We moved to Canada some years ago and have kept in touch with various institutions in the UK using Skype and very reasonably priced it has been since our calls have been few and infrequent.
I learn today that Microsoft are finally about to shut it down in May of this year.
I won't be alone in the need to contact the UK by phone so can anybody advise me as to an alternative to Skype.
Note that I won't need data or SMS overhead, simply the ability to communicate and those at the other end won't be using any app that I'll be using so I simply need the ability to make phone calls as economically as possible because as anyone knows, once you're in a queue you're in a queue..... and it can go on forever.

FaceTime.

Yep, don't have an iphone and cellphone here doesn't have data so need a windows based app if at all possible.

Dave. Get yourself an i-phone and sign up to WhatsApp. It's a completely free service (though you have to buy an i-phone). I've been using it for years, and it's a wonderful service.

Whatsapp isn’t iPhone specific, it can be used with other phones (or tablets/laptops) too.

WhatsApp works fine on Android phones too, so no need to buy an iPhone. You don't need mobile data either, just access to WiFi (although this will restrict you to making and receiving calls or texts only where you have access to a WiFi signal).

Other VoIP apps are available, even from Windows, but each will have it's own costs and benefits.

I use WhatsApp on phone, tablet or PC. I sometimes use Signal but only on my android phone, Signal is encrypted unlike WA. There's also Zoom.

Zoom or microsoft Teams?

Just go to Microsoft Teams. It is a more updated version of Skype

Yes I've downloaded teams but the controls that allow dialing and calling are not present and I'm not the only person who's discovered this.
However I think that all is not lost, reading between the kines I'm reading that purchase of Skype credit ends April 3 and if I understand correctly Skype will remain availabke through the "Skype Portal" thereafter.
Thanks for your comments, time will tell.

I agree Skype served a need as a simple service to call each other, and I still use it to talk to my parents. I am particularly irritated that Microsoft purchased it just to kill it, especially as the original Skype was Peer-to-Peer and Microsoft made it centralized instead.

I will admit the current version of Skype is pretty terrible though, but Teams is also terrible.

I think WhatsApp is a decent alternative, many people have it already and there is a desktop app https://www.whatsapp.com/download

I just wish we could go back to the old Skype instead.

I use Talk360. I have the App on my mobile phone and it works in the same way as Skype.
I have found the sound quality to be better than Skype.

I use Teams for work (also Zoom). The recent versions are not at all stable and I wouldn't recommend it. WhatsApp works fine for text, voice, and video.

Update:
I read that Teams will include a dialer for Skype users later, one that isn't present at the moment allowing continued use of a Skype-like service.
It remains to be seen how long my credit will remain usable, I plan to increase it a little before April 3, the cutoff date.

Another vote for WhatsApp. I use it to call the family in england, and my dad actually uses it to call and message me.