Update Your Phone, Otherwise Skype Won’t Work Anymore
In honor of the latest Skype update, the video chat and messaging application is dropping support for multiple platforms.
According to Techcrunch , over a dozen Skype apps and platforms (including SkypeKit-based phones) are losing Skype support as of July 1, which means you won’t be able to use the service on certain devices. Bummer.
I’m never a big fan of dropping support for older operating systems, especially if their maintenance requires minimal effort. On the other hand, operating systems that are losing support, are outdated or underutilized, which means that it may be more financially feasible for Skype to simply drop support for them. Operating systems losing support include iOS 7 and earlier, Android 4.0.2 and earlier, BlackBerry OS 7.1 and earlier, and Skype on TV.
Devices with SkypeKit support are also losing support, although its demise was preceded by the 2013 announcement of the end of support for the service. Linux users are also losing support for older versions of Skype, although they should use the Skype for Linux beta if they want to continue using the app.
However, the news isn’t all bad. The latest version of Skype has updates that make it more competitive, as well as messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. It even has a storytelling-style ephemeral messaging feature called Highlights.
Highlights lets you create the highlights of your day with photos and videos so you can share everyday moments. To publish a Highlight, swipe to access the camera, take a photo or video, then publish it in the Highlights section or send it directly to your contacts or groups. After you post a Highlight, your friends and family can respond with emojis or engage in conversation.
We’ve contacted Microsoft for more details and will update accordingly. You can view the full list of affected apps and platforms here, and check out the rest of the new Skype features on their blog .