The year 2020 was marked by changes that forced us to use the internet more, whether for professional reasons, shopping, or speaking with friends and family. This led to a significant increase in the use of video calling apps. In this article, find out how the three applications most widely used by companies work: Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype.
Video calling apps gained particular importance during the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as they made it possible to stay in contact with colleagues and clients. Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype are some of the options we have either already used or, at the very least, heard about.
What Are Video Calling Apps?
A videoconference is a meeting between two or more people, held over the internet, where participants can speak to one another in real time using video and audio. Nowadays, making video calls is a common practice because it is easy and inexpensive. All that is required is an internet connection and a mobile phone, computer or other device with access to a camera and microphone.
There are several videoconferencing applications, each with its own characteristics. It is therefore possible to distinguish between apps that work better for casual conversations and those that are more suitable for business meetings.
Video Calling Apps for Talking to Friends and Family
WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and FaceTime (for iOS users) are among the most popular applications for conversations with friends and family. All of them are commonly used as messaging services, but they also offer voice and video calling options.
However, they do not work as professional videoconferencing tools because they only include basic features. As a result, other platforms have become more prominent in this area, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype.
Zoom Was the Most Widely Used at the Beginning of Lockdown and Continues to Stand Out
Zoom was undoubtedly the most widely used application at the beginning of lockdown and remains one of the favourites. The app allows users to interact virtually with up to 100 people on the free plan and exchange direct messages either individually or with the whole group. It also includes screen sharing, document sharing and multimedia links, as well as the option to record meetings and add virtual backgrounds.
The main limitation is the time restriction, as under the free plan each user has access to 40 consecutive minutes per meeting. To continue, another meeting has to be created.
Zoom continues to stand out because, although it does not have any single feature that clearly distinguishes it from other applications, its simplicity and ease of use, together with its strong initial adoption, have made it an essential tool for video meetings.
Microsoft Teams – The Video Calling App Most Widely Used by Companies
Microsoft Teams is currently one of the applications most widely used by companies because it offers the same functions as other video calling platforms while also providing additional useful and interesting features that improve the quality of remote working.
It is a corporate communication application that allows users to make individual or group video calls, share screens and send direct messages to one or more people at a time. Microsoft Teams also makes it possible to create a workspace and sharing environment for the entire team and divide it, for example, into departments, making interaction between employees easier.
Other features that have helped make this application popular among companies include its built-in calendar, which allows users to schedule meetings, view those that have already been arranged, check the date and time, see the topic to be discussed and consult the list of invited participants.
It also provides access to Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel, making document sharing more convenient.
Skype – Basic Video Calling Features and Completely Free
Finally, another widely used and well-known application is Skype. It includes all the basic features required for video calls, with the exception of the ability to add virtual backgrounds. It supports calls with up to 50 people and is completely free.
To make video calls, users need to add accounts to their contact list. These contacts are then saved, and users can also make audio calls in much the same way as ordinary telephone calls.
These are three of the applications most widely used by companies to communicate with clients and employees who are working remotely. Experts believe this reality will continue and, as a result, new features are expected to be added to videoconferencing applications in order to meet the evolving needs of companies and their employees.
