Is there life without Skype? Five alternative messengers. Find Skype on your computer - install and configure the program
China is considered the country with the most severe laws restricting freedom on the Internet.
And here in China November 21, 2017 Apple company announced its decision to remove Skype from the Chinese AppStore. The laws of the country are to blame.
Grounds for blocking
Apple has received an official letter from the Department of Security stating that this application violates the law of the land. The same applies to all VOIP applications.
Company representatives say that this is a temporary measure and work is now underway to return Skype to the market as soon as possible. However, the Skype owners themselves do not provide such information about the return. Although the application cannot be downloaded from any service, it is already installed applications- they work.
Causes
Why is Skype banned in China? It is believed that such blocking is an indicator of the Chinese authorities, who are not happy with the fact that Skype in China uses algorithms that will prevent them from receiving any information about users.
How things really are
Is there really Skype in China? On this moment Skype cannot be downloaded in any of the application stores (neither for Android nor for iOS), but for those who already have it installed, it still works. However, what will happen next in 2018 is not yet known. Most likely, Skype will continue to be banned in China.
Other applications are also banned
Since 2003, the so-called “Great Firewall of China” has been operating in the country, which limits the work of large social networks and instant messenger clients.
Skype is now not the only messenger blocked in China.
Those banned also include WhatsUp, facebook, twitter, telegram, line, Snapchat and gmail.
Very often, such resources become blocked for the reason that users may not register under real names and enter unrealistic data, maintain anonymity, which, according to the Chinese government, should not be the case. All providers in the country must require only real information from subscribers and provide it to the government if necessary.
The laws of the country are also Lately imposed restrictions on television broadcasts, on the use of some software(in particular vpn), as well as the amount of allowed time that children spend playing on the computer.
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 Skype login found in contact information for online stores and on business cards almost as often as a mobile phone number. But for now, ordinary people are taking full advantage of popular application, a more advanced audience that worked with it back in the days when no one knew what a “Skype headset” was, is already looking for an alternative. After takeover popular messenger Microsoft Corporation introduced advertising in the program, and not so long ago it became known that support would be stopped within the next couple of months outdated versions Skype.
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 to implement correct operation programs when accessing the network from multiple devices. No one doubts that there are other reasons why Microsoft is uncomfortable with the old Skype versions, but we can only guess about them. However, the main thing is that very soon users of Skype 6.13 for Windows and more earlier versions, as well as Skype 6.14 for Mac and older releases simply will not be able to use the program. When trying to log in from old version The application will prompt you 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 the many years of its development the application has received a lot of functions that can be used on various devices: on 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. However, messengers working simultaneously on mobile devices and computers, there are, and that’s what we’ll talk about today.
Jitsi - for now only for desktop
The developers of most modern instant messengers rely on support for popular mobile platforms, and desktop systems pay much less attention. In this regard, Jitsi - unique program, because it works on all popular desktop platforms, but only Android is supported on mobile platforms, and even then only in alpha mode. Almost complete absence support for mobile devices is offset 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 ones, chat available, the ability to show your screen. Secondly, Jitsi is not just free program, she also has 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: Yes, audio is transmitted using the Opus codec, supported Google accounts, Facebook and others popular networks, 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 located in 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 simple registration on the website jit.si, then enter your details account XMPP (login is specified 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, it supports echo elimination, noise reduction, temporarily muting the microphone, holding a call, and simultaneous voice chat with multiple interlocutors.
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. First Viber version was released for the iPhone, but today you can use the messenger on almost all platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, half-forgotten BlackBerry OS, Series 40, Symbian and Bada. And since last year, Viber also works on desktops Windows platforms, Mac OS X and Linux, however, 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 - just like in the one-on-one mode. voice communication, 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 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 account Viber recordings 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 accounts Facebook posts and Twitter - then the list of contacts 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, one can note the ability to block numbers, automatic removal 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 panel Windows tasks. Authorization on all devices, of course, occurs through the account Google entry. 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, — displays 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 transfer files like in Skype. Perhaps someday the developers will also integrate their service with Hangouts “ Google Drive", 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 slow connection With the Internet, video calls in Hangouts work even better than in Skype.
Mobile Hangouts versions integrated with SMS (if the user has enabled this feature), thanks to which the application shows a general chat for text messages and those sent through the application.
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 high level security. So high that for hacking the protocol they offered 200 thousand dollars in virtual Bitcoin currency, but no one has earned them like that 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 all methods of communication text chat. 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 snippet google maps, attach images, send voice messages and videos up to 1 GB 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 remote server and therefore are accessible from any device on which you are logged in with your 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 - group chats are provided to discuss issues that require the presence of more people. 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 opening a window group chat You can see the total number of participants, and also find out how many of them are currently online.
In addition to regular chats, Telegram also offers private chats 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, communicating in secret chat, you can set the time after which messages will be automatically deleted from the sender's and recipient's devices. However, secrecy also reverse side: 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 currently online.
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 details Facebook account or ooVoo account.
ooVoo for Windows is more functional than mobile applications. So, in the desktop client you can send any files (to mobile version- only photos and videos), record calls and video messages, watch videos on YouTube with friends, transfer a picture from your desktop.
Unfortunately, ooVoo has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. The main one is annoying advertising, which appears on both computers and mobile devices. You can remove it by going to paid version 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 considered alternatives, the most worthy solution seemed to be Google service Hangouts - 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 your desktop, and mobile communication voice - Viber.
How to call from Skype to landlines and mobile phones
To call from Skype to landline or mobile phone
, there must be funds in the account, then in Skype itself we dial the phone number, the phone number needs to be dialed like this: “country code” → “area code” → “number”
For example, if you need to call Moscow, then dial the country code +7, city code 495, subscriber number 5555555, so the number turns out to be +74955555555
Commitment toll call Skype on landlines and mobile phones
1
) Go to the “Dial a number” tab.
2
) Enter the subscriber's phone number with the country code.
3
) Press big green button to call.
To make calls to landlines phone numbers you need to top up your balance.
Make free calls to other Skype subscribers
Calls from Skype to Skype are free, to call other subscribers you need
1
) In the contact tab, select the user you want to call, after adding him.
2
) Click right click to this user and select Call from the menu or press the round green button.
3
) After ending the call, press the round red “End call” button.
To find a caller and add to your contact list, select Tools → Add Contact. Another way is to use the button on the panel of Skype itself. In the new search window that opens, you can search for friends by name, or using other information, you can call the found subscribers, make calls from Skype to Skype for free.
How to make Skype calls for free
Dear users, please remember that free cheese only happens in a mousetrap! And in Skype Not all for free as it seems at first glance. Free call
You can only do it from computer to computer, you have to pay for the rest. To call from Skype to regular phone
, need to buy Skype Credit
But the calls Skype users, no matter where they are, they don’t cost a penny.
First, you need to find people you know who use Skype and add them to your contact list. Once you add your friends, calling them will be easy.
Why can't I call a landline or mobile number?
To call a mobile number, you need to have Skype Credit. Then you can call the number listed in the profile of one of your contacts, or dial any number on the Skype dialer.
If you still cannot make a call, try to find a solution to the problem using this table.
| Action | Description |
|
Do you have enough credit in your Skype account? |
To start a call, you must have enough credit in your Skype Credit to cover at least one minute of call time. You can also look at the tariffs to find out how much a minute of a call will cost. If your Skype Credit doesn't have enough credit for an upcoming call, you'll need to top it up. |
|
Is the number dialed correct? |
Make sure you are dialing the correct number. Remember to select your destination country from the drop-down menu or enter “+” and the country code and only then enter the desired number. |
|
Does it support Skype required do you need the number? |
Unfortunately, in some countries there are numbers that cannot be called from Skype. In particular, the recruitment of certain paid numbers, as well as certain numbers in some countries and regions, and cannot be called from Skype. |
|
Can't call any one specific number? |
Due to the instability of public dial-up telephone networks(OKTS) it is not always possible to guarantee the quality and reliability of calls via Skype. The problems that arise are usually temporary. If you can't get through to a specific number, try again later. |
The Skype service needs no introduction - it is one of the oldest and, at the same time, one of the most famous instant messengers. Thanks to Skype, millions of people communicate with each other every day, even while thousands of kilometers apart. Skype supports voice and video calls, instant text messaging, and high-speed file transfer directly between interlocutors.
But sometimes there are so many programs installed on the computer that you literally forget whether this or that application is on the system or not. To find in Skype on computer, you can use standard tools Windows search and also try to check standard folders, where Skype is installed by default. If the application still cannot be found, then you can simply install it again - it takes two minutes, after which you can immediately start communicating with other users.
Quick navigation through the article
Search
Installed on Skype on computer usually starts automatically after turning on the computer. This means that the taskbar or notification area should have green icon program, if it is running. If there is no icon, you should use the search tool in Windows 7 (and latest Windows 10), which allows you to search for all programs on your computer, regardless of where they are installed. The task is also simplified by the fact that when Skype is installed, it creates its own shortcut in Start, and finding it is not difficult. The user will only need:
- Open Start.
- Click on the search bar.
- Enter the word “Skype” there.
- Study search results.
If the search shows Skype icon– everything is fine, the application is installed on the computer and you can use it by simply double-clicking and launching the program. You can also move the shortcut to your desktop or another folder for convenience.
If the search does not produce results, then you can try to open the “C:Program Files (x86)SkypePhone” folder yourself, where the executable should be located Skype file. You can also create a shortcut to it on your desktop and use it at any time to quick launch programs.
Installation
If the program could not be found using the methods described above, you should install Skype on your computer by downloading it from the official website. To do this, you will need to open an Internet browser (a program for viewing Internet pages) and enter address bar address skype.com, and then press the “Enter” button.
Once on the official website of the service, you should click on the “Download Skype” link and download the version for Windows. After downloading the file, you just need to run it and confirm the installation. When launched, the program will require you to log in - enter your username and password. If an account has not been created previously, you can register it directly from the program window using the appropriate link. Will need to be filled out simple form and indicate a valid address Email, and then use the data specified during registration to log in to the program itself.
Now the time has come to tell you what Skype is and how to use it. We will also look at the main functions of Skype. In the century information technologies, telephone conversations do not allow people to fully satisfy their communication needs. Without virtual communication in its various manifestations, nowhere. Of course, both remedies have their strengths and weak sides and successfully coexist with each other. The main disadvantage of telephone communication is its cost. Especially if we're talking about about long-distance conversations, and even more so if about long-distance calls on a cell phone. Here virtual method conversations is significantly ahead of the opponent.
After good old email, the most popular means of communication on the Internet is exchange instant messages. One of the common means used for communication is - Skype service. The project began its existence back in 2003. The first versions attracted users with the ease of installation and account registration. Today it is used all over the world for business and personal communication. The number of registered accounts is more than half a billion.
Download Skype
To work with the system, you need to install the system client on your computer - Skype program. Download installation file you can do it for free, and don’t forget about the page on my blog, which is located. Skype stores the message history, contact list and other information not on the user’s computer, but on its server. Thanks to this, you don’t have to worry about losing them due to problems like reinstallation operating system and others. Also it does convenient work on several computers, for example, as is usually the case, at home and at work.
Skype allows you to communicate in four ways. But with any of them, before starting a conversation, you need to find an interlocutor in the system. This can be easily done using a unique ID, name or email address. Once found, the user is added to your contact list, after which it will be easy to resume communication. You will also see the status of the added user (“Online”, “Offline”, “Away”, “Do not disturb”). 
The first and most common is instant exchange text messages. IN this mode you can create multi-user chats with a large number of participants or chat one-on-one. To add users to a conversation, you need to click the “Conversations” - “Add people” button in the menu.
After this, a window will appear in which you can select users from your contact list. You can also transfer files in this mode. Should not be transmitted large files(more than 50 MB), since the program is not intended for this and the procedure is not performed effectively enough for a large volume. This function assumes fast transfer small files like photographs text documents, so to speak, without breaking away from the conversation. But I’ll tell you a secret, I was able to transfer files of almost 100 megabytes in size via Skype. 
The second method is voice communication. This means that if your computer is connected acoustic speakers and a microphone (or you have a laptop), then you can call your interlocutor using Skype. In this case, you will communicate in real time as you would on the phone. In this case, you can minimize the program window and continue doing your business at the computer. This can be very convenient when you need to explain to a friend how to use a program. The convenience is that you can open this program on both computers at the same time and study without being distracted by typing. In this mode you can also organize conferences. But the number of its participants is limited.
A separate sub-item can be called very convenient opportunity sharing your screen with your interlocutor. This function can be useful in the learning situation already mentioned above, or if your interlocutor is helping you solve a problem with your computer. To activate this feature during a voice call, you need to click in the “Calls” menu - “Screen sharing...”.
The third method of communication is video calling. With this method of communication, you not only hear, but also see the interlocutor, and he you. Naturally, for this your computers must be equipped with web cameras. Up to 5-10 people can participate in a video conference. During video and voice communication, the ability to send text messages and files also works. This can be useful for sending difficult to pronounce phrases, such as web links.
Fourth – calls to landlines. In order to use it, you need to credit money to your virtual account. To do this, click on the “Skype” menu - “Deposit money to your Skype account...”. Tariffs for calls to landlines from Skype are usually significantly more profitable than telephone calls.
But in each specific case (calling a landline or cellular telephone) you should always check the tariffs for a given country. Due to the peculiarities of legislation, the prices for Skype calls may be somewhat exaggerated. This function is very popular, and this is understandable given its convenience and benefits.
You can use Skype not only using a computer; there are also versions for phones and tablet computers.
So, we understand what Skype is, now we need to understand how to work with this program. I have already published information about this program on my blog several times. I think it will be useful to you:
News: Dear readers of the site, soon there will be mega interesting interviews on the blog from the program developers themselves (who will be visiting is still a secret). Negotiations are currently underway, and after a while you will be able to learn a lot more about them than anyone else. One thing I can say for now is that most users have these programs installed.
Glitch in Skype.