strange, nobody i know use Google to chat or video call, some members of our family use Viber, i convinced few to Signal so they can talk to me, pretty much everyone has Skype but most of the people use it just on desktop and then when I would ask people around everyone use WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, but Google communication apps are pretty much dead here around me in Europe somewhere slightly higher than Signal but much much lower than Skype in popularity
BTW what is so awful about Skype Lite interface? a bit more cluttered than Viber, WhatsApp or Signal, but still ok compared to Messenger nobody has problem with judging by popularity
It's not that everybody here is using Google apps. They aren't. They all use WhatsApp or FB Messenger. But those options are terrible to me (particularly because desktop clients are bad or non-existent)
The reasons I hope Google gets their act together is because they are in the right place to do so. They have the mindshare, just need to execute better and network effects may kick in. It also doesn't matter if they have the best platform but none of my friends/family use it. Again, Google is better positioned to make that happen, IMHO.
I don't know what Skype Lite is. I use Skype for Linux Alpha. Is that it? It seems to be missing video calls, the chat interface is complicated (spent some time trying to find the chat while in a voice call), it doesn't integrate well with the desktop (it minimizes when I close, instead of hiding in the tray). Like I said, they are improving.
As for Signal and converting people to some technology I know is better... Sorry, tried that too many times. It's not worth the time invested. These companies will have to figure out how to increase their market share without depending on tech enthusiats.
Skype Lite is Android app intended for India only, you can install it through Yalp market or from Apk mirror, it's pretty much same as proper Skype, just 3 times smaller and should be lighter on data, not sure why Microsoft doesn't officially allow it in other markets too since it can deal with your voice calls, skype calls, SMS, chat so you could replace your dialer, your messaging app and your Skype
Signal should be always introduced just as nice SMS/MMS app and add it can also send encrypted chat messages if other party has Signal as well, because what's the point having single purpose SMS app when you can have app providing two options of delivering your messages, I think it's good way to sell Signal, considering most of built in SMS apps are crap.
