Skype To End Support For Older Versions Of Android And Windows (Updated)
Skype announced that it would end support for some Windows-based smartphones and older versions of Android.
Pre-Windows 10 smartphones, such as Windows version 8.0 and 8.1, and all Android devices with Android 4.02 or older, will no longer be supported by Skype as of October. Skype said that it was necessary to end support for these devices to focus on improving the user experience on other more heavily used platforms.
The company’s aim is to improve call quality, add new features and improve the overall performance and stability of its software on the devices that it continues to support. Some users negatively impacted by this end of support will be able to continue using Skype via the recently launched Skype for Web platform, but this may not be an option for certain older and slower devices.
As Microsoft owns Skype, this is a somewhat surprising move. Although it could be that the company simply feels confident in its web-based alternative for Windows smartphones, it could also signal that Microsoft is narrowing its focus in the mobile market. Microsoft recently laid off 1,350 employees from its Nokia division and another 500 from its in-house smartphone division this year.
If you need Skype on your smartphone, and it doesn’t support Windows 10, iOS or Android 4.03 or newer, you may have little choice but to upgrade to a new smartphone.
EDIT: July 21, 2016, 6:00 AM PST - Amended article to note that Skype still supports Windows 10.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
-
TechyInAZ When Microsoft says windows 10, do they mean the Skype windows 10 app from the windows store? Or the regular Skype program?Reply -
ohim How can you say this BS ? Skype will stop support for windows Phone 8.1 or lower but not Win 10 mobile, platform on which they already have the successor almost complete.Reply -
Liviu Degeratu Did the author even bother to check the link they sourced this from? Windows 10 mobile is listed as supported, 8 and 8.1 are losing support after October 26.Reply -
epdm2be The only thing I hear when it is related to Microsoft is: layoffs, cease support of app this and that, force to ugrade etc...Reply
Microsoft is looking more and more like a bad joke! -
IInuyasha74 Reply18307359 said:How can you say this BS ? Skype will stop support for windows Phone 8.1 or lower but not Win 10 mobile, platform on which they already have the successor almost complete.
Perhaps I should edit the piece and add this in to avoid comments like yours.
Click this link, then click "Windows Phone"
https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA10328/what-do-i-need-to-start-using-skype?intcmp=blogs-_-generic-click-_-skype-the-journey-weve-been-on
-
panathas Reply18307984 said:18307359 said:How can you say this BS ? Skype will stop support for windows Phone 8.1 or lower but not Win 10 mobile, platform on which they already have the successor almost complete.
Perhaps I should edit the piece and add this in to avoid comments like yours.
Click this link, then click "Windows Phone"
https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA10328/what-do-i-need-to-start-using-skype?intcmp=blogs-_-generic-click-_-skype-the-journey-weve-been-on
IINUYASHA74 you are reading it wrong. That link clearly says that only windows phone 8 & 8.1 are losing support after October 2016 and not windows 10 Mobile.
-
maxusa If this publication cares about its credibility, it shall promptly correct the misstatement about Skype dropping support in "all Windows-based smart phones." The linked Microsoft support article is very clear about Windows Mobile 10 unaffected. Creating sensational headlines much? I thought this was Anandtech's job.Reply -
g-unit1111 Ouch. This doesn't bode well for Windows Phone. Which sucks - the Lumia 950XL was a solid phone but lack of apps is a deal breaker for most people.Reply -
atheus MS is definitely not discontinuing Skype for Windows 10 mobile. That's a pretty big error.Reply