Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Cloud

    Microsoft Opens Up Skype for Web Beta in U.S. and U.K.

    By
    Pedro Hernandez
    -
    June 9, 2015
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      Microsoft Skype for Web

      Microsoft continues to expand access to its online voice and video communications offering. Now, all users in the United States and United Kingdom can make Skype calls or conduct text chats directly in their Web browsers without downloading and installing a Skype client.

      “As we explained at the end of last year, Skype for Web is an important step for Skype as we move towards implementing the technology to make Real-Time Communications (RTC) on the Web a reality,” Jonathan Watson, Skype senior product marketing manager, wrote in a May 5 company blog post. Last November, Microsoft announced that it was rolling out Skype for Web to a limited number of users, as well as working on a way to deliver the technology without a browser plug-in.

      “But just as importantly, we’re doing it because the hundreds of millions of people that visit Skype.com every month told us they want to call and IM when they visit our Website,” Watson continued. “We know how critical it is for you to get to your conversations—and Skype for Web helps you get connected anytime.”

      Visitors to the site in the United States and United Kingdom can get started by logging in with their Skype credentials. Once access is granted, “you’ll notice your contacts and conversations load in just a few seconds, so whether you usually use Skype on a mobile, tablet, native desktop app or a TV, you’ll see your latest chats are ready to respond to in your browser,” Watson noted.

      The move follows a major overhaul of Skype for Outlook.com. Clicking the Skype icon in the Webmail service’s interface now sprouts a sidebar that replicates most of the functionality of the stand-alone app and makes it easier to search for contacts, make calls and continue chats where the user left off.

      Skype for Web’s search functionality has been similarly streamlined, as part of ongoing enhancements the company is releasing for the product. “Instead of two separate lists for contacts and recent conversations, Skype for Web introduces a timeline view—a single, searchable list that makes it easier to start new conversations and find existing ones,” said Watson.

      Skype’s developers still need some time to work on a plug-in-less version of the Web application, it seems. “Don’t forget to install the plug-in before you make or receive your first call,” instructed Watson.

      Microsoft also revealed that Skype Translator, the company’s near-real-time translation technology, is being added to Skype for Windows Desktop App. “We are targeting the end of summer 2015 for the roll-out to begin,” said fellow Skype marketing manager Yasmin Khan in June 8 announcement.

      Since lifting the Skype Translator sign-up requirement last month, usage surged 300 percent, she reported. Currently, the app’s spoken language support includes English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin. Fifty written languages are supported using the software’s instant messaging component, and there are more to come. “We will continue to expand the repertoire of languages as they meet our quality standard,” Khan said.

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a contributor to eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×