RingCentral Video vs. Skype (discontinued)

I would recommend RingCentral Video if a user or company is currently using RingCentral Meetings and is concerned with the security implications of using a Zoom-based platform. I would also recommend it if they are using O365 or G Suite presently. I would not recommend RingCentral Video if they are using MS Exchange on-prem. RingCentral Video is not as good as RingCentral Meetings, at present. It's also not as good as other meeting software, such as Cisco Webex.

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

• Audio quality is always good if we have good internet.
• Sharing the screen is easy and simple for every user.
• Reliability, as all the conference software we need to make sure it's there whenever we need it.

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

• Only a rudimentary add-in for Outlook if using on-prem Exchange
• Bugs in screen sharing that include an "application was minimized" error and the inability to share audio from a pre-recorded video
• No simple way to join a RingCentral Video from the phone app without typing in the exact meeting ID, which can be tedious.

• 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.

Easy to use once it has been set up and onboarded with your company. Once you learn how to use all of the various features and dial out to other countries, it is a great product and in my opinion, superior to some of its competitors on the market currently.

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

Did not require support

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

RingCentral Video works basically as well as Google, Skype, and Zoom, however, those apps are more well known and much more industry standards. That is why we prefer them however we do use RingCentral as the backup and for some clients who prefer it for one reason or another. It is firmly on the second tier of options, but it is solid nonetheless.

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.

• Hard to attach an ROI as RingCentral Video is in current competition throughout our organization with Microsoft Teams. For those who have been using RingCentral Video since we first began using them, they find the product well received by their external clients/customers.

• 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