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Microsoft Fixes Bugs in Skype for Linux (softpedia.com)
After neglecting Linux's Skype client for years, Microsoft released a new app of Skype for Linux in July, giving comfort to millions of users. The app, however, had a fair share of bugs. Microsoft today has updated the app to iron out those bugs, and introduced a handful of interesting options. An anonymous reader writes: There were plenty of users who complained that Skype for Linux was reconnecting automatically when not using the app for a certain amount of time and Microsoft has already acknowledged the bug. This new version fixes the problem, so everything should work correctly after updating. Additionally, Skype for Linux 1.7 introduces a new grid layout of the group calls, but also fixes the standard behavior of unread messages. According to Microsoft, this means that "when opening chat with unread messages, the view will focus on the first unread message and as you scroll, messages will be marked as read."
Discord doesn't do phone stuff (Skype-in, Skype-out, Skype to go, VOIP to phone forwarding, free international calling, no existing phone required, voice mail), screen sharing, video chat, video conferencing, forwarding between accounts, has a UI that can be minimalist (why has discord made it even worse!?)...
I don't know of any real alternatives to Skype, I end up using multiple services at the end of the day, but Skype is irreplaceable because none of the alternatives do everything Skype can do.
Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
It's a network effect. For each person who can't use Skype, all contacts to that person are forced to use an alternate client It's better for Microsoft to keep as many people on as many platforms as happy as possible.