A new Skype Universal app is coming soon

In recent times it’s really been hard to figure out what exactly Microsoft is doing with Skype on Windows. First they killed the Windows 8 a while ago. Then they integrated it into the messaging app for Windows 10. This takes care of the messaging part. There is another app that is only for Skype Video calls. In addition to all this is the legacy Windows desktop app that works on previous versions of Windows as well. Thankfully Microsoft has been listening to user feedback and the result of that is a new Universal Skype app that was just annouced. It will come to Insiders first on the PC with a mobile version and a broader rollout scheduled for later.

From the announcement:

So, what’s in this version? It includes the following popular functionality:

• Sign in with your Microsoft Account and link a Skype ID
• Show and change your availability
• See a list of your existing Skype contacts
• Initiate a chat with anyone in your contact list
• See that the other person is typing
• Logout
• Make one-to-one voice and video calls and send messages
• Personalize your experience with emoticons and Mojis
• Send photos
• See notifications for incoming calls and messages outside of the app
• Participate in existing group chats

What’s to come? More flexibility, sharing and group features will come in the next couple of releases, including:

• Start a chat with anyone using Skype or not using Skype
• Create a group and send group messages
• Group voice and video calling
• Share your screen, files and video messages
• Manage notifications from individual chats
• And much more…

You’ll also see us work a lot to ensure the app is responsive: