Skype hits bottom, digs

Since we are hiring in Seattle, I spend a lot of time in remote interviews with candidates.  We frequently use collabedit with the plain old telephone system (POTS) since almost everyone has a web browser and a phone.  However some of the candidates prefer skype so that we can see each other by video.  Skype used to have a free “Screen sharing” feature where the interviewer could watch the candidate’s screen as she coded up solutions, used her integrated  development environment (IDE) editor, and looked stuff up on the web to solve coding problems.  Now, however, not only has the skype quality of service (QOS) gone down but the formerly-free features all cost money.  Yuck.

The evil search giant (ESG) has added document and screen sharing to their free “Hangouts” video conferencing service, the question is:  why would anyone want to use skype anymore?

 

Hangouts runs on all devices, has better ‘net, more features, and is completely free.  Services offered by the ESG are nefarious, intrusive, creepy, and the worst services in the world, except for all of the alternatives.