Skype has a new version and more users

2020 brought news of all kinds. Most of them were unexpected. The pandemic that broke out as a result of the coronavirus that originated in China changed the plans of virtually everyone in the world. Not only governments and companies adjusted their objectives, but the daily life of each of us was affected by the confinement policies that the health and political authorities decreed in all regions of the planet.
By moving all the activities to the virtual environment, users went out to look for platforms and programs that allowed video calls, to teach, to have business or family meetings and even celebrate birthdays. One of the software that returned to the scene and to the consideration of people was Skype.
The news on Skype even before the situation that triggered the covid-19 was about its possible disappearance. But 2020 brought a change of direction for the video calling platform that was born in 2003.

More users and new version

Whether for business or personal purposes, people began to have a greater need for video and voice calls. The lawsuit led many to search their old accounts again to be able to use Skype.
Microsoft, which bought Skype in 2011 for $ 8.5 billion, announced that during the coronavirus crisis the program increased the number of active users per day by 40 million (up 70% from what it was before) and that the minutes of Skype to Skype calls grew by 220%.
The field of video calls became the most important in recent months where all the technology giants presented news. Google released Goole Meets (its exclusive business tool) for users, Facebook and WhastApp allowed more people in communications and Zoom and Houseparty appeared with dynamic and entertaining proposals.
The company in charge of Bill Gates was not far behind and presented updates for Skype.

Reactions and changes in screen layout

The new version and update of Skype brings news of all kinds.

• Reaction customization: For those who want to have the right reaction at the right time, the program now allows further configuration of that option. You can choose which one appears in the reaction selector.
  
  
• Changes in the screen view: one of the most requested functions was to be able to adjust the grid of another participant's image. With the new content on Skype, you are able to watch 3x3 during video calls.
  
  
• Moderator option: In order to help those, for example, who are in front of a class or a presentation, Microsoft software now offers the alternative of generating communication moderators. The one in front of the conversation can silence or expel other participants.
  
  
• Improvements in keyboard shortcuts: just by pressing two keys you can access useful Skype functions such as copying text, sending a file or leaving the connection.

The new properties that are added in May add to other tools that were applied in April. Among them, it was allowed to change wallpapers on Skype by enabling the possibility of blurring the image seen behind the person or by allowing the user to configure a custom image. Access to the menus from the chat and sending files was also provided.

Working together with Microsoft Teams

The American firm headed by Bill Gates offers a service for companies with the Microsoft 365 toolkit. One of its most popular utilities is Microsoft Teams. The program allows collaborative work between members of a team and was also one of the platforms that had changes due to the advancement of telework conditions. Teams added the ability to make video calls of up to nine participants.
As Microsoft Teams and Skype belong to the same company, it was speculated that one of them would stop working. Contrary to this Microsoft announced that it will seek to complement the applications by giving access to people with Teams accounts to make calls with Skype. This means that a person who has the service for companies (who can use Microsoft Teams) will be able to communicate with another who has one of the free accounts that Microsoft offers on their site (which enables them to use Skype).

The latest news about Skype and the new content it received in recent months demonstrate how, as a result of changes in user habits due to social distancing measures, companies such as Microsoft found it necessary to change and adjust their strategies. Having a dynamic vision and a quick reaction has been, and will be, something definitive for each firm in 2020.