If Worse Comes To Worst: The Best Skype Alternatives

Skype, which has forty-million active users and accounts for 8% of the world’s global vocal traffic, may have to be shut down after its original founders consider revoking an agreement licensing the peer-to-peer technology that allows it to do its work. You can read my full story on that here.

As it nows looks likely that Skype may close, many people are starting to take a look around the internet for possible alternatives, if the worst does come to worst. I have compiled a list of great Skype alternative.

1) JAJAH - Unlike Skype, this service does not require you to download any software. All you have to do is sign up, enter your telephone number, enter the telephone number that you want to call. Then, the service will call your phone and the phone you want to contact, connect your call and that’s it. Calls are entirely free from JAJAH to JAJAH phone users and is very well-priced for other calls, and limited calls can be free from the UK, and the United States and other popular countries. The site claims to, on average, save the user 98% on their international phone bills, and offers a number of other services and addons for your browser. Calls cost just a couple of cents in the United States.

Click to visit JAJAH’s website.

2) Voipbuster - Although the website seems to look a bit outdated, this service is also reliable and provides good rates. Its rates calculator on its homepage will give you a good idea of how much a call will cost you. You can also use your regular phone for this service, although you do need to download some software. Similar to Skype, you can call from computer to phone, from phone to phone, through text message and in and access call. You purchase credits and then use them - and the rates are quite reasonable, with some popular places free for users of another service on the site.

Click to visit Voipbuster’s website.

3) ooVoo - We may have seen it before, but it is a good service. Although it offers primarily video chatting, and its not a strict alternative, it does offer good quality videocalling and multiple user video calling for good prices. I would describe it doing just about everything that Windows Live Messenger does, plus a little bit more and does it better. With video calling, web video call, video chat room, high-resolution video, video recording and messages and webcam effects, it’s not identical to Skype but its very well priced and if you can deal with webcams and microphones and computers, it’s a great alternative.

Click to visit ooVoo’s website.

4) Gizmo5 - This alternative also have great rates and also allow you to make calls from your mobile phone and your computer. Available in several languages, this good looking site is useful, but does require you to send some software to your mobile phone via their application. It also incorporates typical instant messagnig facilities - it’s a good idea to check it out. Also available for your tablet, and also claims to save you up to 98%.

Click to visit Gizmo5’s website.

5) iChat - A good alternative for Macintosh users, as they can feel safe and in good hands with the manufacturers of their computer. With good prices, great facilities and a quality service, its a very good alternative for Mac users. A powerful instant text messaging application, video calls and audio calls. However, no landline or mobile calls, unfortunately.

Click to visit the iChat website.

Hopefully these alternatives will prepare you if the worst comes to worse. If you’ve used any of these services, you have any recommendations and experiences, or if you have any good alterantives, please leave a comment and let us know.