Zoom, on the other hand, hasn’t been around as long. Skype for Business has recently been integrated into Microsoft Teams, so if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, the video conferencing function comes with it. However, as a guest you have very limited options and features, but it’s a great way to try it out. Skype has recently created the option of joining a call as a guest - so you don’t have to create an account.

Skype is free - unless you want to call people on their landline or cellphone, then you can get a paid account. You access the app by downloading it onto your device and creating an account. Skype has been around for years (it was launched in 2003) and chances are your team is already familiar with it. The app is compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, Mac OS, iOS, Amazon Alexa devices and Xbox. It was designed to allow people to communicate with each other for free, wherever they were. You can voice call, video call, and instant message through it. Skype is an app from Microsoft that allows multiple people to communicate with each other at the same time. To help you make an informed decision, here are some of the pros and cons of Zoom vs Skype, and how each adds up in terms of usability for remote teams. Two of the most popular options, Skype and Zoom, have seen their number of users spike recently.Īs you’re navigating this new environment with your newly remote team, it’s important to have a good video conferencing tool available so you and your team can stay connected and communicate effectively, and build a strong remote work culture. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the video conferencing industry was set to exceed $20 billion by 2024. With the recent massive shift to remote work on a global level, video conferencing software and apps have gone from nice-to-have to essential work tools in a very short space of time.

Who owns skype and zoom