Microsoft Will Soon Release Universal Skype App For Windows 10

As Barbie Stafford, the director of product marketing for Skype, told a group of reporters during a small press event earlier this year, Microsoft learned that the original task-focused apps may have tested really well, but on larger screens, users really want all of the features in a single app – and that's what the new Skype UWP app aims to offer. "Over time we will streamline all Skype for Windows 10 experiences into the Skype Universal Windows Platform app", says the press release, which may imply that this is the plan long-term.

The changelog for the new update for the Camera app contains only bug fixes and performance improvements, but nothing else.

However, the Windows 10 Mobile OS has been the one which needs the most attention as of now, and that Microsoft has been doing of late.

The screen shot embedded in this post is of the new Skype UWP app which – unsurprisingly, given the list of Version 1 features – looks basically like the unified current Skype Win32 app.

I asked Microsoft officials whether the coming UWP Skype app would be available through the Store or be bundled with Windows 10.

The Skype story on Microsoft's reinvented Windows platform is anything but smooth. The initial app will support video calls, messaging, and most of the basics of Skype.

At this point Skype seemed to be retreating from the UWP. Future releases will add the ability to participate in group video calls, screen sharing, and video messages.

The company has worked to simplify the interface by removing duplicate menus and clutter, and of course, the interface is much more touch-friendly.

In November 2015, previews of those task-based UWP apps appeared, initially on desktop Windows 10, and then also on Windows 10 Mobile. You'll also be able to share your screen, as well as files and video messages. What Microsoft discovered is that the decoupled apps are preferred on the phone-phone usage tends to be more task-oriented, and the decoupled apps mimic the approach taken on, for example, iOS, where Phone, iMessage, and Facetime are all separate.

"[Our] team has been working in partnership with Microsoft and we are within 30 to 45 days of releasing a Windows Phone app", said COO of Starbucks, Kevin Johnson.

Source: Microsoft Will Soon Release Universal Skype App For Windows 10