Many people desire to stay connected with their loved ones during this time of social separation. While the telephone may remain the gold-standard for personal and professional connection, video chat has quickly become the new norm for many. Video chat can offer another element of connection that may be missed by a simple phone call. We will be going over a number of free options for personal and professional connection.
Personal Chat Services
Skype
www.skype.com
Launched in 2003, Skype is one of the longest running and most widely used video chat platforms. Skype has a free video chat and messaging functions and can be used on nearly any computer or smart device (phone or tablet). On a computer, chatting can be done in a browser (i.e. Chrome, Edge, Safari). However, a dedicated app will make the experience better on a smart device. The platform also has the ability to connect to mobile and land line phones with a paid, monthly subscription. Skype requires the creation of a username and password.
Google Hangouts
hangouts.google.com
For people who already have an account with Google, Google Hangouts may already be a familiar communication platform. Like Skype, Google Hangouts can be used for both messaging and video calls. With the number of people who already have a Google account, signing in will be fairly seamless in most web browsers. Apps are also available on most smart devices. Google Hangouts does stand out over much of the competition with the ability to chat with up to 25 other users concurrently.
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