Skype 8.6 brings moderated groups and shows nine participants

Microsoft has released an updated Skype application with a lot of new features, improvements and fixes. Skype version 8.60 is one of the largest updates in the latest period.

The new version will soon be available on all platforms where Skype is present. Most of the innovations will be available on all supported operating systems.

The only exception is the new mode for video calls, which allows you to arrange images of nine participants in a conversation in a 3×3 scheme. Microsoft first launched this feature in Microsoft Teams, and now it is available for the desktop versions of Skype for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Skype 8.6 brings moderated groups and shows nine participants

Another innovation is support for moderated groups. Now you can create a group where several users can become administrators, helping to monitor the progress of communication. In such groups, only administrators can start calls, and so on.

Also in Skype it became possible to customize the list of reactions – emojis, which can be quickly sent in response to a message. In addition, there are new keyboard shortcuts for quick actions in Skype, even when the program window is minimized or out of focus.

Here is the full list of new features:

• All the best reactions: Sometimes you need the perfect reaction at your fingertips, and now you can customize which ones appear in the reaction picker. Learn how to add custom reactions to your reaction picker.
• Just like that old TV show: Now you can see nine participants with video on your screen at one time. Learn how to switch to 3×3 mode.
• Who’s in charge around here? Need to create a group with defined moderators and users, like a classroom? Try creating a Moderated Group.
• Just a key-press (or three) away: Some new global hotkeys you can use even when Skype is minimized. Learn more about keyboard shortcuts.
• Bug fixes and stability improvements. We sent some bugs packing and swept up after ourselves.

Last month, Skype Meet Now function was officially launched. It was introduced to cover the needs of the vast majority of connected people at the quarantine period. Microsoft’s video conferencing service got new features to further improve their situation against the competition platforms. Due to the confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, videoconferencing services are experiencing a historic boom, as revealed by one of the great experts of the sector.