Intermedia AnyMeeting Pro vs. Skype (discontinued)

AnyMeeting Pro is an easy-to-use tool and it is very resourceful as it comes with most features you would need for video conferencing and basic interactions. AnyMeeting conferencing eases most video conferencing issues. Most users can perform a video conferencing session at any time for strategy meetings or large groups. One of the features we enjoyed was seeing so many coworker's faces during the pandemic. It kept us connected with everyone.

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

• Ease of use -- setting up a meeting is quick and simple, and so is presenting. PowerPoints can be pre-loaded into the system and displayed/controlled without screen-sharing. Questions and Answers are easily managed in a platform that allows you to view them in a single pane and dismiss them as you answer.
• Customization of registration forms -- gather the information you need from your registrants.
• Live Chat is always quick and helpful.
• The webinar system is browser-based, even for presenters, so you can present from anywhere without needing to download an application.
• Built-in time zone converter on our webinar registration pages is useful, as we invite companies worldwide to our webinars.

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

• It could be clearer, from an admin standpoint, which meeting options allow you to record, prior to setting up the meeting. I don't use it frequently enough to remember which type of meeting will allow me to record, and it takes an extra minute to figure this out when I schedule meetings ahead of time.

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

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.

I give it a nine due to no fault really of the software. It mostly has to deal with buffering and bandwidth issues that could cause the program to not perform as promised. However, this is an area where most also fail. Our current software is horrible in comparison. Not being a decision-maker keeps us from enjoying AnyMeeting Pro on a more common basis. I would rather use this than Teams.

Incentivized

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

Never had to deal with customer support myself. I was told by our tech team that they were pretty responsive and again most issues could not be resolved due to the bandwidth of those attending meetings. The higher the bandwidth the more amazing the performance and the overall meeting flow and results.

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

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

AnyMeeting's free version beats Zoom's free version because of the time limit Zoom imposes on free meetings. However, when going for a paid version, Zoom outperforms AnyMeeting's paid version. The video quality seems to be higher in Zoom. There is also more features available in Zoom as a whole, and I've never had someone not be able to join the Zoom meeting.

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

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

• AnyMeeting made it easier and faster for me and my team to set up online meetings and conference calls, thus saving quite a bit of time.
• Due to some over runs of meetings, I have to have a back up service just in case.

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