Show HN: I made an International calling app after Skype shutdown ($0.01/min)
callsky.ioI built CallSky as a simple alternative for international calling after Microsoft shut down Skype earlier this month. The app lets you make calls to landlines and cell phones worldwide starting at $0.01/minute with a pay-as-you-go model.
I noticed that while Teams replaced Skype's video/chat conferencing, it doesn't offer the same affordable PSTN calling that many people relied on. WhatsApp and other messaging apps don't solve this - whether you're an expat calling the IRS for taxes, reaching elderly family members who don't use smartphones, or contacting people in areas with limited internet infrastructure, you still need traditional phone calls to landlines and mobile numbers.
So I built this focused solution using Swift/UIKit for iOS with Supabase handling the backend.
The app has been live for about 10 days with 49 in-app purchases so far. There's clearly interest from users, but discoverability remains extremely challenging without a significant marketing budget.
Currently iOS-only with Android in development.
If you add an API, it would be a good alternative to twilio as their calling price is three times more expensive to what you’re offering.
You're right about the pricing difference. An API is definitely something I've considered, but it opens up significant compliance and regulatory challenges - things like fraud prevention, know-your-customer requirements, and telecom regulations that are much more complex when you're providing infrastructure to other businesses rather than direct consumer services.