Since November, Microsoft has been listening to you and collecting your feedback from the Consumer Preview of Skype for Windows 10. Now, the team over at Skype has taken the feedback to heart and has released a sneak preview of the Universal Windows 10 app for Skype to Windows 10 Insiders.
The universal app features built-in- task oriented apps, as well as a simplified clutter-free look and global menus. A full list of the features seen in the app, provided by Microsoft here, can be seen below:
- 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
Microsoft and the Skype team also promise some more features for the app in the upcoming months. Along with working to make the app more responsive, these upcoming features will include:
- 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
For now, Insiders can also use the existing Skype app on Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft has noted that over time they will streamline all Skype for Windows 10 experiences into the Skype Universal Windows Platform app. While still monitoring the performance of the app, this rollout will also ensure that the Skype experience will remain high quality.
If you like the look and sound of the new Skype Universal Windows Platform app, you can check it out by signing up to be a Windows Insider. To install, you must be running the latest Insider build of Windows 10, which can be obtained here.
