Microsoft is Removing Ads From Skype (theverge.com) 28
Microsoft is making Skype ad-free in an update that will rollout to users across all platforms soon. From a report: The update also includes improved AI image creation tools on Skype for Windows and macOS, and the ability to sign in automatically on iOS if you're already signed into another Microsoft app. "Our latest update removes all ads from Skype channels and the entire Skype platform, ensuring a smoother, decluttered and more enjoyable user experience," says Skype product manager Irene Namuganyi. The removal of ads in Skype means you'll no longer see ads in the main chat interface, or in the channels section. Microsoft says it has listened to feedback around ads in Skype, and decided to "focus on your chats without any ad distractions, making your Skype experience cleaner and more user-friendly."
Skype news? What year is this? (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Skype news? What year is this? (Score:4, Interesting)
My dad uses Skype to talk to his ham buddies in different parts of the world. He is on a Windows 10 machine and I have no interest in moving him to W11 and all the forced registrations.
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The use of it by some people shouldn't negate the surprise. Microsoft has been heavily pushing Teams, to the point of it even being a default in Windows 11 and to the point of some of the Skype adverts suggesting switching to Teams. Also they partially linked the two to ease transition.
The surprise here is that there's any continuing development in Skype, not that people use it. It's genuinely a surprise it still exists. If it were a Google product it would have been killed properly and people force migrate
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AFAIK Teams doesn't have the one useful feature of Skype - the ability to call real phones overseas cheaply.
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I didn't know people still did that. Call real phones I mean ;-)
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Dropping the ads means that they aren't profitable for the platform because there are too few users and nobody clicks on the ads.
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Is there a new version of AIM too?
Well, you could always spin up your own AIM server [github.com] and use whatever version of AIM [oldversion.com] or Trillian [oldversion.com] you want.
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Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 19... er 2003?
Re: Skype news? What year is this? (Score:2)
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Enjoy your new ad-free Skype, Citizen!
In Windows (Score:1)
But they will advertise Skype in the next Windows update.
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I think you misspelled "Teams" and yes, the answer is yes.
Closing the Circle of Logic (Score:5, Insightful)
If removing ads means "ensuring a smoother, decluttered and more enjoyable user experience", why are there ads in Windows 11?
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They expect Windows 11 to be the path forward, Skype is a "dead" product now and is around mostly as a matter of habit and to not annoy the remaining users creating unnecessary badwill.
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If removing ads means "ensuring a smoother, decluttered and more enjoyable user experience", why are there ads in Windows 11?
Translation: We couldn't sell ads in Skype any more. it's 99% scammers and spammers these days.
So how does MS get money out of Skype use? (Score:2)
Whilst this is very nice of MS, how does it gain? Skype needs money to keep running. How is that paid for?
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Well, if you don't have much new stuff developed on a stable platform it's probably going to run until there's an OS update preventing it from being used. Legacy product, just wait for the users to die off. It's probably consuming marginal resources in the overall operation and might have an internal fanbase that more or less keeps it alive. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some upper level managers at Microsoft that uses it to have a "private" room outside Teams.
And why not - it could be a backup alter
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Whilst this is very nice of MS, how does it gain? Skype needs money to keep running. How is that paid for?
I'll bet data plays a role in how they calculate Skype's expenditures.
Revolving Door (Score:1)
Okay, why not get screenshare working? (Score:2)
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Wayland leaves that to the compositor to implement and secure. I know Kwin implements support this, and I'm sure Gnome's compositor does too, but do they all do it in a standardized way?
What i would do... (Score:3)
Skype is an absolute train wreck right now. Finding unread chats is pretty much impossible, many features just don't work, and the core functionality is diluted by halfhearted attempts to compete with tiktok/instagram/news/etc.
What I would do for a day or two at microsoft to fix this overloaded sinking ship.....
csw
Until usage goes back up and we put back in ads. (Score:1)
Clearly other solutions are cutting into skype badly. As soon as they are "on top" again, the ads go back.
Crypto scams (Score:2)
How about eliminating crypto scams? The ads were OK compared to that.
So how is it making money? (Score:2)
If they aren't using ads to monetize skype then how are they making money from it? That's a scary thought.
Re: So how is it making money? (Score:3)
Some people pay for it, including myself. Skype is the best and most stable way to make international phone calls to actual phones, and to purchase an actual number to be called on while abroad, if you donâ(TM)t want to pay roaming costs.
I also occasionally use it to talk to people in countries where other apps are banned.
Only saw ads now (Score:2)
A banner has appeared at the bottom since last week I think. Never seen ads before. I'm glad they are getting rid of it. Right?