Something to look forward to: Microsoft's aggressive push for Teams and the app'south native integration into Windows 11 may have acquired users to retrieve the visitor would shelve Skype at some betoken. However, the practiced ol' teleconferencing and conversation app appears to be far from retirement given the announcement of several new features, design, and functioning improvements slated to go far over the side by side few months.

Skype is getting yet another revamp every bit role of Microsoft's efforts to modernize the app. Chief amidst them is the updated phone call stage feature, which is getting Zoom-similar layouts for arranging participants in modest/large grid, speaker view, alongside the recently added Together mode. The interface will also allow users disable video stream and hide audio-only participants from the telephone call stage for reduced ataxia.

Users will also be able to add a mobile device to their call as a second camera with the 'TwinCam characteristic' and make use of Skype's Universal Translator for real-fourth dimension linguistic communication translation during landline and video calls.

Skype's interface is being worked on as well. Although in that location are several gradient elements nowadays in the existing app, the upcoming changes volition push button the use of gradients throughout the app, introduce more than colorful themes and include Fluent Design icons for a mod look and experience. The app'south left side panel is likewise getting pocket-size tweaks to make it visually highly-seasoned.

Skype's 'Meet Now' feature is also getting improvements, with a redesigned antechamber and the addition of previews in join links. The latter will display the host's name and avatar to users invited to a 'Run across Now' session.

Equally for performance improvements, Microsoft touts a 2,000 percent improvement on Android and a xxx percent improvement on desktop in 'key scenarios.' Hopefully, that means less loading times and faster connections.

Finally, some other welcome alter -- which has been rolled out -- is the ability to customize notification sounds, which Microsoft notes was one of the top requested features. Others, meanwhile, will make their way to Skype over the coming months.