Skype For Web May No Longer Need Plugins On Microsoft Edge Later This Year

Microsoft and Skype are working overtime to ensure that the end-user has a seamless experience on their products, especially when used within the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft and Skype have recently announced that later this year, Microsoft Edge browser users will no longer need plugins to be able to enjoy the full benefits of the Skype desktop app—and hopefully without the bloat and the resource-draining downsides.

Skype itself has gotten busy since last quarter, starting with the Skype for Web rollout in June 2015. Users on different non-Microsoft browsers were able to enjoy chatting on Skype without needing to install or fire up the resource-hog desktop app.

However, the downside to using Skype on the non-Microsoft browsers includes the fact that a third-party plugin must be installed in order to enable voice and video calls. The Microsoft Edge browser, however, will allow a user to enjoy most of the benefits of the Skype desktop app, such as voice and video calling.

The new seamless technology is going to be built using the “ORTC APIs” for the Microsoft Edge. This technology reportedly does away with the need for Java applets, which tend to slow down browsers in general. Microsoft and Skype are also saying that they are going to work this technology into the Skype for Business accounts, so international communications may enjoy a boost in seamlessness and fluidity.

There is no mention yet of whether screensharing would be possible in the new technology that Skype and Microsoft’s engineers are working with, but they are clear about one thing: The ORTC APIs may create a lighter, more fluid experience for Skype end-users.

Read Skype’s news, straight from Skype’s blog: https://blogs.skype.com/2015/09/18/skype-for-web-and-skype-for-outlook-com-update/

This comes as a welcome development, especially for the users who complain of the Skype desktop app’s bloated and resource-hungry operations.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Sep. 21, 2015, Skype users around the globe reported a glitch where users from all over UK, Australia, and Japan have reported that the online status of their contacts was inaccurate. Skype acknowledged the issue with a tweet and assured users that they were working toward solutions. The Skype for Web app reportedly did not suffer the same issue, however.

Read Skype Support’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/SkypeSupport/status/645881512928387072

In any case, with the growing need for free international communications platforms, and with the fact that Skype counts as one of the main business communications software that companies rely on, there will be no question that the engineers at Skype will be working hard to keep improving the software.

More of Skype on Droid Report: https://www.droidreport.com/skype-rolls-out-version-60-android-ios-11001