- The step to the big comeback?
In June, the once-popular messaging service ICQ officially shut down its operations. Years ago, Skype was also one of the most popular services of its kind. The verb "to skype," meaning to make a call over the internet using Skype, even made it into the Duden.
However, its popularity waned. Microsoft, which has owned the service since 2011, seems eager to boost user numbers again and has announced several new features. The goal is to "make people fall in love with Skype again," an anonymous source recently told the portal "Windows Latest".
No more ads on Skype
A Microsoft employee announced the release of the "Skype Insider build 8.125" and discussed what the team is currently working on. The biggest change: all ads will be removed from Skype. "We're excited to announce that Skype is now ad-free," the statement reads. The update will remove all ads from Skype channels and the entire platform, aiming for a "smoother, more organized, and more enjoyable user experience."
According to "Windows Latest," ads were still appearing when users opened MSN articles on the platform, but this could also be removed in a future update.
Other new features include simplifying the login process on iOS. Users will be automatically logged in if they are already logged in on their device with another Microsoft app. Microsoft is also focusing on AI-generated content in the desktop app, making it possible to create AI images directly in the chat window with additional features.
A number of bug fixes have also been announced, including a fix for a bug that prevented users from sending files when connected to a 5G network.
The removal of ads from Skype channels and the entire platform is part of Microsoft's efforts to improve the user experience, making it "smoother, more organized, and more enjoyable" to use ['Windows and related software', such as Skype]. Microsoft's focus on AI-generated content in the desktop app allows users to create AI images directly in the chat window, further enhancing ['Windows and related software'] features.
