Discussion on:

Five apps for video calls and collaboration

The best chat app I have found (better than Windows Live Messenger and Skype) is the chat feature of Gmail. You don't have to have a Google+ account, but you do need a Gmail account.

You can call (without video) anywhere in North America for free, regardless of the other person having a Google account or not.

I DON'T work for Google, I'm retired

I've used both Messenger and Google for quite a while... I'm a very satisfied user... Now I'm wondering if any of the others are better.

Re your video chat wonderings. I have used AIM for years. Now I find with an upgrade that it shows my name rather than screen name. I took it out, tried an older version and they all give my name. My friend also objects to use of his name now, too.. Whatever happened to AOL's privacy feature? They don't allow me to change it now nor does SKYPE. AOL pulled their old "So and so is in a private chatroom," so it must have been under protest. Knowing that, why are they posting our full names again? SKYPE blocks half the video with icons. AIM has a large IM screen. AIM's video holds longer or did before the upgrade. Now NOTHING works. AOL, give me back my old AIM and privacy, please.

I believe, there is no sense to re-invent the wheel )
any complication of a service causes lower user-friendliness, bugs and troubles.
We are using Skype for video-chats and Teamlab collaboration platform separately and everyone is satisfied.