Video calls are a quick and easy way to stay in touch with family, friends and loved ones. They make it easy to communicate without the delay of texts or lack of emotion from phone calls. Thanks to modern technology, most smartphones and computers today now come with a front-facing camera that allows you to make calls on the go.
Video calling grew in 2020 with many separated families going online to virtually attend major life events such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals.
With that, here are some of the most popular ways to keep in touch.
On a computer/tablet:
Facebook Messenger
1. Go to the Facebook.com homepage
2. In the top right-hand corner of the news feed, click the “Messenger” icon
3. Search for the person you would like to call and click on their profile
4. When the chat window is open, click the video call icon in the top right corner next to their name
5. Start the call when ready
6. Once finished, hang up using the red “end call” icon
Skype
You can download the Skype app to your computer or make a call from your internet browser.
1. Go to skype.com
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account or create a free account
3. Select “Create a free video call” or Download the Skype app
4. Give your meeting a name and create a link to share with family and friends
5. Start the call when ready
Zoom
Zoom was one of the most popular video-calling apps in 2020 for workplaces and large groups.
1. Go to zoom.us and sign up for free or log into an existing account
2. Connect your phone’s contacts
3. Follow the instructions to schedule a new meeting
4. Share the meeting link with your contacts
5. Start the Zoom call when ready
On a phone:
Facebook Messenger
Like the desktop version, the Facebook Messenger app also allows you to make a video calls from your phone.
1. Download the Facebook Messenger app
2. Open the app
3. Set up an account to sign in or log in with your existing Facebook Messenger account details
4. Use the search bar to find the person you would like to video call - Note: They also need a Facebook Messenger account for this
5. In the chat window, select the video icon to make the call when ready
6. You can add in more people to create a group call
7. To hang up, simply press the red button
Skype
1. Download the Skype for iPhone or Skype for Android app
2. Sign in or create a free Microsoft account
3. Select “Calls”
4. Select the person you’d like to call – Note: They will need to have a Skype account
5. Start the call
6. When finished, end the call by selecting the red button
1. Download the WhatsApp app
2. Set up an account or log into an existing one
3. Select “Calls”
4. Tap the phone icon in the right-hand corner and select the contact you would like to call
5. Start the call when ready
6. To make a group call, simply add more people to the current call
7. When finished, tap the red button to hang up
FaceTime
If you have an iPhone or Apple device, FaceTime is a free built-in app for video calling.
1. Go to the FaceTime app
2. In the top right-hand corner, tap the “+” icon
3. Enter which contact you would like to call – Note: They must also have an Apple iCloud account
4. Select video to start the call when ready
5. To end the call, tap the red “X” button
Tips for great video calls
- Be prepared before starting the call
- Use headphones or find a quiet space
- Get close to the microphone
- Position the camera so your full face is visible
- Look for a room with natural brightness and face the camera away from the light.
- Connect your phone to Wi-Fi for the best video quality and to prevent connection dropouts.
- Video calls will drain your battery so make sure your device is fully charged or plugged in.