Amidst the surge in people working from home due to COVID-19, Microsoft has now added a new feature to its Skype service, dubbed as ‘Meet Now.’ It’s a free video call service, aimed at both people who want to chat with friends & family and small businesses looking for a Zoom-alternative to organize online meetings.
In this article, let’s have a look at how to use Skype Meet Now for free video calls.
How to Use Skype Meet Now for Video Calling
Before we start, note that Skype Meet Now can be used on a laptop or desktop browser without having to sign up for an account or download the app. However, only Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers are supported for now. Firefox is yet to be included. Also, if you’re using it on the phone, you’ll be required to download the Skype app. Though, you don’t need a Microsoft account.
Step-by-step Guide to use Skype Meet Now
1] To start with, head to the Meet Now page on Skype’s website.
2] Here, click on Create a free meeting. Wait for a few seconds, and it’ll give you your unique meeting link that can be shared with your contacts. You can either copy and paste the link or share it directly via Gmail and Outlook.
3] Click on Start Call.
4] You will be asked to select if you want to log in with your Skype account (if you have one) or join in as a guest. The latter just requires your name. The same choice will be given to the other guests you’ve invited.
5] Now, you’ll be taken to a chat box where you can interact with other members and make sure that everyone has joined. After that, you can click on Start Call on the top right corner to initiate a video conference with the group. Grant microphone and camera permissions whenever prompted.
You can enable or disable the microphone and video in between the call. Furthermore, you can share messages, links, pictures, and more with the participants without having any interruptions.
There’s also an option to share your screen, in case you’re giving any tutorials or assisting with programs or technical issues. Interestingly, Skype has also added a background blur feature which comes in handy while working from home.
Note that Meet Now lets you record the call for future references. Microsoft stores the conversations and recordings for up to 30 days, and the same can be retrieved anytime within the set period. As of now, a maximum of 50 people can join a meeting, including yourself. And once created, the link does not expire and can be accessed anytime.
Wrapping Up
We hope that now you know how to use Skype’s new Meet Now feature. Anyway, what are your thoughts on it? Will you be using it over Zoom? Do let us know in the comments below. Moreover, feel free to reach out in case of any doubts or queries.
Also, read- How to Download and Set Up Zoom App for Your Online Meetings
