Skype Is Now Integrated Into Outlook Globally

Microsoft Webmail users can finally use Skype on Outlook.com as the feature is fully rolled out globally to all users, after a year of preview testing.  A senior product-marketing manager for Skype, Karen Tong, stated in a 4 February blog post that Skype for Outlook.com was live worldwide, following a staggered rollout of the service which started last year. The new feature enables Microsoft’s Webmail users to make Skype video and voice calls and start chats directly from within the browser window.

Tong said, “Just download the plug-in, link your Skype account to find your friends and start a video call or send an instant message without having to leave your inbox,”  There is an updated version of the browser plug-in, which now offers support for Safari under Mac OS X. Windows OS users can download a plug-in that can enable HD video calling.  Tong also said that some users “experienced issues with calls continuing to ring after pick-up when you were running the Outlook.com plugin and Skype on your desktop at the same time…We’re happy to share that in the new version now available we’ve resolved this issue.”

General manager for Skype and Lync, Giovanni Mezgec, revealed last month, that over 10,000 Lync customers have signed up to connect both platforms. By integrating Skype and rolling out new Lync apps and capabilities, Microsoft’s aim is to “enable anybody in an organisation to talk to anyone else, in and out of said organisation,” he added.

The huge popularity foe Skype has made it a prime target for hackers. On 01January 2014, the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) took control of Skype’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, along with its service blog. No user data was compromised, but the incident did result in a few negative anti-Microsoft digs!  The Windows team acquired Skype back in 2011 for an $8.5 billion (£5.1bn) price tag. Since then, Microsoft has been running non-stop on integrating the pioneering voice-over-IP (VoIP) and video communications technology into almost every part of the company’s portfolio. Skype now ships with Windows 8.1 and the Xbox One games console.  

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