After breaking down Skype into three separate apps, Microsoft noticed from customer feedback that taking apart each task for messaging, video, and voice on different apps work well for mobile devices, but on larger screens the experience is not the same.
As a result, the software giant is now announcing its plan to once again bring the Skype apps together on a new unified Universal Windows app, which is currently called “Skype Universal Windows Platform App Preview for Windows 10,” and it’ll be available soon for Windows Insiders.
The new unified app for Windows 10 will eventually replace the current traditional desktop version of Skype. However, Microsoft reveals that it will first ensure that the new Universal Windows app works properly and it’s fully featured before retiring the old desktop application.
Microsoft officials also adds: “We’ve simplified the look and feel by removing duplicative and unnecessary menus to prevent confusion between them. The global menus are now in a new, single Settings menu, and you’ll see contextual menus appear in upcoming releases.”
The new Universal Skype app for Windows 10 will initially include the following features:
- Ability to sign in and logout with your Microsoft account.
- Show and change your availability.
- List of existing Skype contacts.
- Chat with any person in the contact list.
- One-to-one calls and send messages.
- Personalize your experience with emoticons and Mojis.
- Send photos.
- Notifications for incoming calls and messages outside of the app.
- Group chats.
- Adjust the size of the app similar to the desktop application.
In future updates, the Skype team will bring the following features:
- 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.
For the time being, the software maker will continue the development on the three separate apps — Messaging, Skype Video, and Phone — for PC and Mobile.
The new Skype UWP app will be first available on Windows 10 with a Windows 10 Mobile version at some point in the near future — Microsoft isn’t sharing any specific date when it will happen.
Here’s a list with a list of top FAQs on the new Skype Universal Windows Platform Preview app.
Source Skype
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. Email him at [email protected].