[anothernewdude]

If you can't have a chat in some messaging software turn into a quick call, and that quick call finishes the instance it should, then I don't know what you're doing.

Frankly I do this even when I'm in the same office, because I can keep working while on a call.

Scheduled? Just have a group chat with the participants, if one person misses the call, no big deal. You should be syncing often enough that it shouldn't matter.

As for the informal meet-ups, if there's a need, you go chat then call. If there isn't a need, then there's no value lost.