The end of an era came when Microsoft pulled the plug on Skype after 22 years of connecting people. So, what are the best alternative video-calling apps?

Microsoft has officially shut down Skype, the video-call service that helped launch a new era for online communication. The tech company said it will shift its video-conference services to Microsoft Teams, its flagship communication platform, according to a report in CNET, the tech media outlet.

Heading into the 2020s, it seemed that one company was poised to lead the world into the future when it came to video calling. Apple's FaceTime was well received after being added to iPhones, but those out of the Apple ecosystem may have felt left out.