Zoom, Skype Technical Q&A here:

[Qapla]

Our LDC had to use Skype before COVID but ended up with too many issues. Often, they had to have all cameras off except for the brother conducting due to bandwidth issues.

 

When they switched to Zoom, the band issues did not seem to cause the same problems, and it has been Zoom for groups and WhatsApp for two or three on a video call ever since.

[Pabo]

We used Skype before COVID for some years, as it allowed our hall to have multiple connections where our telephone line was limited to only two lines, where at times where needed more than 3 lines. We slowly were transitioning to show pictures and the song and videos, but we didn't use a camera. But Skype was a tad cumbersome to use, but when moving to Zoom, it was a breeze to use.

[More4me2do]

Skype will be no more as of May 5th.

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

6 hours ago, More4me2do said:

Skype will be no more as of May 5th.

That's the day after May 4th. 🤷‍♂️

[Pabo]

20 minutes ago, ➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone said:

That's the day after May 4th. 🤷‍♂️

 

So Microsoft is on the dark side then. 

 

Edited March 12 by Pabo

[Qapla]

[Qapla]

Look what just showed up on my PC

 

 

[jwhess]

The updates keep coming.

 

 

[Qapla]

[Qapla]

 

Edited March 31 by Qapla

[Martin haworth]

My zoom picture recently has gone bezerk flickering and turning off.

any suggestions about video settings or other solutions?

[Qapla]

You might check the video settings and click on the "Advanced" button

 

Make sure the "de-noise" box is "un-checked"

That option has created the types of video issues you described in the past

 

 

Edited April 8 by Qapla

[jwhess]

Zoom updated.  Version 6.4.5

 

 

[Qapla]

[Qapla]

[bvr]

---

Skype Shutdown Notice

Effective: May 5, 2025

Microsoft has switched off every consumer‑facing Skype server worldwide.
Calls, chats, file‑transfers, and SMS all stop at the sign‑in screen.

---

 What happens to the Skype apps now?

• Desktop app (Windows /macOS/Linux):
  Launches, but any sign‑in attempt triggers a banner—“Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available… continue your calls and chats in Teams”—and the connection is refused; calls, chats and presence never load.

• Mobile app (iOS / Android):
  Shows the same retirement pop‑up and cannot sign in; the App Store/Google Play listing now carries “Skype is retiring in May 2025” and points users to Microsoft Teams Free.

• Web experience:
  Visiting skype.com redirects to a “Goodbye Skype, hello Teams” splash page with quick links to export data or launch Teams; the classic Skype‑for‑Web client is gone.

• Updates & downloads:
  Microsoft has stopped shipping new builds; the Microsoft Store installer and mobile stores direct new downloads to Teams instead of Skype.

• Paid calling features:
  Remaining Skype Credit and Skype Numbers now work only through the Skype Dial Pad at calling.skype.com or inside Teams Free—stand‑alone apps will never ring again.

---

 What happens to your data?

• Automatic carry‑over: Sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your existing Microsoft/Skype account to see your entire contact list and chat history within moments.

• Manual export window: Prefer another platform? Visit the Skype Export page to download a ZIP archive of all messages and shared files. The tool stays online until January 2026.

• Permanent deletion: Any account not used in Teams or exported by January 2026 will have all remaining Skype data permanently wiped from Microsoft’s servers.

---

 What’s next?

• Teams Free is the official successor—one‑to‑one and group video, phone dial‑out with leftover Skype Credit, screen‑sharing, communities, and calendar integration are live today.

• If Teams doesn’t suit your workflow, export your archive and migrate to Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal, Discord, Jitsi Meet, or another service—just be sure to secure your data before the January 2026 cutoff.

Edited May 5 by gusdn1

[Brandon]

The one sad thing about Skype shutting down is that it was the only free video calling service that offered real time voice to voice translation over your call.

 

I wonder why no other free apps offer that?

 

The closest alternative I can find is free caption translation in Google meet, but that’s without spoken translations.

 

Skype translator was almost like Star Trek’s universal translator 🥲