LONG TIME SKYPE AND WHATSAPP USER LOOKING AT ZOOM PHONE TO REPLACE SKYPE

[JMBCOMMS]

I am a freelance travel writer, US based but taking multiple trips yearly to the Caribbean where I do much of my work. I use a Skype number for many calls back to the US and Canada but M/soft is dumping Skype in May. I do not regard M/soft as a company to trust with "Teams" which strikes me as far too complicated as a Skype replacement. I understand I can port (move) my Skype number so it is used in Zoom Phone. I want to be able to make and receive VOIP calls from a Zoom Phone app on my laptop which also runs on my cell phone. I do not often make calls using this number to anywhere other than the USA and Canada. Whatsapp is not practical for this use since so many people I call in the US don't have it. WHAT DO READERS HERE THINK OF USING ZOOM AS A SKYPE REPLACEMENT? This is for me only, I'm on the phone a lot every day.  IS IT A SIMPLE, SEAMLESS TRANSITION? Which Zoom Phone level would be best? THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING!  

[Vinnie]

Hello @JMBCOMMS 

I have been using Zoom Phone in the enterprise almost since its inception before 2020 and it is very reliable and with superb voice quality. For a US number you should be able to send/receive SMS as well. I never used Skype with a number but just prepaying minutes so I wouldn't be able to compare on that, but on the Voice quality it is as good or better.

I would say it is as simple to use as your Mobile Phone; because it is an App you need the extra step of going to the App, but the rest I would say is the same, but like in everything else, there is a small (although I would say neglectable) learning curve.

You can install the Zoom app in your Laptop, Tablet and also your Mobile phone so you could, and there are something  you can do that I don't recall I was able to do with Skype and that is switching the call between your Phone and Desktop and vice-versa: i.e. You were on the move and made or answer a call on your Mobile Zoom App, and once you arrive to your desktop, swap the call to your desktop almost with the a click of a button.

You get Voicemails with EMail notifications with Audio Attached and Transcription, and many other Business like features.

Take a look here for more details and I think you will be impressed:  https://zoom.us/pricing/zoom-phone 

that link provides also a comparison of Plans.

Based on your description, it seems a "Regional Unlimited" might be the right plan one for you; the difference between that one and "Global Select" I believe is first one is meant for US and CA numbers, and the other for international numbers. A Number comes included with the plan, and unlimited Domestic calls also within the country you got the number.

From I can see in the page, there some AI  features also included (Zoom AI Companion) which I believe you will come to enjoy if you receive a lot of voicemails, or have to create summaries of your conversations, etc.

I hope this helps, and if it does, please mark it as (Accept as Solution).

Vinnie