Together Mode Comes to Skype
- Paul Thurrott
- Dec 18, 2020
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11
Skype 8.67 is now available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and the web, and it includes one of Teams’ best features: Together Mode.
“The latest Skype is out and we have prepared cool new features in this release like Together Mode and Large Grid Mode during a Skype video call so you can enjoy being in touch with your friends and families during the holidays,” the Skype team reveals in a Microsoft Community post.
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Here’s what’s new on desktop and web:
Together Mode. As it does Microsoft Teams, Together Mode rearranges the display of group video calls to make it look like the participants are together in a virtual environment like a classroom.
Large Grid Mode. Another feature borrowed from Teams, Large Grid Mode offers a more traditional group video call display, but now you can see everyone’s video stream at the same time.
Add another participant with a phone number. Skype has long supported the ability to add additional participants to a call, but now you can do so using a phone number as well.
More backgrounds. Microsoft has added more predefined backgrounds and more background categories, and it will add more going forward. This is in addition to adding your own custom background, of course.
Meet Now. With Meet Now integrated into the Windows 10 version 20H2 taskbar, Microsoft is now bringing this feature to Skype as well.
Bug fixes and stability improvements. As expected.
In addition to those improvements, Microsoft has also added some additional new features on Android, like adding participants with phone numbers and support for Chat bubbles, Priority Conversations, and Conversation Space on Android 11. The update is rolling out gradually over the next few days, so no worries if you don’t see it immediately.