Item: Skype
Rating: 8
Author: Adam Reiley

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our organization connects families in the Unites States with orphan communities in developing countries. Each family sponsors an orphan and commits to talk with their sponsored child multiple times per month. Skype is used to connect these families with the children over video calling. It is an essential technology for our mission.

Pros and Cons

Widely available.
Quality connection.
Secure.

Skype Translator is not very reliable.

Return on Investment

Skype has improved family relationships with sponsored children.
Skype has allowed us to collaborate more easily with our in-country partners.

Alternatives Considered

We have also used Facebook Messenger and Facetime, but Skype has a better quality connection and audio. It is more consistently reliable, which is the most important factor for us when working with communities in more remote areas.

Key Insights

Do you think Skype delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Skype's feature set?

Yes

Did Skype live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Skype go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Skype again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Bloomerang, Acuity Scheduling, a Squarespace company, Squarespace

Likelihood to Recommend

Skype is an excellent technology for connecting with people in areas where technology is not as developed. It has an easy to use app and is easy for the families who work with our nonprofit to download and connect with the staff in the orphan communities we serve. The quality of the connection is vital because of the language barrier, and Skype really shines in this area.

Skype - Connecting Families Across Borders

Overall Satisfaction with Skype