Next to Zoom, Skype is probably one of the most well-known video call and conferencing apps. Skype was actually the pioneer in the video conferencing tool category, despite Zoom and Google Meet being the most well-known and adopted today.

You can send chat messages, links, and files via Skype. But the company is better known for its voice and video call capabilities.

Although Microsoft, the parent company that owns Skype, shut down Skype for Business, the consumer version of Skype is still available. (Companies using Skype for Business were encouraged to switch to Teams â Microsoftâs alternative solution to Slack and Zoom.)

But, Skype is still a viable option for many, so letâs take a look at how you can use Skype for your meetings.

First: Make sure you have the latest version of Skype on your device. If you donât, youâll have to download Skype.

Select your device: PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android phone.

Check your privacy settings, too. Make sure that no one other than known contacts can call, video call, or message you.

Yes. You no longer need a Microsoft account to use Skype. However, youâll only have access to a limited number of features.

Skype is relatively safe. All Skype-to-Skype voice, video, file transfers, and instant messages are encrypted. But if youâre not diligent about updating your privacy settings, spam can become a nuisance.

To keep your account as secure as possible, stick to using Skype to communicate with people you know and trust. Here are a few digital security tips for Skype users: Opt out of public search.

For most people, using Skype will be free. But there will be some instances where youâll have to buy Skype credits (aka pay to use a feature). International calls via Skype, for instance, are a paid feature.

For $2.99, you get unlimited calls within the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. If youâd like to add places like Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Mexico, and the Northern Mariana Islands, Skypeâs North America subscription is only $6.99 for unlimited minutes. Skype also offers an India subscription, 800 minutes for $7.99 a month.

Ready to start a call? If you know the Skype name of the person youâre hoping to connect with, type their name in the search bar (upper left-hand corner). Once youâve found the right contact, click on their name. Another window will pop up.

In the new window, you should see three buttons:

Once youâve clicked a button, Skype will ring the person you selected in the previous step.

Skype meetings can be scheduled using Microsoft Outlook if you have the Skype for Outlook plugin and an Outlook email address.

Keep in mind, many organizations that use Microsoft Outlook will probably be using Teams for video calls and conferences now.

And if you needed another reason to try SavvyCal: It can be used to schedule Skype meetings. All you have to do is include the meeting URL for any scheduling link you send out.

Tip: Send a more effective meeting invite with these templates.

Skype has a fun feature called âMeet Nowâ that allows people to use Skype without an account. Invite others to meetings using a unique URL that never expires. Or use Meet Now to chat with friends, family, or colleagues.

Name your meeting (either create your own name or pick from a premade selection).

Once the link is generated, youâll have the option to start the call immediately if wanted.

Skype is still one of the more popular communication tools for voice and video calls. Hereâs a quick summary of its features:

Even though Skype got rid of âSkype for Business,â itâs still a powerful tool. Skype doesnât offer premium plans for business use, but you can still invite up to 100 people to calls. And the âMeet Nowâ feature is great â especially if youâre not sure that all participants will have accounts.

Since Microsoft is putting its resources into Teams for business use, Skype is probably best suited for contractors, small teams, one-on-one meetings, educational classes, and personal use. Larger corporations will likely need a different solution for meetings.

SavvyCal is a best-in-class scheduling tool both you and your recipients will love

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