Meet Now: Skype rolls out video feature with no sign-up needed

Skype is synonymous with online video calls. However, the company has a lot of work to do if they hope to remain relevant. The last month has seen countless workers switching from their offices to working from home.

This, along with millions of people around the world being stuck at home under self-isolation or enforced lockdowns, has created a massive demand for video solutions.

Apps such as Houseparty offer a less formal solution for groups wanting to catch up; while many work-from-home employees have begun using Zoom for video conferencing.

Zoom is currently the most downloaded app on the Google Play store. In fact, six of the top 10 apps currently in the app store offer video calling or videoconferencing.

Skype needed a turn-around

Skype is possibly the best-known video call/conferencing app in the world. The app is used for television interviews and pops up in movies and series all the time.

Yet at this moment, it’s only the 35th most-downloaded app on the Google Play store.

Even more damningly, it’s languishing 34 places below Zoom, which admittedly had a terrible week dealing with security and privacy issues.

One would have expected professional users to revert to Skype, but that hasn’t been the case. Skype has been trying to do their bit to get some of the video calling action though.

Back to the drawing board

The company tweeted a gentle reminder to the world this was, informing users that they don’t need to have the app installed – or even have a Skype account – in order to start a video meeting:

“Introducing a simple, hassle-free way to connect with the important people in your life on Skype; no sign-up or downloads required.”

Part of Zoom’s popularity is down to the fact that users could set up video meetings without requiring each participant to have a Zoom account.

Uncertainty ahead

This has meant that if a personal trainer, for example, wanted to set up a training session with a client who was under lockdown, only the personal trainer would need a Zoom account and the app to start a call.

Skype are doing their best to highlight its video capabilities. The company already tried to make the video conferencing feature more prominent within the app.

If Skype is able to turn it around and cut a substantial chunk out of Zoom’s user base, then there’s every reason to expect the company to go from strength to strength.

If not, it may be time for Skype to do some soul-searching about its branding and marketing.

Also read – These are the top five video apps to use while social distancing