Skip to main content

Skype group video calls are now free for Windows, Mac and Xbox One users

skype group video calls now free windows mac xbox one users call

If you’re a Skype user that users the voice/video chatting service on either Windows, Mac OS X or Xbox One, you’re in luck. Skype group video calling is now free on all three platforms as of today, Microsoft announced via an official blog post.

Prior to Redmond’s decision to make group video calls free on Skype, the option was already available, but only to Premium Skype users on Windows, Mac, and Xbox One.

Due in part to Microsoft’s decision to make a Premium feature free, interestingly enough, the site’s Premium page currently states that Microsoft has removed Premium for the time being in order to “give it a refresh.” However, the ability to make calls internationally is still available.

It’s unclear what Skype Premium will look like once the refresh is complete. With Skype group video calling, you can have up to 10 people on a single call at the same time. 

If you use Skype but with a platform other than Windows, Mac OS X or the Xbox One, you’re not totally out of luck. Microsoft also revealed that while group calling for Skype is free for only these three platforms at the moment, they said that they’ll be making group video calling free for additional platforms at some point as well.

However, at this time, there’s no timetable for when that will take place, and it’s currently unknown which other devices/operating systems will get the free Skype group video calling treatment next.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.

 

Editors' Recommendations

Konrad Krawczyk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…
Microsoft contractors are listening to some Skype calls and Cortana commands
android phone skype

If you thought all of your Skype calls and Cortana commands were totally private, think again.

According to a recent report published by Motherboard, the tech news site obtained documents, audio, and screenshots which indicate that Microsoft’s contractors are in fact listening to some Skype calls made via the app’s translation feature, as well as listening to voice commands spoken to Microsoft’s voice assistant, Cortana.

Read more
Skype doubles its group video chat limit to 50 participants
skype doubles its group video chat limit to 50 participants  people

Fifty people in a virtual room all at the same time sounds like a recipe for chaos whichever way you look it, but evidently, it’s an upper limit that Skype is happy to go with.

Following testing of the feature last month, the folks behind the Microsoft-owned video chat software have now increased the limit for group calls to 50 people, whether video or audio. The previous limit was 25.

Read more
Latest Skype preview now lets you chat with up to 50 people on a video call
skypes new blur background feature could help save your blushes skype

Microsoft is testing a key change to its Skype video conferencing software that could make it more useful. The latest beta version of Skype is now introducing an ability to enter a video call with up to 50 people, a change from the current standard release which has a maximum limit of 25 participants.

Likley aimed at competing with the service Zoom, this new ability could prove useful for companies and other large businesses already using Microsoft's other Office 365 products. For a less annoying experience, once a call is started in a large group of up to 50 people, notifications will be sent out instead of ringing each individual individually. This means that the workflow of Skype users who are not able to join a large call won't be impacted. The latest Skype preview version also enables the audio and video buttons on these large scale calls for additional privacy, as well as a notification feature for smaller groups.

Read more