Microsoft starts upgrading more users to Skype 8 after dropping support for classic app

2 min. read

Published on November 2, 2018

published on November 2, 2018

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After Microsoft dropped support for its Skype Classic app on the desktop yesterday, the company has started pushing more users to its new cross-platform client today. Peter Skillman, Director of Design for Skype and Outlook announced the expanded rollout this morning, highlighting some of the new Skype v8 features along the way. Fans of the old Windows app may need some time to adjust to the new desktop version, but it does come with several useful new features such as built-in Call Recording, access to third-party apps (Skype Add-ins) within conversations and more.

Ok, maybe we will hear a lot of growsing but we are on it…we are also working on “more compact mode” plus MUCH MUCH more!

— peter skillman (@peterskillman) November 2, 2018

If you miss the more compact design of the Skype Classic app, Skillman also emphasized today that the Skype team is currently working on a “more compact mode” for Skype v8. Unfortunately, the new desktop app also doesn’t support Split View mode as of today, though Microsoft has recently brought it back in preview form in Skype for Windows 10. This separate client is just like Skype v8, but it ships with the Windows 10 October 2018 update and integrates with Windows 10 features like MyPeople or the native Share menu.

Microsoft is now almost done rolling out Skype v8 on all platforms, and the modern experience is also launched in preview on the web earlier this week. The company is still have some work to do to achieve complete feature parity with the Skype Classic app, but the Skype team is now iterating fast with the help of Skype Insiders.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.