Revised Skype for Web (March 2019)

Microsoft has released a new version of Skype for Web. This version brings HD video calls, revised notifications and more. But there are also restrictions like no Linux or Chrome OS support.

Skype for Web is a browser-based client for the Microsoft service Skype. This means that it is no longer required to install a Skype client, a browser and a login is sufficient.

(Source: Microsoft)

Venturebeat reported here, that Microsoft has revised Skype for Web. It all goes back to this blog post by the Skype team on 7 March 2019. Here are the features of the new Skype for Web:

• HD video calling—Experience HD in one-to-one or group video calling, now with call reactions.
• Call recording—Capture special moments in a Skype call with your loved ones or record important meetings with colleagues.
• Notifications panel—Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what you've missed in your notifications panel. Click the bell icon to see reactions to your messages, @mentions in group conversations, or if someone quoted you—all in one central place. Just click a message in the notifications panel to jump into the conversation.
• Find within conversations—You can now easily find messages in the current conversation by typing the word or phrase you want to find in the search box.
• Chat Media Gallery—Looking for the link or photo sent a few weeks ago? The Chat Media Gallery makes it easy to find files, links, and photos shared in a conversation, whether it was yesterday or last month. No more scrolling through your chat history—just click Gallery under the chat name to see all the files, links, and photos in the conversation.

To Skype you only need to open web.skype.com in a browser with mac OS (from 10.12) or Windows 10. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, as well as Linux and Chrome OS are no longer supported, for whatever reason. However, I have called the web page under Windows 7 briefly in Google Chrome. There I could login and connect to the Skype Echo service. MS Power User reports in this article that Skype for Web refuses to work on unsupported platforms. 

n addition, Microsoft has released an updated MSI distribution for Skype (version 8) for Windows desktop. This version replaces the existing MSI distribution of the Skype client (version 7) for Windows desktop. The new MSI file can be downloaded here.