I had the same issue with Skype. I was also looking for an alternative to call my parents' landline in the UK from Canada, as they don't use mobile phones. Viber seemed to work ok - once installing the app, you can use the 'Viber out' functionality to call phones and add credit as necessary - I think it was $2.99 a month for 100mins to UK. I will see how it goes this month but also open to suggestions! For everyone else with smartphones I use WhatsApp or FaceTime because it is free of course.

I had wanted to use Skype more before the cut off, but they seem to have removed the ability to add credit? Is that the same for everyone?

Apparently. I use Skype infrequently and have a little credit, it remains to be seen just how long I'll be allowed to use it.

Did they ? They acquired Skype 14 years ago took them a long time to kill it if they did. Teams is effectively the new Skype. Skype for business became Teams.

Skype has been killed off because of old technology. if you are happy to pay for Office 365 then Teams is the way to go.

WhatsApp can be used on almost any device, but it has to be linked to a cell phone number. There are rumors that it will be possible to link it to an e-mail address instead in the future.

If on esigns up for teams, can one keep the existing Skype number

MSFT Teams is a good choice. However what I am looking for is a solution where I can call any number worldwide. SKYPE offered that, most other solutions don't. Or does anybody have any ideas?

I phrased it poorly, I meant, purchased it just to end up killing it. But true enough 14 years is a long time. I can't believe it's even been that long.