, automated transcription, meeting broadcast, call recording, hand raising, and more. The most basic plan (Online plan 1) costs $2 per month for each user.
No matter how fast or reliable your internet connection might be, Skype encounters audio or video glitches at times. The hurdles happen due to trouble in the hypertext transmission protocol (HTTP) or network breakdowns. But mostly, a poor internet connection is the culprit for the constant application freezing. Other common issues include app crashes and connectivity issues.
Check out the Skype support page for more troubleshooting information.
Try updating the application to the latest version and then closing other applications that may be slowing your system down.
These adjustments can help if your Skype keeps crashing while making a call.
In most cases of Skype installation on Windows, Skype is configured to launch upon starting the system. To stop Skype from starting automatically, follow the steps below.
Skype provides free Skype-to-Skype video and audio calls for people anywhere in the world. Users can also share files, send audio notes, and use chat for free by creating an account. Only premium services like voicemail, texting, and calling phone numbers come with a fee.
You can have up to 100 people join in a Skype video call for free for 24 hours.
To turn off notifications for a chat, follow the steps below.
To edit a message you’ve sent, hover over it and click on the three dots next to the message. Select edit from the menu and make changes as required. Hit send.
To access Skype via the web, go to web.Skype.com. Sign in using your Microsoft account and start calling or using the messenger from your browser.
To change your Skype password, follow the steps below.
With the increase in remote work, the need for video conferencing software has followed suit. Zoom is another known teleconferencing software for communication and collaboration. While it shares similar features with Skype, like audio and video conferencing, screen sharing, and file sharing, noteworthy differences exist. Let’s keep reading to understand more about the differences between Skype and Zoom.
*Available with Zoom’s paid plan.
**Can increase with paid plan.
***Available with paid plan.
Collaboration is essential to the success of any project. Skype enables you to connect with your peers from around the world with the convenience of a click.
Boasting a user-friendly interface and robust features, like video calls, voice calls, instant messaging, and file sharing, you can communicate and share ideas more efficiently.
Learn about other team collaboration tools to boost productivity and achieve better results.