If you like using the Microsoft Edge web browser inside Windows 10, and are also a heavy user of Skype, there's some good news coming soon. Microsoft says it plans to offer a way to launch Skype video and audio calls without the need for a plug-in application, sometime before the end of 2015.
Edge users can already go to Outlook.com to make video and audio calls via Skype. However, this upcoming feature is a result of Microsoft's support of the Object Real-Time Communications (ORTC) APIs for Edge. In fact, if you are in the Windows Insider program, and have downloaded the latest 10547 preview build of Windows 10, you can try out Edge's ORTC API support right now.
Microsoft says:
"Starting later this year, Skype users will be able to make voice and video calls without needing to install a plug-in on Microsoft Edge and we are working on bringing the same seamless experience to Skype for Business.""We're thrilled about the exciting scenarios that ORTC APIs enable and we are proud to be one of the first to use these ORTC APIs in the Edge Browser. The ORTC APIs will enable us to develop advanced real-time communications scenarios – like group video calls with participants all on different browsers and operating systems – using features like Simulcast and Scalable Video Coding (SVC), all while preserving the ability to easily interop with existing telephony networks."
Source: Skype
