GoTo Room vs. Skype (discontinued) vs. StarLeaf (discontinued)

It works really well in a one on one settings when teachers are coordinating with individual trainers or workshops. It can be helpful as well during a team setting Q&A for follow up training. However, it is a struggle to use in large group settings when one presenter is speaking to a large group of people for trainings.

Incentivized

Having interacted with a new replacement tool, Microsoft Teams, it is challenging to recommend Skype, as it lacks some essential features, such as being less equipped with the latest updates, and it is not platform-independent, causing issues on PCs and phones, as well as during calls that might hinder work.

Incentivized

StarLeaf is good because it is allowing our Company and global teams to create and conduct meetings and video calls. However, the mic often has issues as well as connection problems. The mobile app is excellent for joining the video conf calls.

Incentivized

• Video conferencing is clear and precise
• Scheduling is emailed and easy to access.
• The ease of getting used to the program is quick for all of our teachers.

Incentivized

• The instant chat function is great. Very straightforward, easy to use, easy to learn, no technical issues.
• Video calls are pretty easy also, user friendly and a mostly stable connection with no issues.
• Voice calls are easy also, eliminates the need for an external landline or the need to use your cell phone. Clear connections, not really any dropped calls.

Incentivized

• Integrating teams around the world.
• The connection from StarLeaf to IBM Lotus Notes calendar is very useful.

Incentivized

• Learning how to work through multiple documents or presentations in a call can be tricky.
• Our rural setting does not allow for consistent internet connection, video is not always clear.
• Audio can be limited to a large room setting in workshops.

Incentivized

• Skype is a RESOURCE hog. People who have limited bandwidth will have poor call quality.
• It is hard to figure out how to use emojis and upload images in the chat.
• The background images do not fool anybody....it is clearly not your real background.

Incentivized

• The microphone has lots of issues, specially in the beginning of calls.
• Quality of the sound sometimes is not the greatest.

Incentivized

I have given this rating as this need to give more than that as it's very helpful for us and makes our work more efficient and fast.

Skype is not as good as Facetime in terms of ease to glance at it and figure out how it works. I think that's a result of Skype trying to be too many things at once. A lot of the menu and UI could be streamlined, and I would jettison some of the additional functions that have been tacked on over the years to simplify. That being said, while some options are slightly hard to find, they all work flawlessly once found.

Incentivized

Haven’t had a chance to need to connect with the service staff as we haven’t had to deal with any large issues beyond internet bandwidth restrictions. However, we feel like support would be very quick and efficient if we were to need it. The observations of setting up our doc cams and getting connected with workshop presenters has been smooth so far.

Incentivized

I am not aware of the current support level for Skype for business, as I have never used even though I have the product. However, the support for Skype's personal paid users is not where it could be. Users who pay for Skype features do not have a clear path to reach out to support. So, rating 6, can be better as soon as I need to use Skype for business support and get a good experience. I will say that I will renew Skype for Business subscription, which is a significant inconsistency on my end. The explanation is that Skype for Business comes bundled with Office for Business, with no additional cost, so why not.

Incentivized

Never used the StarLeaf support team.

Incentivized

It can be used on the phone via mobile application as well as on the desktop by logging in to the website. Easily installed and ready to use.

Incentivized

GoToRoom does a great job of video conferencing with multiple users, similar to Zoom, but has easier access to documents similar to Google Classroom or Google Hangouts. It’s a nice blend of these three pieces of software.

Incentivized

We use Skype in combination with Grasshopper. While Grasshopper acts as a routing toll free number with extensions, if we are making calls directly, we do it through Skype. Skype's desktop and mobile apps are easier to use, and provide unlimited local calls at a flat, affordable rate. Allowing our team to use their existing mobile or desktop devices without additional hardware for business office phone calls is important, and Skype makes that possible

Incentivized

Microsoft Teams, when I used, was far better than StarLeaf, on video, sound, and feature connections.

Incentivized

The service provided is up to date, as discussed before buying.

• It has been helpful for us to connect with professional development consultants that are out of our region.
• It has provided opportunities for teachers to get training that otherwise would not have had an opportunity without driving long distances.

Incentivized

• Skype made keeping in touch with an advisor in Mexico very easy. The initiative there resulted in 5 new partnerships.
• Skype has helped me with account management for at least 3 customers in LATAM--usually it's a fast way to answer a question about a support renewal.
• For about 9 months Skype helped me stay in touch with a colleague in Prague. We would meet once a week to go over sales activities.

Incentivized

• The capability of creating meetings with global teams.
• The connection with Lotus Notes calendar helps the team to manage the calendar and the meetings scheduled.

Incentivized