Communication Tools

If you both have Apple devices, you can FaceTime. You can set it up as a one-to- one video call or set up a Group FaceTime with up to 32 people. (Group FaceTime requires newer devices and an updated iOS; check this site for full requirements.) If your hands are going to be occupied and you’re joining from a phone or iPad, make sure you’ve got something like a stack of books ready to lean your device up against.

Here are instructions for how to set up and join FaceTime and Group FaceTime call.

If anyone in your planned get-together doesn’t have an Apple device, Google Duo is basically an Android version of FaceTime. The app is free to download. Up to 8 people can join a Duo call. Here are instructions for how to set up and join Google Duo calls for individuals or groups.

Up to 10 people can join a Skype group video call. Skype is free to download and works on phones, tablets and computers with webcams. If you’re playing host, it’ll be easier to set up the call if you’re on a laptop or desktop computer, but other participants don’t have to be. Add your friend’s Skype contact name. Then click on their name from your contacts list before clicking the camera button in the upper-right corner to start the video call.

If you have Gmail, that means you already have a Google account you can use to set up Hangouts for free. Go to hangouts.google.com and click “Start a new hangout.” You can invite other people by their Gmail addresses or by emailing them a link. The link is especially handy if you want to set up the Hangout ahead of time. You can set it up as a voice or video hangout. Up to 25 people can join a video Hangout and up to 150 people can join a voice-only Hangout.

Zoom allows free video meetings. Those you invite don’t need to have a Zoom account and can join via webcam or phone.

Download the Zoom application, open it from your desktop and click “Launch meeting.” Click “Invite participants” and either email them or add them from your Zoom contacts.