So, uh, for many, many years, Skype has been my phone. I have a virtual phone number with them, and I have all my actual calls forward to that number, and... Microsoft Teams sucks and doesn't work on my computer. Anyone have any suggestions on a phone app I can use to replace Skype? - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

mmasnick.bsky.social • 8 days ago

So, uh, for many, many years, Skype has been my phone. I have a virtual phone number with them, and I have all my actual calls forward to that number, and... Microsoft Teams sucks and doesn't work on my computer.

Anyone have any suggestions on a phone app I can use to replace Skype?

Reposted from Phil Lewis

Skype is shutting down after two decades

Comments

stephjmom.bsky.social•8 days ago

There used to be apps that do it... My son had a number from an app before I allowed him to have a cell phone contract, so that I could text him on his tablet...

dankeevy.bsky.social•8 days ago

Congrats Mike, now you can join the rest of humanity and hate Teams!

corbieailin.bsky.social•8 days ago

I tried finding one awhile ago and other ones intended for call centers (expensive!) I couldn't find anything that worked on phone AND computer that wasn't browser based. Hopefully someone else pops in. (I already use GV for my main number)

loveisphere.bsky.social•8 days ago

Google Voice

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social/post/3ljb4hipbgc25

loveisphere.bsky.social•8 days ago

There is no app for Google Voice, it’s a web interface https://voice.google.com/ go to settings > calls > incoming calls > turn on web

That’s what it looks like for me using Safari macOS

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I know. But the point I'm making is I don't want it in the browser. I have 1000 tabs open. I don't want to have to hunt for it if the phone rings.

loveisphere.bsky.social•8 days ago

Create a shortcut

emmaswirl.bsky.social•8 days ago

Discord

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

How does Discord work with the phone system?

robbinsa.me•8 days ago

voice

dilleyandrew.bsky.social•8 days ago

I suppose I use WhatsApp with work and family.

eborremans.bsky.social•8 days ago

Signal? But no virtual phone number that I know of if that's a must have

merleleperle.bsky.social•7 days ago

Check

https://SecureMessagingApps.com

rate
🟩=3
🟨=1
🟥=0

=

86 #Threema = most secure #Messenger with voice & video/group calls!

81 #SimpleXChat
77 #Signal
77 #Session
68 #Wire
61 #Wickr #Amazon
56 #Element / #Matrix
37 #Apple #iMessage
32 #WhatsApp
27 #Telegram
26 #Facebook Mess.
10 #Microsoft #Skype

mmasnick.bsky.social•7 days ago

Those aren't for phone calls.

merleleperle.bsky.social•7 days ago

no

mmasnick.bsky.social•7 days ago

Literally the one feature I talked about, and the only feature I use Skype for, is phone calls.

skunkityskunk.bsky.social•8 days ago

You can port your number to a cell phone and then port it to google voice which is free. You can't port it directly from skype to google - has to go through a cell phone to confirm it.

shriketron.bsky.social•8 days ago

He's already using GV and using it to forward to Skype.

msbutah.bsky.social•8 days ago

Is Google Voice still a thing?

robbinsa.me•8 days ago

somehow, against all odds, yes?

elforesto.coolestfamilyever.com•8 days ago

The lights are still on, probably because of the paid Workplace accounts and Fi.

rockwellian.bsky.social•8 days ago

I use Google Voice. They let you have a number.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social/post/3ljb7bnt4pc25

vitamot.bsky.social•8 days ago

Google Voice has an app, at least on Android. There is also Viber, Telegram.

danidani333.bsky.social•8 days ago

Signal. It's a good calling and messaging app and it's more secure than most other apps currently.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

But does Signal act as a way to receive calls from non-Signal callers?

danidani333.bsky.social•8 days ago

Just looked it up and unfortunately no. Sorry about that.

bordkatze.bsky.social•8 days ago

Threema Work maybe?

https://threema.ch/en/work/support/calls

mykenk.us•8 days ago

Never had an issue with Google voice.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social/post/3ljb4hipbgc25

mykenk.us•8 days ago

If you use chrome (or others maybe), you can install the voice webpage as an application on Windows, so it can be launched from the taskbar or auto launch or whatever. Very obviously till a web app, but better than hiding it in a tab.

shriketron.bsky.social•8 days ago

Surprisingly Zoom offers VoIP.

Viber, WebEx, RingCentral? ...

nickthewright.com•8 days ago

Vonage, 8x8, RingCentral, Ooma, Nextiva or any other VoIP provider. You can port numbers and you can use a softphone application on your phone or computer to take calls.

metsfan.bsky.social•8 days ago

Someone I know used Google Voice for this, but I'm not sure exact details of the setup.

meowiegamer.bsky.social•8 days ago

signal

dmckendr.bsky.social•8 days ago

Signal 100%

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I use Signal. But can I set it up so phone calls to my number ring on Signal (as opposed to Signal-to-Signal calls)?

meowiegamer.bsky.social•8 days ago

Im not sure, as i have to use regular phone calls/sms because my family doesnt care so i dont use signal much outside of a few friends

bbennettesq.bsky.social•8 days ago

Signal VoIP is not great quality.

silviapare2.bsky.social•8 days ago

I use KeepCalling. It works just like Skype

robertmarks.esq•8 days ago

I used Google Voice for my firm without complaint apart from it was a Google product.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social/post/3ljb4hipbgc25

cavitationing.bsky.social•8 days ago

Definitely Signal - https://Signal.org
And works on Windows desktop, and on android and iphone

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

But how do you receive/make regular phone calls with it?

cavitationing.bsky.social•8 days ago

Both parties load Signal on their phones, then call each other... You can go voice, or video.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I think you're missing the point. This is for receiving and making ALL my calls. I can't ask the store I need to call to install Signal to get my call.

My use case is PHONE.

cavitationing.bsky.social•8 days ago

Aaah, landlines? They are still used in your location? Interesting, and transitory... But try Signal anyway, because when you check mobile nos, in Signal, it will find them if they have downloaded the app. Signal is recommended because its non-proprietary, unlike Whatsapp.

judith-ip.bsky.social•8 days ago

You are not engaging with the question and this is the kind of thing that makes those of us who use Signal hate its advocates. Stop it.

justwaititwillbeok.bsky.social•7 days ago

You're totally missing the point while being an insufferable poseur about landlines. If both parties must download this obscure app, you're limited to a tiny subset of people who call you. So not dentists, doctors, 99% of people who'd call you. "Interesting & transitory," go fuck yourself. 🖕

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I've been using Signal since basically it launched. But I'm looking for a phone tool. Not Signal.

agusnox.bsky.social•8 days ago

Wait what happens to my inactive funds?

chief-wahoo-lives.bsky.social•8 days ago

Legally they will have to escheat the funds. However, if it is small they my not attach a name to the dollars.

cshockr.bsky.social•8 days ago

Google Voice. Been using it for over a decade. I'm a teacher and this was my "personal cell phone" number I was required to give to students and parents

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social/post/3ljb4hipbgc25

cshockr.bsky.social•8 days ago

Unfortunately Voice is browser based...however, with most of Google's tools, hacks are available

https://www.kimbley.com/blog/14/7/2023/how-to-install-the-google-voice-desktop-app-on-your-computer

pistachiopistachio.bsky.social•8 days ago

Just use Google Voice?

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I do. Indeed, my virtual phone number that pipes into Skype is my Google Voice number. But as far as I know there's no Windows app. That's what I need. When I'm at my desk and the phone rings, now it pops up on my computer. Not sure how to do that with Voice.

robertmarks.esq•8 days ago

Just have the voice site pulled up. It will ring and you can answer from your pc.

onesarahwatters.bsky.social•8 days ago

Voice I use from the browser.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I prefer to have my phone as a separate app, not in one of the thousands of tabs I have open. I just made a webapp out of it and will see how that works...

pistachiopistachio.bsky.social•8 days ago

I'm mainly running on a Chromebook these days, so the Android GV app works fine on my desktop and I get call notifications. I can see how that would be a problem on Windows. Maybe there's a solution? Dunno. Good luck.

williebb.bsky.social•8 days ago

Groundwire with https://VoIP.ms is what I use

fcortes.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yeah, this is a huge problem for me too. Last I checked Google Voice is not available to non-US users.

I will definitely need a solution to make international calls to land lines.

jasonandrade.bsky.social•8 days ago

Also, for years I’ve had some Skype credit (paid for with actual dollars). What do i do with that now.. just lose it?

kue.glitch.paris•8 days ago

Also watching this. It's the only way I can contact my US card support.

brendoelfrendo.bsky.social•8 days ago

Going to propose Hushed, because someone needs to suggest something other than Google Voice. I haven't used Hushed personally, but it has been recommended to me for this purpose.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have Hushed, but it's terrible.

brendoelfrendo.bsky.social•8 days ago

Damn, good to know. Coming off the recommendation list!

oldnorthshore.bsky.social•8 days ago

Teams sucks monumentally and is not a replacement for Skype.

onesarahwatters.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yep

robheverly.bsky.social•8 days ago

Not sure this is still helpful, but we use Ooma for our old landline that we just weren't quite ready to give up. We use the "free" plan, but the "premier" plan is $9.99/mo+taxes.

sportingjim.bsky.social•7 days ago

Always loved Skype!

amenhotepiii.bsky.social•8 days ago

RingCentral sounds like the best for your use case. Phone + Messaging + Advanced Routing + Call Recording + Simple Reporting

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

RingCentral appears to cost as much in 2 months as my Skype setup cost for the entire year.

amenhotepiii.bsky.social•8 days ago

Fair. Skype was the old school flip phone. RC is a smart phone within the smartphone.

kaidav.is•8 days ago

grasshopper has windows/mac desktop apps too

https://grasshopper.com/apps/

Comment image

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

It's also... more than 6x as expensive. *sigh*

kaidav.is•8 days ago

heya mike - check out grasshopper (https://grasshopper.com). Another virtual phone number provider, established business, not google.

thetruemichael.bsky.social•8 days ago

I guess the zoom-in on "assho" is just a funny accident

elfprince13.mumak.app•8 days ago

I’ve been on Google Voice for a LONG time now and it still works pretty well!

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yeah, I mean, my phone number is a GV number. But I want an app outside the browser. Otherwise my GV gets lost in my thousand tabs.

skunkityskunk.bsky.social•8 days ago

Why don't you download the google voice app? I put it on the base thing on the phone where it always shows.

rockwellian.bsky.social•8 days ago

Go get a flip phone from Cricket wireless. It's cheeep

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have a phone. But I actually want to be able to make calls from my laptop rather than my phone at times, in part because the sound quality is better.

mcmlxi.org•8 days ago

But how do you hold the laptop up to your ear? );

shriketron.bsky.social•8 days ago

Otoh, Sony still makes phones with 3.5mm jacks, but lol.

skunkityskunk.bsky.social•8 days ago

Then google voice. You can call from your phone on the google voice app (or in the browser on your phone, whichever you prefer) and you can call from your laptop.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

Literally above in this thread, I explained why I want an app, rather than a browser tab for this.

rockwellian.bsky.social•8 days ago

Gotcha'. I remember having one of those bought Skype numbers. It was useful.

happyspastic.bsky.social•8 days ago

Still use mine every day and will right to the end!

elfprince13.mumak.app•8 days ago

Oh I see. Hmmm…not a fan of pinned tabs?

elfprince13.mumak.app•8 days ago

Wait a minute isn’t Google Voice a PWA that you can just “install” as a stand-alone app?

skunkityskunk.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yes, just download it from google playstore or apple playstore or wherever.

elfprince13.mumak.app•8 days ago

That’s not what that combination of words means 🤔

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yeah. I did that now. We'll see how it works.

avernalaw.bsky.social•8 days ago

Agreed on the Skype love. I tried Twilio once on the back end with another app on the front, called Talkyto. I hated it with every fiber of my being.

mardoch.bsky.social•8 days ago

Skype is my only local phone number and uh...I'm not even sure how many people only have that contact for me currently? It's not zero for sure.

This sucks. Teams is absolutely not a replacement in any way, shape, or form.

ericbarch.com•8 days ago

You should be able to port out your number to another provider FYI. But yeah, still a pain.

mardoch.bsky.social•8 days ago

yeah I just gotta find one that i hate at least only as little as skype and that doesn't charge me exorbitantly for the privilege.

djohnson53.bsky.social•8 days ago

I use Google Voice. I started using it before google bought the startup, "Grand Central", that created it. While Google has done its best to f..k it up, it still does a pretty good job at fronting for physical phones, and integrates with the rest of Google's ecosystem.

cassaroundtheworld.bsky.social•8 days ago

But can you call a landline from Google Voice? That’s my primary use case for Skype. Calling a US landline or 800 number from overseas as much as I want for $3/mo

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yes, you can call landlines from Google Voice numbers.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I also have used Google Voice since Grand Central. But I want my phone calls to pop up in an app. Not be buried in one of my thousand tabs...

kdbyproxy.bsky.social•8 days ago

This wouldn't make it popup when a call comes in, but to keep GV from getting lost in your tabs, you could run it (by itself) under a separate profile of Chrome, so when a call did come in, you'd know exactly where to one-click (on the Start bar) to bring it up.

tzikeh.bsky.social•8 days ago

WhatsApp

trvlngmd.bsky.social•8 days ago

SIgnal?

obliviousdude.bsky.social•8 days ago

Google Voice.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/mmasnick.bsky.social/post/3ljb4hipbgc25

obliviousdude.bsky.social•8 days ago

Just use the web interface, https://voice.google.com/. You can set it up so you can use it with a mic from the computer.

mmasnick.bsky.social•7 days ago

I have explained a dozen times, I don't want to use the web interface. I have 1000 tabs open. It is not helpful.

16thmin.bsky.social•8 days ago

Have you looked into Google Voice? https://voice.google.com/u/0/about

colin.mahns.net•8 days ago

I've used https://jmp.chat with an XMPP client for phone numbers and calling from desktop/mobile, but might not fit your use case.

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

Oh that might work...

ashleylatke.bsky.social•8 days ago

No virtual numbers atm etc but signal does have voice and video now. I wonder if you can make an account without email or phone number and still do it.

onesarahwatters.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have the same problem, signal is not an option, Skype numbers work like a regular local number. Vonage might be an option, but I thinks it's more expensive.

ashleylatke.bsky.social•8 days ago

ah yeah. I guess you may need a lot more functionality. I guess it only recently occurred to me I could replace most of my zoom activity with signal.

janenaturewatcher.bsky.social•8 days ago

Viber might work

foreverdaff.bsky.social•8 days ago

Signal.

durumcrustulum.com•8 days ago

google voice

wendyck.bsky.social•8 days ago

Seconding Google voice

mmasnick.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have Google Voice, but I don't think it has a desktop app. What I need is the phone to ring on my computer.

opunwide.bsky.social•8 days ago

I have Google Voice go to my cell and a home Ooma, so I can answer from either.

I use voice on the Chrome browser so I can text using a real keyboard. It keeps asking if I want to make calls or answer from there but I don't have a mic on that system. It implies that that's all I would need to do.

durumcrustulum.com•8 days ago

leave browser app open?

durumcrustulum.com•8 days ago

it might be installable as a 'desktop' app

jjkettlewell.com•8 days ago

The easy way is to use GV on any old cellphone on wifi so it can ring anywhere in your house.

lillysrouter.bsky.social•8 days ago

Microsoft Teams sucks and doesn't work on anyone's computer.