Microsoft recently announced that it was building a Web client for Skype, allowing users to use the service simply by logging in through a Web browser.
Since that time, the Skype Web browser has operated in a very small, closed beta. Now, however, that beta has been opened up to anyone in the U.S. and the U.K. Those in other countries will be able to enjoy the new website in coming weeks.
"Skype for Web is perfect if you normally use Skype on your mobile, but want to quickly get to your calls and IMs on a bigger screen," said Microsoft in a blog post. "Or perhaps you're sitting at a Windows or Mac computer in an Internet café or hotel that doesn't already have Skype downloaded."
Long-term, Microsoft wants to implement an API called Object Real-Time Communications, or ORTC, which is under development by Microsoft, Google and other companies. However, Microsoft's Edge browser is the only Internet browser expected to support this API in the near future. Because of this, users will have to use a range of plugins to make the Web client work.
This is especially troublesome for Chromebook users, who, for now, will be limited to only messaging their contacts.
While the new Web client is certainly helpful for some, it isn't able to do anywhere near as much as the desktop app can. For example, there aren't as many options for users to sort and manage their contacts.
Users also have to agree to the use of tracking cookies to use the Web app. While this is really a standard thing across Web apps, it is something of which to be aware.
Of course, since the service is still in beta, it is reasonable to expect a few bugs. Many are reporting issues across a range of Web browsers and operating systems, with some only able to get audio working and others reporting that their browser crashes entirely when trying to start a call.
In fact, even Microsoft's new Edge browser has issues with the Skype Web client, which doesn't support plugins, essentially meaning that users won't be able to use the client at all, at least for now. It is likely, however, that Microsoft will incorporate the ORTC API into Edge in the near future.
While it certainly is a work-in-progress, the Skype Web client has the potential to eventually allow users to get rid of the desktop app, while offering a way to communicate no matter what computer the user is on.
