I'm looking for help finding a Skype alternative for my 80-year-old mother, who lives alone on another continent. I sent her an HP Windows laptop with Skype, but after the upgrade to Teams, her camera has stopped working during calls. I couldn't fix it remotely via TeamViewer. The Windows 11 camera app still works fine, so it's not a driver issue. We haven't seen her face in over a month, which is really tough. Is there a way to set up a Skype alternative on her laptop that doesn't require a smartphone? She has a basic, 'dumb' phone and can't use touch screen devices due to Parkinson's. Any suggestions would be truly appreciated.
3 Answers
I actually created Globaldial.co with situations like yours in mind. It allows you to make international calls straight from your browser, so no app installation is needed. You buy credits that never expire, and it's a straightforward solution for keeping in touch, especially when traditional apps fail!
There’s a web-based option called sipML5 that you could explore. It uses WebRTC technology, so no installation is required. Just visit their live demo site, but be aware that you might need some account credentials to get started.
You might want to check out Discord or Telegram as possible alternatives. Discord could be a good fit since it can run directly on her PC without needing a smartphone. But be cautious with Telegram, as it usually requires a phone app for registration. I'd recommend trying Discord first!
Thanks for the suggestion, but keep in mind that we already have audio working through Teams. I'll look into your service to compare rates with what Viber offers.