Skype 8.62 Arrives

Microsoft Issues First Skype Preview Build on Android

Skype 8.62 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Web brings custom backgrounds, up to 12 people in video calls, and other new features.

Here’s what’s new:

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Custom backgrounds. You can now choose from predefined backgrounds for video calls or upload your own. You can learn more here.

12 people in video calls. You can now see up to twelve people in the new grid view during video calls. You can learn more here.

Bug fixes and stability improvements. Microsoft says it has improved message sync when some conversations weren’t updating, as well as made a few general improvements.

In addition to Skype for desktop and web, Microsoft also updated Skype on mobile to version 8.62, adding support for more people in video calls. Those on a smartphone can now see up to 8 people at once, while those on a tablet can see up to nine.

And since I know this is always frustrating, you may not see the new Skype quite yet: Microsoft says that it is rolling out the new features “gradually over the next couple of days.”

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Conversation 17 comments

  • bluvg

    16 July, 2020 - 1:25 pm

    <p>Cue the "who still uses Skype?!" chorus. I do. WhatsApp, Messenger, LINE, Viber–those all suck, frankly. Emoji in particular are FAR better in Skype… they actually express emotion–the whole point of emo-ji, which can be critical to convey meaning absent body language in chat–instead of the vague, unclear, and many pointless ones in every other app (aside from Yahoo Messenger, RIP). The others are mobile-first with a desktop client as an afterthought, or even requiring the mobile client as a dependency. </p>

    • parheric

      20 July, 2020 - 5:59 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#554358">In reply to bluvg:</a></em></blockquote><p>Of all the things that people are looking for in a chat/comms app, Emoji's are the defining factor??</p><p><br></p><p>I like Skype, still use it, and I'm sad that it's gone the way it has especially since with it's subscriptions you can call international numbers with a M365 sub. </p><p><br></p><p>But if Skype really wanted to retain the market, I fail to see how investing in Emoji's was a better choice than say call controls (e.g. mute participants ect).</p><p><br></p><p>The way they've been able to quickly respond to Zooms popularity (e.g. multiple videos, free conf calls ect) shows how little they've been doing over the years.</p><p><br></p><p>Am hoping the consumer Teams version does better…</p>

  • blue77star

    16 July, 2020 - 1:58 pm

    <p>Is this UWP app or desktop app I have to download?</p>

    • SvenJ

      16 July, 2020 - 10:55 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#554367"><em>In reply to blue77star:</em></a><em> </em>8.62 is the desktop client. There is a store version as well, but I don't believe it has all the new features. </blockquote><p><br></p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      17 July, 2020 - 4:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#554367">In reply to blue77star:</a></em></blockquote><p>Neither, it is an Electron app.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      17 July, 2020 - 8:37 am

      Desktop.

  • glenn8878

    16 July, 2020 - 3:55 pm

    <p>12 people in a grid is lame. Schools use Zoom for lots more students. What if you have dual screen monitors? You can fit 40 to 60 students on 2 screens. </p>

    • Username

      16 July, 2020 - 10:07 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#554414">In reply to glenn8878:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Teams is for (classroom) collaboration. Skype is for casual chats.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      17 July, 2020 - 4:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#554414">In reply to glenn8878:</a></em></blockquote><p>That is the difference between a corporate product (Zoom) and a private, free product (Skype).</p><p>Teams is the right comparison for schools and business.</p>

      • Paul Thurrott

        Premium Member
        17 July, 2020 - 8:25 am

        All of these things are comparable.

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      17 July, 2020 - 8:32 am

      Skype is a consumer product.

      Also, I have a phrase that applies here: “Optimize for the everyday.”

  • winner

    16 July, 2020 - 6:05 pm

    <p>Microsoft owned smartphones. Apple ate their lunch.</p><p>Microsoft owned video chats. Google and Zoom have eaten their lunch.</p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps the Microsoft problem is lack of vision or innovation.</p>

    • bluvg

      16 July, 2020 - 9:19 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#554474">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>At least for video chat, at the moment it seems like all the eyes are on Teams and Zoom. With my company, I also come across WebEx (ughhhhh) and GoToMeeting, but that vast majority is Teams and Zoom. I've never seen Google come up.</p>

      • wright_is

        Premium Member
        17 July, 2020 - 4:51 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#554505">In reply to bluvg:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yes, and Microsoft Teams seems to be eating Zoom's lunch, at least in terms of numbers, if not press.</p>

        • Paul Thurrott

          Premium Member
          17 July, 2020 - 8:25 am

          lol what?

  • javial

    Premium Member
    17 July, 2020 - 3:05 am

    <p>Skype has nothing to do with 8.x versions. Microsoft lost Skype when abandon Skype Classic, the last useable and decent version. </p>

  • dftf

    17 July, 2020 - 10:05 am

    <p>Any news yet on when this version of Skype (the "desktop client") will drop Windows 7 support?</p>

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