Article updated October 2011
After having seen the ooVoo video, and noticed its uncanny resemblence to Skype, I wondered what the differences were. After having time to play with both programs a bit, here’s what I have to offer as far as the differences on the great ooVoo vs. Skype debate.
Although they are both video-conferencing and messaging software products, they are, in fact, different animals. One difference I see between ooVoo and Skype is that ooVoo allows for your friends who have NOT downloaded ooVoo to still be able to talk with you from their web browser with their Web Video Calling feature. I think that’s a pretty nifty idea, especially for those who may be on the move, at a public place, friend’s computer, etc., who can’t download the program, or don’t want to for whatever reason.
Skype, however, can be used to video chat from the Skype program to Facebook, and allows video calls on Facebook itself.
Skype also has WiFi capability, allowing you to get online anywhere there’s a hotspot using Skype credits, paying only what you use.
ooVoo also has a web video chat feature which allows you to embed video onto your blog, website or social networking site. ooVoo also allows you to upload recorded videos directly to YouTube once recorded, too.
Skype can be used on a computer, tablet, or you can get Skype on your mobile phone, home phone, or on TVs, too, so you can keep in touch with your contact list while away from your computer. For Skype on home phones, you can purchase a Skype-ready cordless phone or buy the FREETALK® Connect•Me phone adapter to use on any phone you already own. For TVs, you can purchase a Skype-ready television or use your Bluray player with a webcam. Skype-to-Skype calling is free, but you can call anywhere in the world on Skype and pay from 1.2 cents a minute (via credit or subscription). I figure, since Skype has been around longer, it’s got the edge there, with more technology available. Neat!
OoVoo is also available for your computer, mobile phone, or tablet, but there’s an asterisk on their plans page that indicates not all features are available for Mac-users. Skype, however, doesn’t offer much less than it does with Windows-users (no emoticons, no Facebook integration without using beta version 5.4), and has no issues running on OS X Lion.
Skype also can import contacts from mail servers, your phone’s contact lists, Facebook and instant messages, as well as being able to use Skype with Facebook friends, or send IMs and text messages to contact’s cell phones.
Both services offer a text or video chats, HD video, a recording option for saving presentations or interviews, screen sharing, and the ability to send files to other parties.
But another difference between them is calling ability. With ooVoo, whether you choose the standard, plus or pro option. Skype, however, you can call anywhere in the world with pay as you go, by paying monthly, or going with Skype Premium (currently 50% off). While you can call anywhere in the world with Skype, phone minutes on ooVoo can only be used to call mobile phones in the US, Canada, Hong Kong & China and only landlines in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, China and Israel.
Conference calling is also a big difference between the two. With ooVoo, you can call up to six people with the free version, or twelve people with their ooVoo Pro option to conference. With Skype, you can contact up to 24, via both Skype and landline, to conference.
Skype is also ad-free, whereas ooVoo is only ad-free for their paid versions. Also, Skype is available for Linux, whereas ooVoo is not (only PC, Mac, Android or iPhone).
I also like that, when browsing online with Skype, every telephone number becomes a button you can press to dial instantly, if you subscribe to that extra service Skype offers. This allows you to use it for phoning people directly as well (currently, if you wish to use it for free, you’re just calling your contacts via Skype-to-Skype application, not their phone numbers, similar to instant messaging). Should I decide in the future to do so, that’s a pretty handy feature, to say the least.
In both cases, I see both ooVoo and Skype advocating for the use of a headset. I do not have one at the moment, but I do see how they could help, especially in business-type cases, and I will consider getting one in the future. For now my laptop’s built-in speakers and microphone will do just fine (that is, until one of my children begins to interfere with calls. Then I might decide to go with the option that allows me to actually hear my calls, and for my callers to hear me).
What do YOU think about both ooVoo and Skype? Which do you use? Do you use your webcam? Why or why not?
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