Skype
By Jonathan Cass
Many of you may be wondering, “What is Zoom?” or “What is FaceTime?” In a series of how-to articles, we will post information and links to some helpful tutorials on using the most popular Law Society of Ontario approved virtual meeting platforms. This article (the second in our series) is on Skype.
Skype is a platform for internet phone calls and video chat. It is free to join Skype and the software (which is also free) is available for a variety of popular devices (Windows, Mac or Apple devices, Android, and others).
Skype gained popularity in the 2010s, when it was the most common method of calling long distance over the web—for free or at significantly reduced rates. Microsoft purchased Skype in 2011 and, by 2015, it was the most popular means of video chat among post-secondary students and instructors.
Since Skype has enjoyed longer popularity than many other platforms, its online resources on how to use Skype are somewhat limited. The assumption is that Skype is so easy to use that it does not require detailed instructions. For example, in the Skype app for Mac desktop computers, there are only two main buttons: “Meet Now” (for video chat) and “New Chat” for typed messages. Easy, right? However, if you are new to video chat, it may not be that easy, and that’s OK. There are resources out there. Skype provides a “Getting Started” page to help new users.
When you make an appointment for a virtual meeting with us, your lawyer will likely provide instructions by phone or email. In general, we recommend following these steps:
If you have not downloaded Skype already, click the “DOWNLOAD SKYPE” button above
If you need help getting started with Skype, use the ”Getting Started” link above or search the web for how-to videos
Test that Skype is working before your appointment, by trying it with a friend or family member who also has the ability to use Skype
Approximately 10 minutes before your appointment, open the Skype app and login
Refer to your lawyer’s specific instructions on making your video call to start your appointment
If you have any questions about Skype, or any of the popular virtual meeting platforms, please feel free to send me an email.
We wish our current and future clients the best of health during this critical time, in which we should all do our best to “flatten the curve.”