Microsoft has decided to shut Skype on May 5. They hope people will use Microsoft Teams instead.
I've been using Skype for years. I guess I will have to start using Google Voice for calls outside the US. How are their rates?
Any other sites that allow calls to landlines at cheap rates?
No need to mention What's app. Some of the people I will be calling only use landlines.
Thanks for this. I'm also a long-time Skype user. I use FaceTime more often now for family or I call direct and pay TMobile prices for international calls, but Skype has been my back-up for landline calls such as you mention.
I hope for good advice about Google Voice and other providers!
Thanks for the heads-up... Too bad - I've used Skype for years to call embassies and hotlines... Still have a positive balance there, apparently. As an alternative, I also have Viber - pretty much the same thing.
Oh no, we used Skype as recently as last summer for a time sensitive call to an airline. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/condor-airlines-glitch-and-customer-support-response
We do have a good T-Mobil international plan that gives us free cellular data but all calls are 25¢ per minute as opposed to Skype where calls to non Skype members are 2.3¢ per minute. With our call to an airline last summer we anticipated a long hold time and appreciated the inexpensive rate.
I’m waiting to see what other calling platforms are out there too. Thanks for posting this Frank II.
Wow, that is really the end of an era.
Mona,
We do have a good T-Mobil international plan that gives us free
cellular data but all calls are 25¢ per minute as opposed to Skype
where calls to non Skype members are 2.3¢ per minute. With our call to
an airline last summer we anticipated a long hold time and appreciated
the inexpensive rate.
Find WiFi and your TMobile WiFi calling service is free.
T-Mobile's and Google FI's free WiFi calling feature may not be available in some countries.
I looked at my Google Voice settings and the international charges are all over the place, so you'd have to check. For example, France landline is 1 cent per minute, a French mobile is 3 cents. That could be pricing specific to me, though.
Frank II, you beat me to it. Just saw the news. I had 2 Skype accounts, each w/ about $20 balance. Looks like I can't get a refund of the account balances, too bad. I just closed both accounts, it was kind of tricky to do, but I didn't want my account settings and my contact list to be sold to the some venture capitalists.
AT&T informed us in southeast Michigan that they will be removing all landlines by 2029. This also applies to other AT&T states except California.
T-Mobile's ... free WiFi calling feature may not be
available in some countries.
Maybe not russia (not that i would care)
Ukraine, yes.
Every EU country (certain in half and pretty sure with the rest), yes
UK, yes
Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina; yes
Albania, I think yes, don’t remember it not.
Turkey, yes
Australia, yes
Malaysia, yes
California, not sure.
Thank you for sharing, James!
Like I should have said, T-Mobile and GoogleFi free WiFi calls may not be available in all countries.
It may well be worth checking their respective web sites for a specific country you are planning to visit. Well, that - or rely on selective memories of fellow forum dwellers.
AT&T has these countries listed below as banning WiFi calling. For me using a local eSIM/SIM and WhatsApp or FaceTime allows me to call family while traveling overseas.
Wi-Fi Calling is restricted in the following countries: China, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Pakistan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
To use T-Mobile Wifi Calling, you have to set it up. it doesnt happen automatically. But it's not hard to set up.
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/wi-fi-calling-from-t-mobile#
Also be aware that calls from outside the US to the US are free when using wifi calling. However, calls from outside the US to a phone number outside the US are not free.
