The point is to have a VOIP number that is abstracted from the real world, but to everybody else looks like a normal 10 digit phone number. That way I can answer on my desktop at work, phone on the go, or log in from anywhere and still have that same one point of contact to give out to everybody.
Basically what Apple/iMessages give if you play in their sandbox.
AFAIK, Skype and similar services don't let you port in your number and use that for inbound and outbound calls -- you're locked in to a Skype name or whatever. Or if they do allow a number its some ungodly expensive thing like "Skype for Business": https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Transfer-phone-numb...
Basically what Apple/iMessages give if you play in their sandbox.
AFAIK, Skype and similar services don't let you port in your number and use that for inbound and outbound calls -- you're locked in to a Skype name or whatever. Or if they do allow a number its some ungodly expensive thing like "Skype for Business": https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Transfer-phone-numb...