I see. Well I'm honestly baffled how Skype went from being the messaging platform/video chat-client to something that is generally reluctantly used by those who still left using it.
When I started using Skype in early 2008, it was a VERY GOOD VOIP application. So good, that it was marketed for businesses to use it. That's where the revenue stream was derived from. Casual users could use it for free when talking between computers. This was before Skype had mobile client apps. There were also several Skype add-ons that used the Skype API to enhance it's functionality in a business setting. Skype for business gave you a Skype in number and add-ons could to PBX style phone stuff.
They also had a thing called, "Skypecasts". You could open and moderate a room and there was a directory of active casts on Skype's website. I met some people that turned out to be good friends. People who were idiots and jerks could be kicked from the room by the host. The host also had control of who could talk, and who could listen only. It was brilliant. But on September 1, 2008, they discontinued the service. They never officially stated why, but many of us suspect there were casts engaging in illegal activities.
So for the past several years, those of us who wanted to remain in contact have used the group calling feature.
Even though video was possible in one on one calls, it wasn't available in group calls or the casts, so it was primarily audio calls, with the text chat thrown in for good measure.
Now, it's Microsoft's, and they want it to be more chat oriented like Whatsapp and have you stay logged in all the time. Before, when you closed Skype, you were unavailable, and that's how people want it to work. But they don't listen to their loyal user base and keep throwing crap at the wall to see what will stick, and it's obvious that they have changed their target demographic.
Yep, I still use it, but it's nothing like it was just a few years ago.
