Skype says it’s ‘here to stay’ as it announces new modern look
Skype gave us a peek behind the curtain by outlining its upcoming features and changes.
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What you need to know
Microsoft outlined plans to improve Skype, including a more modern design and improved performance in a newblog post. Skype says that it’s “here to stay” in its post that breaks down several upcoming changes and new features.
Skype plans to upgrade the call stage, which it says is the most important part of the platform. The app will soon have new themes and layouts, including improvements to how Skype shows a grid of video feeds.
In the future, if someone joins a call with just audio, they’ll be able to have a custom background behind their icon. These are the same backgrounds that people can choose from for video feeds, so they should look familiar and help fill the call stage.
Skype will also improve chat headers, add fluent icons, and support customizable themes with more color options. Notification sounds will also be customizable.
The performance of Skype in key scenarios will be improved by 30% on desktop and over 2,000% on Android. Skype will also support all browsers in the future.
Microsoft has a new feature for Skype on the way called TwinCam that allows people to add a smartphone to a call for an additional camera angle. The company doesn’t provide an exact timeline for its new features or the changes on the way to the app, though the aforementioned blog post states that the changes are on the way this year.
Time will tell if these changes greatly impact Skype users. Microsoft recently brought on a new CVP (Corporate Vice President),Manik Gupta, to oversee the company’s Skype initiatives. For context, the video-calling platform has beenderided as irrelevant or noncompetitiveby some people in recent years, meaning changes could be an attempt to reassert Skype’s place in a world with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other competitors.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
