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Skype For Web Beta Goes Worldwide

Posted by samzenpus on from the around-the-world dept.

SmartAboutThings writes: Just days after offering a limited beta release of Skype for Web to customers in the U.S. and UK, Microsoft has made the beta available to users from all over the world. The expansion adds support for: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, English, German, Greek, Spanish, Estonian, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Chinese Simplified, and Chinese Traditional.

11 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Fix the linux client next by JustBen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now maybe they will have time to fix screen sharing in the Linux client.

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    1. Re:Fix the linux client next by binarylarry · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh they're going to fix Linux good.

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    2. Re:Fix the linux client next by Zappy · · Score: 2

      No; Not jet at least. Web version tells me in both Chrome and Firefox "Audio and video calls are not supported on your OS". (Fedora 21)

  2. Installs an extension... by bemymonkey · · Score: 2

    ... so WTF is the point? The whole reason I want a webapp is so I have to install *less* shit on my computers.

    1. Re:Installs an extension... by bemymonkey · · Score: 3, Interesting

      If I want screen sharing I'll use fucking TeamViewer. Give me basic IM, voice and maybe video support without a plugin or GTFO.

    2. Re:Installs an extension... by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 2

      With a modern browser that supports it?

      Try Talky

  3. Profile picture by mpol · · Score: 3, Informative

    Can you even change your profile picture in this one?
    Sometimes the easiest things are the hardest.
    Afaik you still can do that only in Skype for Windows. Not on Android, not on the website, not anywhere else.

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  4. Re:This is good by txoof · · Score: 2

    I got in early on google talk from the USA and can dial for FREE any number in the US from my web browser. This beats Skype hands down. Not only has google offered this service for at least 3 years, but it's FREE. FREE. Skype is just painful and expensive.

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  5. Re:This is good by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 3, Informative

    Uh huh.

    "Audio and video calls are not supported on your OS"

    (Ubuntu Linux 14.04, Firefox, Chromium, AND Chrome)

    "Cross platform", my arse.

    The Windows version demands a 6MB MSI installer get run as well, so it's not entirely standard WebRTC either.

  6. Re:This is good by GNious · · Score: 2

    I've banned customers(!) from conference-calls on projects, due to them using Skype - my experience is that Skype is horrible.
    That said, audio-quality on Google Talk is not exactly impressive either...t

  7. Re:Skype the Web product? by Lennie · · Score: 2

    If I understand correctly:
    - "In the future Skype for Web will utilize WebRTC so that you don’t need to install any plugins to get it working — meaning you only need to allow the site permission to use your webcam and microphone and you’re good to go, but for now a plugin is required to make calls."
    - what we do know about Skype:
    any calls you make with Skype go through servers, it's not a peer2peer solution anymore:
    http://arstechnica.com/busines...
    My guess is one of the positive reasons is: they want to analyze the audio to increase their understanding of language and translation.

    WebRTC protocols supports end-to-end peer 2 peer encryption, but it doesn't mean an application has to use it.

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