Microsoft promises: Skype will continue to receive new functions

Skype and teams will continue to be offered in parallel by Microsoft. In addition, the Skype group will continue to provide new functions. “We continue to invest in Skype”said Jeff Teper, CVP for Microsoft 365, Venture beat. “You will see some new features.”

“People love Skype. So we won’t be too hasty here”said Teper. First, Microsoft wants one this week Communication between Skype and teams enable. Only then is a team version for non-commercial use to be expected.

Teper sees the problem that teams will offer more functions for private use than Skype – so that many chose teams instead of Skype. Nevertheless, there will still be new functions for Skype. However, it is still unclear whether only team functions will be integrated into Skype or whether the program will receive independent innovations.

Collaboration between teams and Skype is coming

First of all, Microsoft wants to enable communication between Skype and teams in May 2020. A Team and Skype collaboration had already been planned for March 2020, but Microsoft did not meet this deadline.

Once enabled, it will be possible to conduct video conferencing between teams and Skype, make individual video calls and calls without video transmission, and exchange chat messages. Interaction requires the email address used for Skype or teams with the appropriate Microsoft account. Both services use the email address as a registration option.

It is currently planned that only teams can contact other Skype accounts. The reason may be that teams can only be used with a paid Office license, while Skype in the standard version can be used without direct payment. The use of Skype is financed with advertising.

Teams and Skype poorly rated for data protection

The Stiftung Warentest published one this month Test of video conference solutions and devalued almost all programs included in the test due to data protection concerns. This also affects Microsoft Teams and Skype. According to Stiftung Warentest, there are “very clear defects” in the privacy statements of the programs. Most providers’ texts “show no serious concern with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)”.

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