Skype for Windows 10 comes out of preview, picks up Skype SMS support and more

After a year of testing, Microsoft has finally taken the Preview tag off the Skype for Windows 10 app – marking it as suitable to be your main Skype client of choice. Of course, if you simply prefer the Win32 app out of an objection to UWPs, this won’t necessarily convince you to switch as the apps are broadly similar at this stage. However, it is very likely that Microsoft will focus its efforts on this app going forward.

Here’s what’s new in Skype 11.13.115.0

• Simplified contacts access: Now the Skype app uses the OS contacts permission future rather than having to be turned on in Skype itself. This means that you can now enable or disable Skype’s access to your contacts from the settings app.
• You can now search your Skype chats for specific messages. This does not apply to SMS messages synced via a compatible Windows phone.
• Microsoft has added support for Skype SMS, meaning that you can now send SMSes via Skype’s traditional paid SMS service (although you cannot receive replies via this method) as well as through SMS relay.
• Microsoft has added new keyboard shortcuts to make messaging easier – though I’m not entirely sure what Skype supports as there is no exhaustive list of shortcuts anywhere.
• You can now switch your microphone, camera or transfer to a new device while making a Skype call.
• Finally, Microsoft has edited the group video calling interface.

You’ll need to be on the release Preview to snag this update as Microsoft isn’t currently offering updates to Insiders on the Fast Ring for some reason.

Download Skype for Windows 10 from the Store link below:

[appbox windowsstore 9wzdncrfj364]