Microsoft delivers Messaging apps powered by Skype for Windows 10

Messaging apps for Windows 10 now available for everyone to test. However, the Phone app is only available for Insider users.

Skype Messaging app for Windows 10: Messaging and Skype Video

While we have seen the early versions of the new Messaging apps in the latest preview build of Windows 10, Microsoft seems to have reached the point where it feels confident that the apps are ready for everyone to test, as the Messaging and Skype Video apps are now available for download through the Store — and you don’t have to be a Windows Insider.

The new apps aren’t searchable through the Store, but some users, such as @AugieD369_Live on Twitter, have already spotted the download links from the online version of Store.

Microsoft is changing gears with the new Messaging apps in Windows 10. For the longest time, the company only offered one app (Skype) as its communication solution. In Windows 8, the software giant released a modern client to integrate chat, video, and voice communication to the operating system. However, in Windows 10, something new is happening, as Microsoft is now integrating Skype more deeply into the operating system, and releasing three new apps (Messaging, Phone, and Skype Video) that should make more sense for users.

  • Messaging app: This will be the default app for text related messages in Windows 10.
  • Phone: This will be the default VoIP app for all audio communications in Windows 10.
  • Skype Video: This will be the default video chat app that will come included in Windows 10.

Keep in mind that these new apps are still in their early development and at the moment are very basic. There aren’t much settings to configure, there missing features, and they crash quite often.

When Microsoft released, Windows 10 build 10565, the company also explained that “Skype messaging, calling and video capabilities will come integrated into Windows 10 through the Messaging, Phone and Skype video universal Windows apps. These Windows applications enable quick and easy, free calling and messaging to other Skype users across phones, over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi tablets and to PCs Wi-Fi.”

There is only one link available that will launch the Store app in Windows 10 to download the “Microsoft Messaging” app, which will install the two apps: Messaging and Skype Video, as the Phone app is currently only available for Insiders.

Source Microsoft via Thurrott

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.