Microsoft has released an updated version of Skype 8 for desktop users… and encouraging users to upgrade soon. Starting in September you won’t be able to use Skype 7 for desktop anymore.
The company actually rolled out an updated design for its video, voice, and text chat app that was met with mixed reviews last year. But today’s announcement suggests that the company is going all in on the new look.
Update: Microosft has postponed the deadline for switching to Skype 8, and will continue to offer Skype 7 indefinitely, or at least until it can bring some of the missing features to Skype 8.
The latest version of Skype does have some nifty featuring including support for sharing photos, videos or other files that are up to 300MB in size just by dragging them into a conversation window and support for free group video calls or screen sharing with up to 24 people.
Oh, and while Microsoft refers to the new version as Skype 8.0, the version number available for download as of July 16, 2018 is actually Skype 8.25.05.
Microsoft says it’s also working on a version of Skype 8 for iPad, support for read receipts to let users know when a message has been viewed, and support for end-to-end encryption for private audio or text chats and file sharing.
One of the most exciting upcoming features for me? Call recording. As an occasional podcaster and radio reporter, I’ve been using Skype to record interviews for well over a decade… but I’ve always had to rely on third-party workarounds since Skype didn’t include built-in support for call recording.
Skype isn’t the big name in internet-based voice and video calling that it once was. Apple FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp are just some of the better known alternatives these days. But for PC users of a certain age… particularly those of us who want the ability to call phones from a PC, Skype still has its uses. And the service still apparently has about 300 million monthly active users.
via TechCrunch and ZDNet
I started out with Skype 3.5. I am currently at Skype 7.41 on Windows 7, and that’s where it will end. I will use 7.41 until the last moment and then delete my account and uninstall Skype. With Skype 8, one cannot delete contacts which are no longer needed/wanted; one cannot stop Skype from updating itself on its own; one is force-fed chats which one deleted a long time ago and can delete these only one-by-one. The list is growing with every new release. Skype 8 is as useless as Windows 10. Enough is enough.
Agree. This version stinks. Too many missing features, partial features and some that simply don’t work. It’s a big REGRESSION.
Agree…absolutely.
Congratulations to Microsoft updating themselves out of a customer Base
I see skype for business in office 360, but no one I know uses skype on their personal device. 300 million users… maybe if you include all the business users.
I would use it if I could talk with the girls in the demo picture.
I do use it on my personal device. In fact, my whole family (including my 70+ grand parents) does. Sure, skype is not the best im platform, but it’s simple enough for them to understand and very painless to troubleshoot remotely.