[photoguy112]

Can we get a list of Skype alternatives going? I feel like it's time to dump the corporate behemoth mess.

[userbinator]

Just like IRC is the little-known open alternative to the usual IM networks, the closest to Skype would probably be SIP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol ), for which many clients are available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SIP_software

[apples_oranges]

The article mentions 2 alternatives:

> I recommend http://zoom.us or http://appear.in as alternatives that don’t “help” you by exposing your contacts to the world.

[kofejnik]

zoom app on MacOS requires root permissions. No, thank you.

[seqizz]

I don't think we can call landlines via these.

[scraft]

I have used Skype a lot for calling landlines and mobile phone numbers, in particular for people overseas where the phone bill would otherwise be high. I have also used this when I have zero phone reception but have access to Wifi.

[spurgu]

I'm from Europe and I'm baffled that this would be a requirement for anyone these days. Are landlines still that common in the US?

[nicoburns]

I'm from Europe and I've occasionally used this feature when e.g. I'd lost my phone, but needed to make a call to a customer service department.

[trumped]

they are very commonly used for robocalls/junk calls

[fghtr]

https://meet.jit.si