Can Skype be used by more than 2 people on the same call?

[PorridgeAgainAbney]

I feel like I need to get a lot more tech savvy to make sure DS stays in contact with his friends. I haven't used Skype but is it like Teams where you could have 3+ people on one call and they could all see eachother?

One to one is fine but with 7 year olds they aren't at the stage where they would sit and just chat to eachother whereas if a group of them could be involved then that would probably work better and there would be more chat and giggles, etc.

Or is there another system that is good for several kids to speak/see eachother on calls/online?

Yes, you set up a Skype call and can then add people to the call. Not sure how many you can get on there but I do 3 and 4 way calling for work at least weekly

WhatsApp video calling can have multiple people and really easy to use.

I have heard good things about Zoom but not investigated it yet.

Zoom is good. You get 40 minutes for free and up to 100 people. Only one person can talk at a time so it may depend on the ages of your Ds. We have used it and it’s good.

Zoom is much better. Skype just isn't as good these days!

We’re using teams for communal events and family events at work to support those isolated at home with little ones.
We’re so far arranging
Online choir for team members
A family talent competition
Tutorial support with people offering things like teams French conversation for all levels and craft or Maths coaching.
A book club for all from teenagers up
Daily story time for different ages
Reading to listening sessions one to one for older staff to give parents with young children a break for a mug of tea.
A virtual campfire by a guide leader staff member
Virtual cocktails on a Friday for adults only
Virtual birthday parties for under tens.

Lots more ideas to come, I’m sure. We’re lucky we’re set up for homeworking already.

Yeah you can, we had 15 in a call yesterday! Not video though just voice.

I used zoom last night, was good. Cuts out after 40 mins but you can just set up another meeting straight away and carry on.

Zoom is very expensive to call, as is pow wow now. You can have I think dozens if people at one time on teams.

@AlwaysCheddar yes expensive to call but if you have the app or use a web browser it runs off internet

Zoom is great - we're doing online classes and mainly using zoom and Google but one class of mine started on Skype and prefer it (I don't) and there are 24 of them.

We're doing AA meetings on Zoom. Most of us use phones, the meetings are an hour and we have about 25 people. It works really well.

I was on an all staff skype meeting with 167 people yesterday. Worked fine

Device dependent of course, but group facetime works for us

My children are a little older but they chat with instagram video calls or PlayStation headset.

Yes, you can with Skype.

FaceTime is only 2 people.

4 of us siblings get on Skype once in a while. We are having virtual drinks on Saturday!

We had a 3 way call (involving 3 countries!) On Facebook messenger yesterday.

Thanks all . I'll need to get my head around all this and hopefully other parents in our class will know a bit more about the different options too.

BlackCatSleeping FaceTime is available for groups now - my link includes the instructions. It’s dead easy, assuming your friends/family have apple devices of course

my teens are all using Houseparty (an app for the phone).

Are any of these apps free to video chat? I’m not tech savvy at all!

Yes, Elieza, as long as you have wi-fi

Oh that’s great! I thought what’s app was just a text based thing, didn’t know it could be video. That will really help me keep in touch if it’s free to download and use. Thanks.

We use skype at work and you can have up to 200 people on it. However it's not been performing well since everyone started working from home so we are moving to Teams next week.