{"id":14392,"date":"2017-05-17T11:46:16","date_gmt":"2017-05-17T06:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/?p=14392"},"modified":"2017-05-17T11:46:16","modified_gmt":"2017-05-17T06:16:16","slug":"amazon-chime-vs-skype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/amazon-chime-vs-skype\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon Chime vs Skype"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amazon recently launched its \u00a0“<\/strong>Skype“<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/a> competitor christened “Amazon Chime“<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0Which is intended to be a group calling, messaging, and coordinated effort instrument for organizations, and also only a straightforward video call application for the masses. It does this, with a three level arrangement system, that partitions the accessible components into different levels. In the “Amazon Chime Basic” arrangement, all you get is 1:1 voice, and video calling. It additionally concedes you access to utilizing the talk. At its most noteworthy level (Amazon Chime Pro), the application offers propelled components, for example, custom meeting URLs, screen sharing capacities, scheduling, and facilitating gatherings, and not withstanding recording meetings. This, for up to 100 individuals, at a moderately low cost of $15 per client, every month. Along these lines, in case you’re pondering which one to utilize, we have an itemized examination of both the Amazon Chime, and Skype:<\/p>\n[ad type=”banner”]\n

Amazon Chime vs Skype: Feature Breakdown<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

1. Calling Features<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Both the Amazon Chime, and Skype, offer some really great calling features.\u00a0Adding contacts is easy in Amazon Chime, but not so much in Skype.\u00a0Once you\u2019ve added your contacts, calling them is easy on both\u00a0Amazon Chime, and Skype, and both the services have\u00a0equally good audio quality<\/strong>, so you can\u2019t go wrong with either choice. However, there is one place where Skype leaves Amazon Chime in the dust: calling phone numbers. It\u2019s not always a given, that the person you need to contact is on the same application as you are, which is where\u00a0Skype\u2019s competitively priced\u00a0calling rates<\/strong>\u00a0really\u00a0knock it out of the park.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to video calls, both the Amazon Chime, and Skype are great performers. The\u00a0quality of video calls is good as expected<\/strong>, and stable. It\u2019s important to note that if you\u2019re using Chime\u00a0on an unstable connection, it will refuse\u00a0to launch the video. However, you\u00a0will still be able to connect on voice call.<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0<\/strong>Amazon Chime only offers 1:1 audio, and video calling in the \u201cAmazon Chime Basic\u201d plan. For more capabilities, you will need to subscribe to the \u201cAmazon Chime Plus\u201d, \u201cAmazon Chime Pro\u201d plans.<\/p>\n

2. Screen Sharing<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Both the Amazon Chime, and Skype offer\u00a0screen sharing support<\/strong>.\u00a0However, while Skype offers the feature for free,\u00a0Amazon Chime requires the \u201cPlus\u201d\u00a0plan<\/strong>\u00a0($2.50 per user\/month) in order to use the screen sharing feature. That said, screen sharing in Amazon Chime seems to be accessible more easily than on Skype.\u00a0While you\u2019re in a call with someone, you can simply click on the\u00a0\u201cScreen\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0option, and\u00a0choose between \u201cShare Screen\u201d, and \u201cShare Window\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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In Amazon Chime, you can even\u00a0request to control the other user\u2019s screen remotely<\/strong>. This will definitely come in handy in meetings, and\u00a0video calls where you\u2019re trying to make plans, etc. Meanwhile, even though Skype allows Screen Sharing for free, you can subscribe to one of the paid plans for Skype for Business, to be able to remotely control another user\u2019s screen.<\/p>\n

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3. Record Meetings<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Another feature that Amazon Chime, and Skype for Business, both offer, is the ability to record entire meetings.\u00a0The record meetings feature in\u00a0Amazon Chime<\/strong>\u00a0allows users to\u00a0record the audio of the meeting, but not the video<\/strong>. So, if you were sharing a screen, and working on a document together, that won\u2019t be recorded; however, the audio of the meeting will. This can help to create transcripts of meetings, share the audio with people who couldn\u2019t attend the meeting, so they may be briefed about everything that was discussed, and more.<\/p>\n

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To get this feature in Skype, you will have to subscribe to one of the \u201cSkype for Business<\/strong>\u201d plans, which is not a big deal, because the recording feature that Amazon Chime offers is a part of the \u201cAmazon Chime Pro plan\u201d, which will cost you almost $15 per month, per user. Also,\u00a0Skype for Business can record audio, as well as video<\/strong>, something that Amazon Chime can\u2019t do (yet).<\/p>\n

4. Share\u00a0Documents and Media<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Both Skype, and Amazon Chime come with the capability to share\u00a0documents, and media. Although, being oriented towards both consumers, and\u00a0enterprises, one would expect Amazon Chime to have more options for sharing documents, and media.\u00a0However, as it turns out,\u00a0Skype offers a lot more flexibility<\/strong>\u00a0when it comes to the types of files you can send. With Skype, you can send documents, and images, as well as contacts, location, and video messages. However,\u00a0Amazon Chime only lets users send documents, or media<\/strong>\u00a0(such as images).<\/p>\n

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This is a sad oversight, in my opinion, because sharing locations, and contacts can be pretty useful in\u00a0a software aimed at solving the issue of remote meetings in large multinational companies.<\/p>\n

5. Instant and Scheduled Meetings<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Since Amazon Chime is aimed primarily at enterprises, it includes a host of powerful meeting features; something that is present in Skype for Business, as well. However, personally, I find the\u00a0intuitive way in which Amazon Chime works<\/strong>, much better than Skype.<\/p>\n

With the \u201cAmazon Chime Pro<\/strong>\u201d plan, you can easily\u00a0set up instant, or scheduled meetings<\/strong>. The host can simply click on \u201cMeetings\u201d, and select \u201cStart an Instant Meeting<\/strong> \u201c, or \u201cSchedule a Meeting\u201d. Users can even click on \u201cJoin a Meeting<\/strong> \u201c, if they want to join a meeting being hosted by someone else.<\/p>\n

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Instant Meetings start at the very same moment<\/strong>. You simply select the people you want to invite, and the meeting starts off. Invitees get notifications that they\u2019re invited to a meeting, and they can join, decline, or send a message if they\u2019re running late.<\/p>\n

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Scheduled Meetings, on the other hand, are made by creating a meeting in the calendar application of your choice, and adding invitees. Amazon Chime also gives you some important information that you have to add in the description for the meeting, so the invitees can attend it. This information contains various methods to connect to the meeting, and every invitee can choose to connect whichever way they prefer.<\/p>\n

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Amazon Chime offers very clear instructions about how to create a scheduled meeting, so you don\u2019t really have to worry about anything, except following the instructions.<\/p>\n

Amazon Chime vs Skype: Platform Availability<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Platform Availability is a very important factor when it comes to\u00a0apps that offer online meeting features. After all, not everyone in a company will be using the same platform, which is why it\u2019s important to support at least the most popular platforms \u2013 another area where\u00a0Skype fares much better than Amazon Chime<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Amazon Chime is available on\u00a0Android<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0iOS<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0Windows<\/a>, and\u00a0macOS<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. It can also be used in the browser itself, if need be.<\/li>\n
  2. Skype, on the other hand, is available on\u00a0Android<\/a>,\u00a0iOS<\/a>,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Windows Phone<\/a>,\u00a0BlackBerry<\/a>,\u00a0Windows<\/a>,\u00a0macOS<\/a>,<\/strong><\/span> and\u00a0Linux<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. Plus, it can be used on a browser, as well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Amazon Chime vs Skype: Pricing and Plans<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Both Skype, and Amazon Chime come with three different tiers, that can be used depending on your needs. The pricing, and features vary vastly between the two, and both of them offer some great features. Here\u2019s a breakdown of the different plans available in Amazon Chime, and Skype for Business:<\/p>\n

    1. Amazon Chime<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Amazon Chime offers 3\u00a0plan options for you to choose from:<\/p>\n

    Amazon Chime Basic (Free)<\/strong>: This is the free tier of the Amazon Chime service, and will only let you make\u00a01:1 audio, and video calls<\/strong>. You will also get access to chats, and chat rooms on all your devices<\/p>\n

    Amazon Chime Plus ($2.50 per user, per month)<\/strong>: The Amazon Chime Plus plan comes with all the features of Amazon Chime Basic, along with\u00a0support for screen sharing<\/strong>, and a host of IT management tools.<\/p>\n

    Amazon Chime Pro ($15 per user, per month)<\/strong>: The highest tier in the Amazon Chime service, this plan offers all the features of Amazon Chime Plus, and adds the ability to\u00a0record meetings<\/strong>, get\u00a0personalized meeting URLs<\/strong>, and the ability to\u00a0join meetings with a standard phone line<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    2. Skype for Business<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Skype is divided into two different categories: Skype, and Skype for Business.\u00a0Skype is free to use<\/strong>, and doesn\u2019t require any subscription. However, Skype for Business has two tiers:<\/p>\n

    Office 365 Business Essentials\u00a0($5 per user per month)<\/strong>: This is the most affordable tier of the two, and offers\u00a0audio, HD video, and web conferencing<\/strong>, along with the ability to\u00a0share your presentations<\/strong>, and\u00a0transfer control to other members<\/strong>, schedule meetings, and do a lot more.<\/p>\n

    Office 365 Business Premium ($12.50 per user, per month)<\/strong>: This tier offers everything that the Business Essentials plan offers, along with features like\u00a0File Sharing<\/strong>, and storage up to 1GB per user. It also includes\u00a0advanced meeting options<\/strong>\u00a0like polls, and Q&As, which can definitely add a lot to your online meetings.<\/p>\n

    Amazon Chime vs Skype: Use Cases<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Both the Amazon Chime, and Skype for Business, are primarily voice, and video conferencing applications that aim to help users run their business effectively. Skype has the advantage over Amazon Chime, in that it has been in the market quite long, plus it offers some killer features. However, Amazon Chime is no slouch, either. It offers a plethora of features that you can use to improve the quality of your online meetings.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re planning on using the\u00a0free version of Skype<\/strong>, you should know that it only\u00a0supports up to 25 people<\/strong>, and doesn\u2019t really incorporate meetings in the traditional way. Of course, you can still use it as an online meeting application, but for real productivity, you\u2019ll do better if you subscribed to one of the \u201cSkype for Business\u201d plans that Microsoft offers.<\/p>\n[ad type=”banner”]\n

    Amazon Chime, on the other hand, can only be used as a meeting application with one of the paid subscriptions. The\u00a0free tier only includes 1:1 video calling<\/strong>, which makes the \u201cAmazon Chime Basic\u201d plan rather meek when it comes to remote, online meetings for enterprises. However, if you subscribe to the \u201cAmazon Chime Plus\u201d, or \u201cPro\u201d plans, you\u2019ll get access to a host of great features for your enterprise.<\/p>\n

    To sum it up, if you\u2019re looking for a\u00a0casual video calling<\/strong>\u00a0application, you can use Skype, or\u00a0the \u201cAmazon Chime Basic\u201d plan. However, I would\u00a0recommend using\u00a0Skype<\/strong>, because it allows video conferencing between a maximum of 25 people. After all, you wouldn\u2019t always use a casual video conferencing application for just video calling with one single person at a time.<\/p>\n

    However, if you\u2019re looking for an enterprise solution for your online meetings, I think the\u00a0\u201cAmazon Chime Pro\u201d plan has a lot of potential<\/strong>\u00a0in it. After all, it is\u00a0based on the AWS cloud infrastructure<\/strong>, which is one of the best enterprise cloud computing solutions there are.\u00a0Plus, I personally find the Amazon Chime app much easier to understand, and use. For what it\u2019s worth, though, the Skype for Business app can also serve you well, when it comes to enterprise solutions for online meetings, so the choice is entirely yours to make.<\/p>\n

    Amazon Chime: Truly a Skype Competitor?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

    Amazon may have launched Chime as their answer to Microsoft\u2019s Skype for Business, but whether it can truly compete with an established application like Skype, is anyone\u2019s guess. For what it\u2019s worth, Amazon Chime does offer some really great features, and at a competitive price. Add to that the fact that Chime is based on Amazon\u2019s AWS cloud infrastructure, and you can immediately see why it has a good chance of competing against Skype; both for casual users, and\u00a0as an enterprise solution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Amazon Chime vs Skype – Internet – Amazon recently launched its Skype competitor christened \u201cAmazon Chime\u201c, Which is intended to be a group<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18379],"tags":[44220,44223,44207,44189,44222,44191,44202,44217,44210,44221,44218,21443,44219,44200,44201,44192,44190,44213,44211,44208,44203,44214,44193,44187,44216,44194,44196,44197,44195,44215,44212,44205,44206,44198,44209,44199,44188,44204],"class_list":["post-14392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-internet","tag-alternatives-to-skype","tag-blue-hd-video","tag-gotomeeting-join","tag-gotomeeting-pricing","tag-gotowebinar-pricing","tag-india-free-trial-webex","tag-join-me-meeting","tag-microsoft-skype-for-business","tag-screen-share-skype","tag-skype-alternative","tag-skype-business","tag-skype-for-business","tag-skype-online-video-call","tag-video-zoom","tag-video-zoom-app","tag-webex-india-free-trial","tag-webex-pricing","tag-what-is-zoom","tag-zoom-app","tag-zoom-call","tag-zoom-chat","tag-zoom-cloud","tag-zoom-cloud-meetings","tag-zoom-conferencing","tag-zoom-in-app","tag-zoom-meeting","tag-zoom-meeting-app","tag-zoom-meeting-download","tag-zoom-online-meeting","tag-zoom-screen-sharing","tag-zoom-software","tag-zoom-us","tag-zoom-us-download","tag-zoom-video","tag-zoom-video-call","tag-zoom-video-communications","tag-zoom-video-conferencing","tag-zoom-webinar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14392\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wikitechy.com\/technology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}