Skype vs. Vonage Communications APIs

Skype is well suited for quick calls back and forth, in both video and audio, among team members who have it already installed and who know how to use it. It is less well-suited when trying to do a presentation for somebody who does NOT have it installed or who lacks internet speed.

Incentivized

While there are likely a variety of scenarios that would work well with Vonage [Communications APIs (formerly Nexmo)], implementations that need transactional message and response actions are a great fit. Our experience with transactional messaging has been really good and we are continuing to look at opportunities to expand our usage of this part of their service.

• 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

• I like the delivery speed, it's very instantaneous. As soon as the delivery status changes on the website, the message gets delivered. The rates are also cheap and affordable.
• The accuracy of the services and the non-stop supportive team.
• Simple API, easy to integrate with existing notification functionality in your Laravel apps.
• Ease of implementation. We needed less than one month to go live.

Incentivized

• This is really small, but I'd love to see the emoticons updated to emojis.
• Make calling free like some other communications app providers.
• Grant the ability to not show that you're online even when you are. Sometimes you want to make a call, but you don't want other people to see you're online and start messaging you.

Incentivized

• Written documentation and discovery could be a lot better.

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

The overall usability of Vonage [Communications APIs (formerly Nexmo)] system for message delivery is sufficient for our implementation. Some improvements and additional reporting options in the account administration interface would increase our utilization of the post-delivery data further in order to provide further value-added features for our clients.

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

The product feels a bit like a black box since it's built to be an off-the-shelf solution so sometimes it feels like the only way to really understand it is to talk to an engineer directly as the documentation is so-so.

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

Microsoft Teams provides basically the same services. Local number calling is not available (that I know of) but that only matters if you have any need to use it. Teams is a little more stable, especially with a lot of people on a call. Skype is easier to set up and to operate. Skype also has a larger install base.

Incentivized

Nexmo is the best platform in the industry for sure. We don't use all the features that the API provides but we are really satisfied with the ones we use. We are sure this is the best solution in the market if you need to solve the communication in real time with your customers. When we have to build a new website we are going to support the solution with Nexmo.

Incentivized

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

• Overall Skype is a good investment. We use regular Skype so its a product that comes with Windows PC's as a standard app. We dont use Skype for Business so this cuts cost overall.
• Using the basic functions of Skype and not Skype for business does have some downsides but you do save money. There are many other apps we use as well as Skype in order to accomplish all of our goals.
• The downside of course is that the more you want Skype to do, the more money it will cost the organization as a whole. It does have many more functions which you have to upgrade to Skype for business for. That is my only criticism.

Incentivized

• Allowed us to go to market faster (positive).
• Greatly limits our claim to quality as the ceiling on video quality is lower than other platforms (negative).