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Skype (VoIP service)

Product
Developers: Skype
Last Release Date: April 2020
Branches: Internet services,  Telecommunications and communications
Technology: IP telephony,  SaaS - Software as service,  Video conferencing,  Office applications

Content

Service Audience

2018: Daily and Monthly Audience

Data for 2018

2015

According to Microsoft statistics, by the end of September 2015, Skype makes calls every day with a total duration of more than 3 billion minutes, and the Skype Translator service allows you to translate voice messages into 6 different languages.

2013: Number of users per month - over 300 million

The number of users using Skype Internet telephony service on a monthly basis exceeded 300 million, Windows CFO Tami Reller said at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in July 2013.

2011:663 million users, of which 8.8 million used paid services

  • In March 2011, the service had 663 million registered users, of which only 8.8 million used paid services. By the end of 2011, Skype plans to reach annual revenue of $1 billion. In 2011, the company intends to continue expanding its staff. Skype notes that they do not guarantee the preservation of the previous rate of increase in revenue, as well as the company's profitability, due to a number of standard risks and uncertainties.

Income growth is expected, firstly, due to the growth of the subscriber base (which is a consequence of the spread of broadband Internet access). Secondly, due to the more active promotion of paid services than the company plans to do. Thirdly, Skype plans to increase the number of corporate users. Finally, the latter - she intends to find new ways to generate revenue, including through advertising.

By May 2011, when Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion, the Internet service earned 5% of revenue in the United States on videos.

Skype CEO Tony Bates promised in May 2011 that video advertising would become the main source of revenue in the future.

Skype for Business

Main article: Skype for Business

2021: Redesign Planning

On September 28, 2021, it became known that Microsoft plans a large-scale redesign of Skype with the addition of features to its desktop and mobile versions. She also intends to optimize the performance of Skype for Android at 2000%. At the same time, Microsoft has been systematically destroying Skype for years - it stops supporting classic and corporate versions of the messenger and actively promotes its direct competitor - Teams.

As reported, Microsoft is preparing an update to its Skype messenger, which it bought in 2011. According to The Verge portal, this will not be another ordinary update, only slightly modernizing Skype, but a global update, including even a redesign.

Microsoft has published several teaser images that clearly demonstrate what Skype will turn into after installing the upcoming update. Developers also want to optimize the performance of the messenger, especially its version for Android, although the PC version should also begin to work faster and more stable.

The main change that Skype is waiting for is the redesigned video call mode. Apparently, Microsoft relies on it because the coronavirus pandemic has made its adjustments to the work of many companies and educational institutions, and now meetings, lectures, lessons and regular working days are increasingly held precisely by video conference.

When exactly it is worth waiting for the release of the updated Skype, Microsoft has not yet specified. Perhaps the latest version of the messenger will be released on October 5, 2021 simultaneously with Windows 11 and Office 2021. It is also possible that Microsoft will not add all updated options to a single release and will distribute them among several updates.

Skype Video Call Mode will receive additional themes and design styles. This will give users, working or, students remotely the opportunity to even more creatively approach the issue of hiding from the interlocutors a mess and an uncleared bed in the background.

In addition, after the update, the messenger will show on one screen all participants in the video conference, including those who did not activate the camera. This will allow you to always be aware of who is currently connected to the conversation. Participants in this mode will be gridded. Another addition will be the "Together" mode. Its activation will allow you to transfer all participants in the conference to a single virtual space.

The network of conference participants in the updated Skype. Photo: cnews.ru.

After updating, the Skype interface will be maintained in the Fluent Design style. This is a full-fledged design philosophy, which Microsoft has been gradually introducing into its products since 2017, but everything cannot completely switch to it. In general, Fluent Design optimizes the visual appearance of programs without compromising their style and beauty. In the case of Skype, Microsoft prepares colorful design themes with gradient effects, improved sidebar on mobile devices and other decorations.

As for performance, Microsoft intends to improve this figure by more than 2000% in the case of Skype under Android, writes The Verge. This will affect some "key scenarios," and it is not yet clear how Microsoft is going to achieve such an impressive increase. With a desktop version in this regard, everything is ten times more modest. Its productivity will increase by only 30%.

Microsoft also undertakes to support all browsers in future Skype changes.

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We believe that Skype should be uninterrupted and accessible regardless of which browser or device the user uses, so we add support for all browsers.

stated developers
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Mobile Skype will learn how to use all cameras at the same time. Photo: cnews.ru.

Among other upcoming changes in Skype, The Verge specialists highlighted the TwinCam function. Microsoft does not explain its practical benefits yet, and it remains unclear how it can be applied in video conferencing mode. TwinCam allows you to stream video simultaneously with the front and main cameras of your mobile device, smartphone or tablet, during the call. This feature will be added to Skype in the next few months[1]

2020

Video calls without downloading the app and creating an account

In early April 2020, Microsoft launched a new feature for Skype - Skype Meet Now. It allows you to make video calls without downloading the application and creating an account.

To take advantage of the innovation, you need to visit the official website and create a conference there by clicking the corresponding button. After that, you can connect people to the conversation using a simple link or the "Share" button. 

Skype has the ability to create calls without registering in the application

When you click on a link, invited participants will start an application (if they use the service) or a Skype web client that works in Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers.

The duration of the invitation links is not  limited, as is the functionality of Meet Now calls : chat, screen demo , call recording, etc. 

The Skype Meet Now tool has been available to test program participants since December 2019. In April 2020, the company began the widespread distribution of the service, which will be available worldwide in a short time.

Microsoft notes that despite the company's great attention to the corporate messenger Microsoft Teams, which has integrated tools for organizing voice calls and video conferences, there is a significant increase in the popularity of Skype, which is facilitated by the difficult situation in the world associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Meet Now in Skype is ideal for your telephone conferences, webinars or work interviews, "said Microsoft.
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Also, as part of Skype Meet Now, background blur and conference recording functions appeared. Conference records and notes are saved for 30 days.

The launch of Skype Meet Now took place after Microsoft announced in March 2020 a 70 percent increase in Skype use amid a coronavirus pandemic.[2]

DLP DeviceLock Testing Using Zoom VCS and Skype Messenger

On March 30, 2020, it became known that the company DeviceLock Russian , the developer of the anti-corruption system, data leaks DeviceLock DLP conducted additional testing of its solution when using services videoconferences Zoom messenger and Skype. More. here

2019

Version 8.55

December 18, 2019 it became known that the company Microsoft released an updated version applications Skype for the platforms Windows 10:,,,,. Linux macOS Android iOS In addition to multiple fixes, messenger VoIP features have also appeared in version 8.55 and -client, in particular Meet Now. It allows the user to start a video or audio communication session with another person, even if he does not have a Skype account or the application itself.

The Meet Now feature is activated using the button above the contact list Photo: cnews.ru

A message published on the Skype support portal says that the deployment of the update started on December 10, 2019 and is carried out in stages. Within the next few days, all Skype users will have access to the updated features.

To take advantage of this opportunity, it is enough for the initiator of the conversation to press the Meet Now button located above the list of contacts, as a result of which a unique short invitation link will be automatically formed. It is enough to send this link to all participants of the upcoming conversation, and then press the Start Call button.

You can join the conversation simply by clicking on the link, without having an account, but with the Skype application installed, users will join the session as guests. If there is no app, mobile platform users will be asked to install it from the appropriate app store. In desktop OS in such a situation, a browser will be launched, and a web version of Skype will open in it. By the way, it is impossible to create a session through Meet Now in the web version launched in 2015, Skype for December 2019.

According to the information published on the product support page, Meet Now conversation records are saved by the service for 30 days, and media files are stored sent through the text chat and that longer (specific deadlines are not specified).

Another notable innovation of the release was the ability to send voice messages in the same way as it is done in other messengers, for example, in Telegram. In order to send a voice message to Skype for Windows, you must search for the desired chat (group) or contact in the contact list, select it, then click on the microphone icon, after which recording begins.

The maximum duration of such a message is 2 minutes. You can delete a posted record by right-clicking it and selecting the appropriate context menu item.

It is worth noting that in the mobile version of the application this feature was present before the current update. Now, users of desktop operating systems have the opportunity to share their thoughts through Skype in audio format .

In addition, Skype for Android added the ability to scan documents using a smartphone camera directly from Skype. The program will automatically process the image so that the document can be studied as conveniently as possible.

Fixed errors and a number of improvements: now the Skype icon is correctly displayed in the notification area after starting the application, support for automatic detection of the dark theme of Windows 10 has been added, and Skype[3].

Skype forced to register as a telecom operator

In August 2019, Microsoft officially registered Skype as a telecommunications operator. This was done after the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union two months earlier.

He ruled that the SkypeOut service, which allows calls from personal computers to mobile and fixed numbers, is technically an electronic communication service (ECS), so it should be controlled by telecommunications regulators in Europe. SkypeOut was recognized by the court as an ECS service, as it can be used to make paid calls in public networks.

Skype forced to register as a telecom operator

Skype states that the company remains only a software provider that itself does not transmit signals, does not provide any electronic communication services and obeys other rules. The case was initiated by Belgian regulators, who had previously fined Skype.

As a result of the loss, Skype cases were registered with the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) of the Netherlands, and the service became subject to stricter telecom market rules. The fine that the European authorities had previously imposed on the company was canceled.

According to ACM board member Henk Don, the court's verdict shows that services such as SkypeOut must comply with the Telecommunications Act for other suppliers.

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We encourage companies to inform us if they offer a similar service, he said
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At the end of 2018, a directive establishing the European Code of Electronic Communications entered into force. The new Code aims to harmonize the regulation of telecommunications in Europe. The Code includes expanding the scope of the regulatory framework for the provision of over-the-top (OTT) services, which have functionality similar to traditional telecommunications services. [4]

Listening to conversations by third-party contractors

On August 7, 2019, it became known that some conversations of Skype users were listened to by third-party contractors attracted by Microsoft. The company claims that these actions are carried out with the consent of users, and cannot be identified from the records of people.

Microsoft contractors, on anonymity, provided Motherboard with internal documentation, screenshots and fragments of user calls that  contain conversations about relationships and other confidential topics. 

Microsoft hires people to wiretap conversations on Skype

The interlocutor of the publication said that  he listened  to the recordings of "sex by  phone" on Skype  and heard users call the voice assistant Cortana their full address of their place of residence  and use it to search for pornography.

Parts of the calls of Skype users that access the built-in translator are listened to. This tool translates the speech of interlocutors during the call into a given language and displays it in the form of text. Microsoft hires people to listen to recordings of conversations in order to improve the translator, since it is based on machine learning algorithms. Contractors receive fragments of conversations and translation options, from which they must choose the most accurate. Sometimes they write a translation on their own.

Microsoft responded to the customer listening post and stated the following:

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Microsoft collects voice data to provide and improve voice services such as search, voice commands, dictation, or translation services. We strive to be transparent about the collection and use of voice data so that customers can make informed choices about when and how their voice data is used. Microsoft receives permission from clients before collecting and using their voice data.[5]
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2018

Appearance of "live" subtitles

In early December 2018, Microsoft introduced the real-time subtitle output function for PowerPoint and Skype. The innovation allows you to convert the speaker's speech into text and instantly display on the screen.

By December 4, 2018, live subtitles are available on Skype during individual or group calls, as well as when calling phone numbers.  In a few weeks, according to Microsoft, the application will translate real-time subtitles into more than 20 languages ​ ​ and dialects, including Russian.

Real-time subtitles appeared on Skype

Subtitles can be activated and used during a single call or configured to work by default. They react in real time to speech and are continuously updated as they talk. By the time the function is announced, subtitles will automatically change during the conversation, and in the future it will be possible to view the text of the conversation in a separate window.

Subtitles in the PowerPoint work on the basis of artificial intelligence technologies, which allows not only to convert the statements of the speaker into text and display it on the screen with a presentation in real time, but also to translate them into other languages.

The appearance of "live" subtitles in the program will help simplify the perception of content and communication for people who are hard of hearing or speak different languages. In addition, the speaker will be able to customize the look and location of subtitles to make them most convenient for the presenter and the audience.[6]

By early December 2018, PowerPoint supports spoken speech recognition in 12 languages ​ ​ and its text translation into 60 languages. The real-time captioning function is available in the beta version of the new version of the program, and its appearance for everyone is scheduled for early 2019.

Microsoft notes that "live" subtitles will help people with hearing impairment (by the end of 2018, their number in the world reaches 466 million people) to communicate fully.

Encryption of calls and chats in Skype

On August 20, 2018, Skype introduced end-to-end encryption, which has been tested since January. It allows users to text and ring in secure mode.

All messages and calls in a personal conversation are encrypted before it ends. Encrypted chat is available to the user only on the device on which he started it: if he moves from a computer to a smartphone, he will have to start a new conversation, all messages transmitted and received and files will remain on the computer.

In Skype, encryption of chats and calls has appeared

End-to-end encryption was added in the version of the messenger Skype for iOS, Android, Linux, macOS and Windows.

To take advantage of the innovation on your mobile device, you can do the following:

  • Click the new chat icon.
  • Select Private Conversation from the list.

The fact that the end-to-end encryption function will appear in Skype became known in January 2018. Then Microsoft began to develop the technology in collaboration with Signal. 

Signal aims to spread and simplify the principle of private communication among users. A distinctive feature of the encryption protocol is its openness, thanks to which WhatsApp, Google, Facebook and Signal itself have already integrated it into their messaging platforms.[7] 

According to Fortune, decentralized end-to-end encryption can prevent attempts by the government, law enforcement agencies and anyone to interfere in user correspondence, restore the history of communication or intercept messages.

Since the launch of Skype, experts in the field of information security have repeatedly complained and warned about possible threats associated with the fact that service developers do not disclose the fundamental security technology that is used in the messenger.

Implementing Call Recording

On July 16, 2018, Microsoft announced the introduction of the Skype call recording feature. Saved copies of audio and video sessions will be stored in the cloud, so users of the service will be able to access them from any device.

The built-in mechanism for recording conversations over voice and video communications in Skype will be introduced gradually, starting from the end of July 2018. The technology will work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux platforms.

Skype received call recording

First, Microsoft will thoroughly test and refine the long-awaited feature, if necessary, and only after that the call record will be open to everyone. For this option, money will be charged on.

All participants in the conversation will be notified that the conversation is being recorded. Thus, writing down a conversation quietly from the interlocutor will not work.

Files will contain video from all cameras, as well as all the content shown during the conversation (for example, computer desktops).

According to The Verge, we are talking about the largest Skype update since the launch of the service in 2003.  Microsoft never allowed calls to be recorded inside the messenger, and users had to use third-party applications. 

In addition to recording calls, the updated Skype will receive features such as encrypted calls and invitations to shared chats via links. In addition, now the user will have the opportunity to see which of the participants in the conversation read his message.[8] 

At the same time, Microsoft announced the termination of support for classic Skype 7.0 from September 1, 2018. The company recommends updating all users of this version of the messenger. Microsoft points to the need to "close old services and applications" in order to keep pace with time and current requirements.

Microsoft disables older versions of Skype on Windows 10

In May 2018, it became known about the termination of older versions of Skype for the Windows 10 operating system. Microsoft asked messenger users to update it.

Microsoft asks Skype users to install the latest version of Windows 10

Users of Windows 10 need to install the most current version of Skype in order to continue using the service and not lose any data. You need to update before May 25, 2018, otherwise the installation of the latest version of Skype after this period may lead to the fact that you will have to use the messenger from scratch. That is, in particular, all correspondence will be lost.

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We noticed that you are using a version of Skype for Windows 10 that will no longer work after May 25, 2018. During the update, the history of previous conversations may suffer. If you need help backing up your chat, please contact us. Could not update? Give us more information, "says the letter that Microsoft sends to Skype users.
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Microsoft chose May 25 as the day to disable old versions of Skype is no coincidence. At the same time, the European Regulation on the Protection of Personal Data (GDPR) will enter into force, which imposes restrictions on the business processes of organizations in the field of working with personal data. Large social networks and instant messengers, including Skype, are fully preparing for innovations. So, WhatsApp previously announced the update of the user agreement in connection with the entry into force of GDPR.

Microsoft's intentions to delete user data in older versions of Skype may be related to this policy. The company offers quite convenient ways to keep the program up to date, so abandoning previous versions will probably not have much impact on users around the world, Softpedia notes.[9]

Skype switched to corporate customers and loses ordinary users

Since the purchase of Skype in 2011, Microsoft has systematically reoriented it to corporate customers. Ordinary users are unhappy with the changes in the once most popular online call service and are moving to competing platforms. This was reported in early May 2018 by Bloomberg.

According to the publication, a sharp surge in negative user reviews about Skype occurred after updating the service in the summer of 2017. People began to complain that the application has become complex and less intuitive. Other frequent complaints include poor communication quality and high power consumption of the mobile version of Skype.

Since the purchase of Skype in 2011, Microsoft has systematically reoriented it to corporate customers

The famous blogger Brian Krebs on the Twitter account at the beginning of 2018 said that redesign became the worst for the history Skype and that the latest version of the application - continuous misunderstanding. The message was supported by numerous retweets and likes by other users.[10]

An even sharper assessment in March 2018 was given by technology investor and columnist Om Malik. Not shy in terms, he wrote on Twitter that Microsoft made Skype "first-rate shit," and promised never to use the application again.[11]

Microsoft considers criticism exaggerated. The general manager of Skype Lawrie Wright (Lori Wright) said in an interview to the edition that redesign really was radical and that the company was preparing for a negative. But after time, the reaction came to naught, and now "users no longer feel hatred," she added.

Meanwhile, the corporation has not disclosed data on the number of Skype users since 2016, when it was at the level of 300 million. Analysts suspect that the indicator, at best, has not changed, and two former Microsoft employees in an interview with Bloomberg said that the company is feeling panic due to the decline in popularity of the service. According to them, at none of the corporate events in 2017, they did not hear that the figure of more than 300 million was called in statistics about Skype users.[12]

Prohibition of mat

At the end of March 2018, Microsoft announced a ban on obscene language in Skype and other services. Users swearing with a mat will fall under the lock. The new rules come into force in May 2018.

In the "Rules of Conduct" section, Microsoft  stated the duties of users "not to publicly display or use services to send inappropriate content or materials (including, for example, nude images, zoophilia, pornography, offensive vocabulary, scenes of violence or criminal activity) or content or materials that are contrary to local laws."

Microsoft asked not to express itself. Skype banned mat

In case of violation of these rules, Microsoft will apply harsh penalties - up to blocking the account.

New requirements also apply to the Xbox Live gaming service. Fleeing gamers risk losing their content licenses, Xbox golden memberships, and all money stored on their Microsoft accounts. The following projects also fall under the tightening of requirements:

The company did not specify which words will be considered offensive. It is also unknown how Microsoft is going to catch violators: it is possible that users will have the opportunity to complain about the obscene vocabulary of the interlocutor or the company will introduce a blocking when swear words appear in the correspondence. It is not clear whether the innovation of voice conversations in Skype concerns, but earlier in Microsoft they stated that the company does not eavesdrop on conversations.

Microsoft reserved the right to block the exchange of incoming or outgoing information on user devices. This rule applies, among other things, to instant messages, email, and shared files.[13]

A vulnerability that requires code correspondence

In February 2018, it became known that Microsoft confirmed the existence of a vulnerability in Skype, which, according to the company, cannot be fixed without code correspondence. So users will have to work with the service on their own fear.

After installation on your computer, Skype uses a built-in update mechanism that keeps your versions up to date. ON When this update installer starts, it starts another executable for the Skype update. This file is just prone to hacking.

A critical gap in Skype was discovered by cybersecurity researcher Stefan Kanthak. He said that the Skype update process can be maliciously modified to embed  an infected  Windows DLL in the application.  And although  namacOS does not have DLL libraries, the same operation can be done on  macOS or Linux, the expert warns.

Microsoft reported a vulnerability in Skype that cannot be fixed without code correspondence

According to the online edition of ZDNet, using the DLL interception method, attackers can deceive the application and introduce malicious code instead of a legitimate library.

As part of the cyber attack, the malicious DLL is loaded into a temporary folder, then it is renamed to an existing DLL that can be changed by a non-privileged user, for example, UXT heme.dll. The bug is that when the application searches for the desired library, a malicious DLL is first detected.

According to Stefan Kanthak, he notified Microsoft of the vulnerability back in September 2017, but the company said that eliminating the shortage requires "revision of a large amount of code." Microsoft also said that programmers were able to "reproduce the operation of the vulnerability," but it can be eliminated only in the new version of the product, and not in a simple security update. Instead of releasing the patch, Microsoft focused "all resources" on creating a new client, Kanthak noted, referring to a message received from the American software giant.[14]

2017

Start Professional Accounts

On November 14, 2017, Microsoft announced the launch of professional Skype accounts for small business owners and teachers. These accounts, called Skype Professional Account, simplify your online business with features such as meeting, making payments, and keeping records.

Skype Professional Account

Skype Professional Account should not be confused with Skype for Business, which includes features such as participation of 250 people in a single video conference, online streaming, tools for creating presentations and deep integration with Microsoft Office applications. Running Skype Professional accounts provide many opportunities for those who earn money online, such as career instructors or those who remotely give guitar lessons.

According to Microsoft, usually a teacher who gives online lessons uses a combination of different platforms for Skype training. For example, he arranges classes by e-mail, uses an interactive calendar such as Outlook to compile lesson schedules and third-party services (PayPal to pay for services, etc.). The development of Microsoft will allow such users to carry out these tasks using only one application.

Microsoft also said that, in addition to payment and organizational functions, Skype Professional Account users will be able to fill out the page of their profile in more detail. In addition, along with finding friends and groups, Skype will soon be able to search for companies.

Accounts for Skype online training will help thousands of service providers contact their customers and increase business efficiency, the manufacturer says.[15]

At first, professional accounts will be available only in the desktop version of Skype in the United States. Users will be able to connect them for free. Plans for the further launch of the service in the company are not reported.

Availability Cortana

The Cortana virtual assistant became available Skype on platforms iOS and, the Android corporation said Microsoft on October 10, 2017. Thanks to the contextual analysis of messages in the chat, Cortana will be able to offer the user useful information, for example, the nearest or restaurant most convenient film session. More. here

Radical Design Update

Microsoft began in May 2017 to introduce a radically updated Skype application interface on the Android platform, which the media describe as "similar to Snapchat and Instagram." In the near future, Skype for iOS, Windows and Mac will also receive a design update. First, mobile versions will be deployed, then desktop ones.

The company positions the novelty as the "next generation of Skype." "This is the biggest change in Skype since 2006, when we added the video," said Amritansh Raghav, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Skype. According to him, the messenger ceased to be primarily a chat for two interlocutors and became "primarily a mobile, primarily cloud-based" application[16].

Main features

The interface emphasizes the exchange of messages of various types, writes The Verge. Easy access to emojis was added to the chat, which allows you to send them to the interlocutor directly during communication via video link. Also, you can easily drag data from Stubhub and Expedia add-ons into the conversation window if the user wants to quickly share airline prices or buy a ticket for an event with an interlocutor. In addition, a number of add-ons are available, including Giphy, BigOven, Upworthy and YouTube - they can be used to quickly find the right video or gif image.

The messenger window was divided into three sections: search, chat and snapshot field. Thus, searches on the Internet can now be carried out directly during the conversation, including a video call. The default search engine is Bing. The new Skype also features more in-depth personalization - the user can choose colors and icons depending on the mood.

The biggest innovation was the snapshot field. With its help, you can activate the smartphone camera and take a photo or video without interrupting communication, and then send it to the interlocutor. The shooting process, as well as the ability to add a sticker, text or mark directly to a photo or video, is very similar to Snapchat, writes The Verge.

Skype for Android

On February 17, 2017, Microsoft announced the release of Skype for Android. The product contains a number of differences from the current version.

In Skype Preview, a user can take photos on camera smartphone and search during a video call. Internet According to statements MEDIA, in the integration of emojis and pictures in the session video conference makes Skype similar to the company's product of the same name. Snapchat

Skype for Android Interface View, (2016)

On February 17, 2017, the application is available only to members of the Skype Insiders program, which Microsoft organized in November 2016 to test preliminary versions of[17] product[17]

Skype Preview supports voice and video calls, conferencing, text messaging, and file sharing. The Bing search system is built into the chat - the user can search the Internet during a chat conversation or video communication session. You can share your search results with others.

During a chat or video call, the user can use a smartphone camera, access to which is integrated into Skype Preview. Photos can be sent to interlocutors.

Skype Preview integrates the Giphy GIF image search service. Also in this release, it became possible to "react" through emojis or "vote" for messages in the general chat. Features for adding emojis, images, and text have been added to the video session.

The Skype Preview interface has changed, and the design has shifted towards the version of Skype for Windows 10. The application is based on Facebook's React Native platform, which allows you to write mobile applications exclusively on JavaScript. According to browsers, we should expect the version of Skype for iOS.

2016

Start simultaneous translation into Russian

On October 11, 2016, Skype launched the function of simultaneous translation into Russian. This is stated in a press release received by the editors of TAdviser from Microsoft (owns Skype).

  Skype Translator's real-time simultaneous call and instant messaging technology has received Russian support in addition to English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), German  and Arabic (more than   50 languages are available for messaging).

Skype has launched the function of simultaneous translation into Russian

Simultaneous interpretation of speech during video calls is possible both from Russian to other languages, and in the opposite direction.

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Thanks to the new Skype Translator feature, Russian-speaking users can freely communicate with friends, relatives and colleagues from around the world, easily breaking the language barrier, Microsoft said.
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The Skype Translator translation feature is available to users of computers running Windows 7 and later. Users of devices based on Windows 10 Anniversary Update will have the ability to translate automatically, owners of earlier versions of the operating system should include the function in the menu.

Skype Translator is based on machine learning technology. This means that  the service is independently improved  as  it is used: the  more people use it for  communication, the higher the quality of translation, Microsoft explains.

The Microsoft Translator platform, which is the basis of the Skype translator, is also used in other products of the corporation, such as the Bing translator, Microsoft Translator applications for Android and iOS, as well as a special Microsoft Translator Speech API.

Skype for browser does not require registration

On November 15, 2016, Microsoft announced the inclusion in Skype for a browser of the possibility of creating a 24-hour guest account that does not require registration with the system. The guest can invite other users to the conversation by sending them a special link by mail or by messenger.

The feature is available in the Skype for browser application, which you can use in the browser window without installing the program on your computer.

Screenshot of the program window, (2013)

An unregistered user can go to the Skype.com, click the Start Conversation button, and enter any name. The system will issue a link to the chat that you want to send to other users by mail or otherwise. Any user who comes by link will join the conversation. The interlocutor does not need to have a registration[18] system[18].

Skype functionality for the browser and previously allowed invitations to chat or conference of other users using a link, but only a registered user could send such a link.

A guest account allows you to invite up to 300 users to chat, to voice or video conference - up to 25. Your account has expired for 24 hours.


ON Skype Browser Features

Skype for Browser is a version of Skype that does not require installation on your computer. It was presented in November 2014. The service was launched in June 2015. The application supports Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers.

In 2016, Skype for Browser received a number of updates that equalized it with stationary software of the same name. Added the ability to call mobile and home phones, including abroad if there are funds in the account. There is a feature to preview an image or YouTube video directly in the chat and the ability to invite an interlocutor to the link.

Scientists learned how to hack computers by the sounds of pressing the keyboard through Skype

In October 2016, scientists from the University of California at Berkeley published a study showing that attackers can eavesdrop keystrokes using Skype. Russian experts believe that the problem is also relevant for other services, including those used by corporate customers. More details here.

Upgrading the Web Version

On March 16, 2016, Microsoft announced the release of an upgraded web version of Skype, which included features that users demanded[19].

Screenshot of the program window (2016)

Some additions:

  • You can call cell phones and landlines from your browser if you have Skype credits or an active subscription on your balance sheet.
  • provides the ability to view the video received from YouTube without leaving Skype, with all available controls.
  • Improved URL display to help you see the images you send inside Skype.
  • users can be added to the conversation, even if they are not in Skype, this functionality is valid in the version of the application on Windows. This is implemented by creating a URL to be sent to the added user.
  • notifications - they will help not to miss messages and calls. They will appear even if another browser, application is open, or you are logged into your Skype account in your browser.

The company promised to distribute the functionality in the near future.

2014

Skype Translator Simultaneous Translation Service

On December 16, 2014, Microsoft announced on the Big blog a preliminary version of Skype Translator, a service that provides simultaneous interpretation of speech during calls. Already today, users of PCs and tablets running OCWindows 8.1 or Pre-technical version of Windows 10 can register on the official Skype Translator Preview website and use the opportunity to experience simultaneous translation in Skype.

At this stage, Skype Translator supports English and Spanish for calls, as well as more than 40 languages for instant messaging. The preliminary version will allow you to test the program, improve the languages ​ ​ used and receive feedback from real users.

Skype Translator is a good example of Microsoft's effective investment in future technology research. The company has worked for more than 10 years to study and develop algorithms for voice recognition, automatic translation and machine training. Today, it is obvious that these achievements have become an integral part of the new era of personalized devices, the company's blog says.

Skype Translator is based on machine learning technology. This means that the service is independently improved as it is used, and the more people work with it in the process of communicating with each other - the higher the quality of translation. Skype Translator combines the capabilities of speech recognition and machine translation, which provides a smooth transition from recognized text to ready-made translation. In addition, during the process, Skype Translator erases parasite words, divides text into sentences, and applies punctuation rules.

The source materials for Skype Translator training were various resources, such as translated web pages and videos, as well as translated and decrypted dialogs. Skype Translator records conversations and analyzes them, thus teaching the system a specific foreign language. When you say something, the application is able to recognize similarities in the structure of words and, using previously learned forms of converting sounds into speech, translate into a foreign language.

As a result of large-scale research in the field of speech recognition, automatic translation and machine learning technologies, it was possible to create a product that in the future is designed to change the approach to communication between people and break down language barriers. Using the preliminary version of Skype Translator can improve the technique of simultaneous translation and take another step towards a new model of communication between people around the world.

Skype allows you to secretly watch your friend

The problem in Skype allows you to easily organize wiretapping and watching an interlocutor invisibly for him. This was announced by a user with the nickname Ponkers on the Reddit social site. He called it a "nightmare dream" of people paying increased attention to protecting their personal lives[20].

To use this feature, you must have two Skype devices. On both devices, Subscriber A must sign in to the same Skype account. Both devices must be connected to the network. Then subscriber A calls subscriber B, which has an Android device. During the call (when the beeps go), subscriber A disconnects the device from which the call was made from the network. After that, the Android device of subscriber B will automatically call back to the second device of subscriber A, on which he also entered his account. When subscriber A goes off-hook, voice and video communication will be established between the devices, and he will be able to hear and see everything that happens at the other end of the line. The second interlocutor may not know about this.

Ponkers said it found a problem using the target device on Android. He does not know if this method can be used with sets on other platforms. He also reported that he had not always been able to establish contact, but only in about one out of three cases.

Subscriber B in this situation will be able to find out what is being watched if he sees the smartphone screen - he will see the Skype application. He will also be able to find out that his smartphone called back to the interlocutor.

An entry on the Reddit website collected many comments. Many confirmed the information by trying to reproduce the problem on various devices, including the Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 and a personal computer. Some said they now have to remove Skype.

A Ponkers user who reported the problem said he was immediately contacted by Microsoft for cooperation. He assumes that the problem will be fixed in the very near future.

2013

Confirmed: Skype spies on users

Researcher Jeffrey Knockel from the University of New Mexico established the presence of a censorship mechanism in the Chinese version of Skype, reported Businessweek.[21]

According to Knockel, the Chinese distribution of Skype contains a module with a built-in keylogger that checks texts for the content of unwanted words in them, and sends the collected logs presumably to special services.

It is worth noting that in China, the local company TOM-Skype, the daughter of the Chinese Internet provider TOM Online, has the exclusive right to distribute the Skype distribution.

Knockel managed to establish the list of words prohibited for Chinese users by observing the activity of his network when entering allegedly censored words. In addition, he was able to find significant character sequences when analyzing a daily updated encrypted keyword database.

Among the words not recommended for use by Chinese Skype users, Knockel singled out Tiananmen (Tiananmen Square, where the protest was suppressed in 1989), the names of Human Rights Watch organizations, Reporters Without Borders, BBC News, places of planned actions, etc.

The topic of censorship of messages in Skype is not the first time. In January 2013, it arose in connection with a letter from a group of activists, including more than 40 organizations and 60 individuals, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, the hacktivist community Telecomix and other associations. The letter was sent to the current owner of Skype - Microsoft.

The reason for their concern was an agreement between Skype and the Chinese Internet provider TOM Online, which jointly provide Chinese users with a customized version of the Skype client, which does not look different from other versions of the program.

Signatories suggested that a filter is built into the distributed Chinese version of Skype that blocks unwanted text messages. Thus, the Skype user may not guess that he is working under the supervision of the Chinese special services.

The letter contained a hypothesis that Skype's policy could change due to the purchase of the service by Microsoft in the summer of 2011. They demanded that Microsoft regularly disclose reports on the company's actions with user personal data, as well as publish information about how often it receives requests from government agencies and what data they want to receive.

2011

Hacker Efim Bushmanov published the results of a study of the Skype protocol

In June 2011, hacker Efim Bushmanov first published the most complete results of a study of the Skype protocol, including the closed protocol itself and data encryption mechanisms. Experts believe that information about the Skype protocol will be interesting to both third-party developers and information security specialists.

The closed protocol of the popular program for instant messaging, voice and video messages Skype is hacked along with data encryption mechanisms using the reverse development method (reverse engineering), freelancer Efim Bushmanov said on his blog.

File:Aquote1.png
"Reverse development is the study of something in the form of a" black box, "when there is neither documentation nor any descriptions of internal algorithms of work. In the case of programs, as a rule, it is done by the method of analyzing machine code (the so-called disassembling). As a result of reverse development, an approximate analogue of the investigated object can be made, "explained Roman Vasiliev, technical director of the developer of solutions for protection against SecurIT leaks.
File:Aquote2.png

Bushmanov said in a blog that he has done the bulk of this work and is now looking for like-minded people who have enough time to complete the project. The hacker claims that the only purpose of all work is to turn Skype into an open source product, that is, to make the service available to third-party developers.

Note that the closure of Skype does not allow third-party clients to create for this protocol, as, for example, in the case of ICQ or Jabber, so users are forced to be content with official applications, which is not always convenient. Skype code published by Bushmanov could solve this problem, but reverse development, as a rule, violates copyright law.

As confirmed by CNews representative of Skype in Russia Arseny Rastorguev, such activities violate Skype's intellectual property rights. "We are taking all necessary measures to prevent and stop attempts to spoil the impressions of Skype from its users," he added. The situation is transferred to the legal field by the fact that Bushmanov included binary files of the original application in the archives posted on the Internet, which is a direct violation of copyright, notes The Register.

File:Aquote1.png
"The activity of a threat hacker does not represent, rather, the open Skype protocol will allow many IB specialists to thoroughly investigate it. If serious vulnerabilities are detected, Skype is likely to release a new version of the protocol, and the security of user negotiations will only increase. We can give an example with an opensors project on cryptography - OpenSSL. Its source texts are available to everyone, but this does not affect security, "Vasiliev from SecurIT explained.
File:Aquote2.png

"Changing the algorithm for Skype is very difficult - in addition to Skype software clients, many use hardware devices, and it is often impossible to change the protocol in them. Skype is unlikely to replace the protocol at the cost of disconnecting some of its users, "the expert added. IB experts added that they had previously investigated Skype, but the information published by Bushmanov is the most complete.

Skype encryption mechanisms have always been considered reliably protected, and therefore state intelligence agencies even showed concern about this, citing the fact that due to high security, this protocol can be used to negotiate attackers and organize terrorist attacks.

What Skype can do for small businesses

The more employees talk on the phone, the more expensive it costs the company. For small business budgets, a serious burden can be not only long-distance and international communications, but also the payment of employees' mobile communications. Large companies can take advantage of various IP telephony solutions. For most small businesses, Skype is quite capable, which, like other similar means of communication, can find a variety of applications.* *

Negotiations. Intercity, international, as well as with mobile and fixed phones. If the company needs long-distance telephone conversations, do not take up the phone. Hidset is a much more convenient device for long-term calls. For $10, Skype will provide several hours of telephone conversations with anywhere in the world. The only inconvenience, calling the Russian or Ukrainian outback is much more expensive than in most large cities of the world. However, if all participants in the conversation use Skype, then the conversation will be free, regardless of the location of the interlocutors.

Roaming. The cost of calling a landline or mobile phone depends not so much on distance as on the development of the Internet. Such calls can significantly reduce the cost of roaming - the cost of calling from a mobile phone in roaming easily overlaps its value for the company. WiFi Available today at airports hotels, restaurants - often free, though not always fast.

Instant messages. The phone is not all convenient. E-mail is not fast enough. Instant messages eliminate the asynchronism of your email. And they also allow you to transfer what is difficult to say on the phone: links, pictures, files, etc. At the same time, you can make sure that the interlocutor received everything.

Monitor network presence. Unsuccessful calls to a mobile and landline phone can take a significant part of the working time. It is much more useful before calling to make sure that the required employee is at the workplace, i.e. at the computer, but not necessarily in the office.

Displays the screen. A great opportunity to interact with the interlocutor - the opportunity to show your screen or look at what is happening to him. Situations can vary from remote presentations to support, which can see what the user is not doing.

Business functions. In Skype, there are a number of additions (paid and free) that make working with it more convenient for companies.

Feedback. Users are much more willing to call Skype than a non-resident number. Free rooms 8-800 are expensive enough and therefore not very common. In addition, not all customers are sure that calling 8-800 is free. Well, Skype is Skype - a call between accounts is always free. So post information about your corporate account on your website and in your materials.

The state is dissatisfied. The best evidence of the business benefit of Skype is that the state, under pressure from the telecommunications lobby, is seeking to ban its use. Money flows past state-owned companies. Negotiations are not listened to (at least by Russian services).

For using Skype can be jailed for 15 years

The Ethiopian government has passed a law according to which the use of Skype, Google Talk and other VoIP services is illegal in the country.

Under the terms of the new law, those who violate this rule face imprisonment for up to 15 years, reports Al Jazeera. The law was adopted by the authorities of the African State last month, but until then had remained unnoticed outside Ethiopia.

According to representatives of the Ethiopian government, the ban on the use of VoIP services was imposed due to "fears of violating national security," as well as in order to protect the state monopoly in the field of telecommunications.

Now there is only one Internet provider in Ethiopia - the state-owned Ethio Telecom, which actively filters the country's citizens' access to the Network, blocking the websites of some news media, blogs opposing local authorities, etc.

The new law not only criminalizes the use of VoIP services, but also states that the Ethiopian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology now has "the power to control and license all private companies that import equipment used to exchange information."

In addition, the law adopted in Ethiopia also prohibits "the transmission of audio and video traffic through social media." However, how exactly the authorities intend to monitor compliance with this restriction is unknown.

According to analysts, the harsh punishment provided for by the authorities in the form of 15 years in prison should remove the majority of users from Skype and similar services, which will further tighten Internet censorship in the country.

Reports Without Borders recently reported that local provider Ethio Telecom has installed a new system in the country to block access to the Tor network, which allows users to access the Internet anonymously. According to representatives of Reporters Without Borders, Ethio Telecom most likely uses a relatively advanced Deep Packet Inspection solution for this purpose.

According to the OpenNet Initiative project, Ethiopia currently ranks penultimate among African countries (non-Arab, that is, sub-Saharan) in terms of Internet penetration. In total, about 700 thousand citizens of the country out of 84 million of the total population of Ethiopia had access to the Internet according to 2010 data. The average speed of connection to the Network in Ethiopia was 622 kbit/s.

Rumors of Skype wiretapping can throw it out of corporate networks

Even unconfirmed rumors about the possibility of wiretapping the Skype VoIP service after its change by Microsoft can lead to a ban on protocol in corporate networks, writes the Zdnet tech blog, commenting on the messages that appear. According to experts, corporations responsible for security issues will prefer blocking Skype in the office at risk of information leakage, especially given that more people prefer to work with their own devices (Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model ). In addition, hypothetical wiretapping threatens the image of Skype as a free, private and secure alternative to traditional voice communications.#[22]

Microsoft, which bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, did not confirm the possibility of wiretapping. "As before the acquisition of Skype by Microsoft, Skype collaborates with law enforcement agencies in accordance with the requirements of the law and technical capabilities," the Skype press service said. However, experts point out that Microsoft developers recently modified the system of traffic exchange between Skype "super nodes." As Forbes.com wrote with reference to unnamed hackers, the essence of the changes is that through the "super nodes" Skype can now pass the voice and video traffic itself, and not only requests for connection between users of the distributed network. Thus, an intermediary appears in the conversation, to control the traffic through which there is already a matter of technology, the publication indicated.

Skype claims that superhops do not mean abandoning the principles of the network.

"As part of Skype's continuous reliability improvement, we have put into operation supernodes located on dedicated servers in secure data centers. This has not changed the fundamentals of the Skype architecture as a distributed (P2P) network, in which super nodes just help users find each other, while call traffic does not go through them. We believe that this approach allows you to increase the performance, scalability and availability of the network for hundreds of millions of Skype users, "said Mark Gillette, senior vice president of development and operations, in a statement
.

Until now, the Skype protocol has been considered practically invisible - so much so that in 2007 the police Germany were forced to turn to the services of virus writers and introduce "trojans" to record conversations on the computers of suspects, Zdnet recalls. At the same time, Skype itself announced that listening to messages on its network is impossible "due to the distributed nature and algorithms used." enciphering

In May last year, Microsoft patented "legitimate interference" technology, which allows law enforcement agencies to connect to user conversations in VoIP services, as well as intercept transmitted content without their knowledge.

Group Video Calls

In February 2011, it became known that in the new version of the client of the popular VoIP service Skype, the possibility of conducting group video calls appeared. In addition, Skype 5.1 users for Windows have become available such a feature as automatic call recovery and improved communication quality, the company said. To use group video communication at any time, you must subscribe to Skype Premium or set up group video communication in the company using Skype Manager.

Telephone Client Web Version

Skype plans to release a web version of the telephone client in early 2011, which will work directly in the browser. Currently, you can use Skype voice and video services only with a special program. The new service will be "cloud," that is, only the visual interface that sends requests will be launched on the user's computer, and data will be processed on Skype servers. In turn, the owner of the Skype account will be spared the need to download and install an extra program on the computer.

2010

Worldwide failure

Skype's Internet telephony service last night, December 22, 2010, stopped responding to requests from some users around the world. According to unofficial information, at least half of the account owners experienced problems. The administration of the service on the official blog recognized the problem and stated that it would take at least several hours to restore operability. "Some of you may experience problems signing in to Skype. We are investigating and apologizing for the malfunctions. Our engineers work in non-stop mode to correct the situation. Thank you for your patience, "the company said.

The reason for the failure of the popular VoIP service Skype, which occurred last week around the world, was an error in the version of the application for Windows. The CIO of Skype Lars Rabbe (Lars Rabbe) told about it in the blog of the company. According to him, on Wednesday, December 22, 2010, several auxiliary network servers were overloaded and disconnected. As a result, the time to deliver messages to users' computers has increased. And Windows version 5.0.0.152 did not process this event correctly, causing the application to fail.

In the version of Skype for Windows - 5.0.0.156, - as well as in earlier versions of the application for Windows (4.x), Mac OS and iOS, the event was processed normally, so they did not fail.

However, version 5.0.0.152 for Windows was installed on computers about 50% of all Skype users in the world, of which about 40% failed. And since the Skype service is based on P2P technology, problems on the computers of some users led to the effect of an avalanche - their "neighbors" began to disconnect.

Many customers who used the problematic version tried several times to reload Skype software on their computer, which further increased the load on the servers. As a result, the remaining host servers were loaded about 100 times larger than normal.

Some users of the global Internet telephony service Skype received a letter from the company's chief executive, Tony Bates, thanking "for patience, understanding and support during the recent Skype outage."

As compensation for understanding, the head of the service attached to the letter the voucher code "for the amount that will be enough for more than 30 minutes" of calls to city phones of popular destinations. Among them, Tony Bates calls the United States, Great Britain, Germany, China and Japan. When you enter a code on a Skype user's personal page, the amount of compensation is $1.

Record for simultaneous stay online - 25 million people

Skype announced its new record: November 22, 2010, at the same time there were 25 million Skype users online. The total number of Skype users already exceeds 560 million people. According to company representatives, last year all Skype users communicated with each other for more than 113 billion minutes. They also reported that during the first half of 2010, about 40% of the total communication time between users was video calls.

According to analysts, the message about the continued growth in the popularity of Skype should have a good effect on the price of shares of the company, which plans to soon enter the exchange. Recall that in August of this year, Skype filed an application for an initial offering of shares, intending to raise up to $100 million during the IPO. According to documents released on this occasion, in the first six months of this year, Skype's income amounted to $406 million, while profit - $13 million, and operating profit - only $1.4 million.

In the first half of 2010, Skype users made voice and video calls for 95 billion minutes. In addition, Skype users sent about 84 million SMS messages. According to unofficial data, the number of Skype users is approaching the mark of 560 million people. Of these, more than 8 million use paid services offered by the company, including calls from personal computers to phones. The rest use only free service functionality, such as instant messaging and calls between Skype accounts.

Recently, Skype has been actively adding various new functionality to its service, designed to expand the audience of this service. So, in October, the fifth version of the Skype client was announced. It is expected to include in-depth integration with the social network Facebook. Facebook users will be able to log into Skype through their Facebook Connect account, send messages to their Facebook friends, view the news of their network in the Skype interface,

In April 2013, Skype announced that users of the same VoIP service spend more than 2 billion minutes a day communicating with each other. As the company explains, this time is enough to fly to the moon and back 225 thousand times, 845 times to go around the world or make 5400 flights to Mars.

Ability to organize group conversations

The possibility of organizing group conversations in Skype appeared in the first beta version of Skype 5.0, released in May 2010, and in the second beta version, the number of participants in such conversations was increased from five to ten. Video conferencing is currently only supported in Skype 5.0 Beta for Windows and must be installed with all participants in the conference. In versions for other operating systems, there is no support for group video communication, but the company promised to implement it before the end of the year in at least the version for Mac OS X.

Paid videoconferencing

Skype The function () that appeared in the last fifth version video conferencings AEROSPACE FORCES will become paid. This was announced in November 2010 CNews by Skype Director for Market Development in Central, and To Europe the CIS Russia Rajendra Patel. According to him, the cost of the service will be determined at the beginning of 2011. "I can say that the price will be competitive, our VKS will not be extremely expensive, conferences will be quite cheap," says Patel.

Recall that up to 10 interlocutors can participate in video conferencing in the recently released Skype 5.0. So far, the service is free if the whole group uses messenger accounts for conversation. However, when adding subscribers with regular phones to the conference, the host of the conference will have to pay standard Skype rates for communicating with them. While the VKS is in beta status, that is, work on it is ongoing.

The fact that the popular messenger decided to make the video conferencing service paid did not come as a surprise to other players in the VKS software system market (in Russia, Video conference and VideoPort companies are developing them). "If in the first beta version of the VKS the video traffic went according to the point-to-point model standard for Skype, then in the second beta version of the video conferences began to be transmitted through the messenger servers, despite the fact that the peer-to-peer model is still used for audio streams," says Vyacheslav Borilin, CEO of Video Bridge. Rajendra Patel emphasizes that for regular voice and video communication, the company will retain the point-to-point model.

Notes

  1. , Microsoft revives the legendary messenger, which before that has consistently "killed."
  2. Skype’s ‘Meet Now’ calling feature lets users join video meetings without a Skype account
  3. has learned to call users who do not have an account or installed application
  4. Skype registers telecoms service after losing EU case
  5. us/article/xweqbq/microsoft-contractors-listen-to-skype-calls Revealed: Microsoft Contractors Are Listening to Some Skype Calls
  6. Skype launches real-time captions and subtitles
  7. Microsoft Adds End-to-End Encrypted Chat to Skype Using Signal
  8. Upgrade to the latest version of Skype for desktop
  9. Microsoft to Retire Old Skype for Windows 10 Versions
  10. The latest versions of Skype are a complete mess
  11. microsoft took what was an amazing product and turned it into a turd
  12. Don't Skype Me: How Microsoft Turned Consumers Against a Beloved Brand
  13. Microsoft bans offensive language on Xbox and Skype
  14. Skype can't fix a nasty security bug without a massive code rewrite
  15. Microsoft announces new Skype Professional Account targeting instructors and SMBs
  16. Microsoft releases Skype with a radically new design
  17. 17,0 17,1 [http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2017-02-17_microsoft_vypustila_novyj_skype_dlya_androidpohozhij the Microsoft
  18. 18,0 18,1 [http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2016-11-15_microsoft_razreshila_obshchatsya_po_skype_bez_registratsii with the Microsoft
  19. , Microsoft updated the web version of Skype
  20. CNews: Skype allows you to secretly watch the interlocutor
  21. Confirmed: Skype spies on users
  22. ixzz21dKN70KR Statements