Skype Group Video Call Rolls Out to iOS and Android

By Juvy Garcia, Christian Post Contributor Monday, February 22, 2016

Following its announcement last month, Skype has officially started rolling out its Group Video Call for mobile devices in select territories this month. The new feature is scheduled to arrive on all mobile phones and tables by next month.

Skype Group Video Call will be available to all iPhone, iPad, and Android devices in North America and Western Europe "over the next week or so." The feature will be available worldwide in March.

Skype Group Video Call on mobile devices was tested by "tens of thousands" of users who provided feedback that helped shape the final version that was released this month.

Skype's new Group Video Call feature allows users to make video calls in HD. Video calls are also optimized for the specific device users are using at the time of the call. The new feature makes use of SILK Super WideBand audio codec that Skype says will make the audio "crystal clear."

In addition, Skype has increased the number of people that can chat on calls from only five people to up to 25 people now. This is apparently in a bid to cut off competition from other social apps like ooVoo, which provides users the ability to chat with many people at once.

Video calls on Skype also support grid view, focus on the active speaker, or "pin" a participant to the stage. Skype users will also be able to invite practically anyone to an existing conversation. This includes other users who are not on their contact list and even other people who don't have a Skype account. Users can invite the latter through a unique link that they can use to join as a guest on Skype for Web.

Skype has been improving its mobile version by consistently adding new features to the platform. These include video messaging, instant message translation, real-time speech translation, emojis, and Slack and Outlook integrations.