Replacement for the Skype app?

[spiq]

Hi,

Just made a first call using the "official" Skype app and it sucked big time. Is there any other/good app that can tap into the Skype network?

Thanks

 

[dvhttn]

You might want to define what you mean by "sucked big time" ... after all, if you're complaining about picture quality, for instance, the problems could al be to do with the quality of service you were having at the time, something that Skype can't control. And as Skype is owned by Microsoft there is no other app, but I could be mistaken, that can "tap into the Skype network". You'd need an alternative.

Dave

 

[flyfoam]

Don't shoot me but I also have an iPad and I make Facetime calls with zero issues, perfect audio and video quality. Make the same call to the same person on the same network with Skype on a Nexus 7 or SG3 and it's pretty bad. I have also tried gtalk and oovoo and the results are very disappointing.

 

[chanchan05]

Uh, Facetime is not Skype. you cant conpare them. If Facetime is good for you, it doesn't have anything to do with whether Skype on an S3 is bad. Have you tried Skype on your iPad?

 

[flyfoam]

Uh, Facetime is not Skype. you cant conpare them. If Facetime is good for you, it doesn't have anything to do with whether Skype on an S3 is bad. Have you tried Skype on your iPad?

That's non-sense, you can compare Facetime to Skype. They both allow video calls. The problem is Skype does a crummy job of it on iOS and Android. I can only guess that Microsoft is the problem. I used to use Skype years ago on my Windows PC and it worked great. When I get a chance I will try the most recent version of Skype on my HP Ultrabook and see how it fairs. But I want a decent video chat app on my Android devices. So far I can't find one that works great.

 

[zuben el genub]

Suggest some other decent apps, then. Some of us feel about MS like a lot of android owners feel about Apple.

I have pre MS Skype running on Ubuntu and it works there. Haven't tried the new on the tablet - the first Skype app worked well on the SGS4G. Also pre MS.

 

[flyfoam]

Suggest some other decent apps, then. Some of us feel about MS like a lot of android owners feel about Apple.

I have pre MS Skype running on Ubuntu and it works there. Haven't tried the new on the tablet - the first Skype app worked well on the SGS4G. Also pre MS.

So far I can't find one. It's almost comical how bad they are. And I am comparing on iOS and Android. Most of my friends have switched to Android in the past year and we all were so spoiled with how well Facetime worked. The new Skype that MS released last week is better but it still has lots of audio issues.

 

[spiq]

Thanks for all the replies.

You might want to define what you mean by "sucked big time" ... after all, if you're complaining about picture quality, for instance, the problems could al be to do with the quality of service you were having at the time, something that Skype can't control. And as Skype is owned by Microsoft there is no other app, but I could be mistaken, that can "tap into the Skype network". You'd need an alternative.

Dave

It was audio only and it was over wifi. I use Skype on a computer hooked to the same wifi with no problems.


I had Nokia N900 (Maemo OS) before and there was an app that could have connected to multitude of networks - Skype, jabber, facebook, gtalk, you name it. There are apps like that for Windows - Trillian, QIP - 2 that I know of So I was expecting a similar app for Android.

Actually, just googled Trillian and it seems it's supported on Android, so that would be a way. Let's see....

 

[spiq]

Thanks for all the replies.
Actually, just googled Trillian and it seems it's supported on Android, so that would be a way. Let's see....

Nope, Android version does not support Skype

 

[hstroph]

This article is about 1-1/2 years old, but Choosing The Best Skype App For Android indicates "Nimbuzz" as a possible candidate for your consideration.

The Google Play listing doesn't seem to mention Skype compatibility, although the article does.

 

[chanchan05]

That's non-sense, you can compare Facetime to Skype. They both allow video calls. The problem is Skype does a crummy job of it on iOS and Android. I can only guess that Microsoft is the problem. I used to use Skype years ago on my Windows PC and it worked great. When I get a chance I will try the most recent version of Skype on my HP Ultrabook and see how it fairs. But I want a decent video chat app on my Android devices. So far I can't find one that works great.

Technically its not non-sense. Facetime is an OS level integrated software, designed from the ground up WITH the OS. A third party developer cannot achieve that level of integration and make sure that it would work well on those devices. Only the manufacturers can do that (make OS level video call apps), and well, Samsung and HTC I think won't do that because video calls over 3G (a feature built-in in many phones since 2003) is more popular in Asia than apps like Skype.

And yes, its partly MS-bullcrap. You really don't think they'd give full functionality or quality to their competitiors.

 

[mikedt]

I'm always using Skype on my Android devices, generally it works OK. Occasionally it's not so good, because the bandwidth between China and the UK is not too brilliant sometimes. Can't comment about Facetime, because I don't have any iOS devices, but I suspect given limited bandwidth, it wouldn't perform too well either. Skype video calls to other friends within China are generally more consistent though.

 

[WuBoy]

I've found Tango to work decently.