Skype to move desktop users to version 8 in waves starting in November

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

The latest attempt at moving desktop users over to the modernized Skype comes amid a flurry of feature improvements based on feedback.

It looks like Microsoft is ready to take a second stab at moving Skype users to the modernized desktop app. In a post on the Microsoft Answers forum (opens in new tab) today, Ellen Kilbourne, Program Manager at Skype, revealed a new timeline for getting desktop and mobile devices switched over to the latest Skype, with the first waves set to begin in November.

From Kilbourne:

The update from version 7 to version 8 allows us to unify the experience of using Skype across all desktop and mobile platforms. Unlike older versions, all version 8 applications are optimized to work in conjunction with our modern, mobile-friendly cloud services architecture, which has allowed us to deliver features such as video messaging and mobile group video calling over the past couple years. With a unified experience and with all applications now no longer having to support legacy architecture, our engineering teams can deliver features and quality improvements to customers much more quickly.

Getting down to brass tacks, Kilbourne says that the update will be distributed in waves over the next several months, with each wave requiring users to make the upgrade to continue using Skype. The first waves for desktop users will begin on November 1. Meanwhile, mobile device and tablet waves will begin on November 15. You can go ahead and upgrade now to avoid being forced to later. And if you'd rather use the Microsoft Store version of Skype, version 14 of the app, which is based on version 8 for desktop, is currently in testing with Insiders.

Kilbourne also offered a look at some of the features that are currently being worked on, as well as what the team is looking at implementing next.

Skype 8 Feature Roadmap

The latest timeline comes after Microsoft reneged on its original plan to retire the classic Skype app (version 7) on September 1, requiring those using the older app to update to version 8. The move was in reaction to backlash over features that Skype version 8 was still missing. In the weeks since, the Skype team has promised more features are on the horizon, including split view and overhauled presence controls. The team also recently chose to ditch one of its more controversial features, Highlights, in a move toward "simplicity and familiarity."

See at Microsoft (opens in new tab)

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

9 Comments
  • The best way to move customers from one product to another, is to make the new product so good that your customers are scrambling over each other to get on the latest and greatest.
  • This is the we are going to update you from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 all over again but on a smaller scale.
    I only use skype to chat to one person these days, so it is not a big problem for me, but i hate this being forced to change to an application which is worse than what it is replacing. Time to try and get this person to change from Skype again.
  • Right. This is what they don't GET for some odd reason
  • I stopped using Skype UWP when Teams went Free Tier. Has it improved at all? Messages reliably sending/syncing? It was a hot mess for me just a couple months ago.
  • No one I know uses this garbage anymore. Everyone has moved to Discord, Whatsapp, or Facebook Messenger.
  • I'm quite certain I'm not comfortable with Facebook and it's Whatapp privacy mentality. Creepy.
  • MS please add Skype SMS connect for Windows phone. Thanks.
  • I'm not sure what's the difference with the current skype sms sync feature available on W10M...
  • But you can already use the UWP as a SMS messaging app