Skype Adds New Call Recording Feature; Streaming Services to Come Soon

Microsoft-owned VoIP based service Skype is said to be adding a built-in call recording feature across all platforms on which the service is available. This is said to be a cloud based feature wherein all call recordings are stored on cloud servers so that users can access these recordings across various platforms and devices including Windows, Android, Mac, iOS etc.

“Call recording is completely cloud-based, and as soon as you start recording, everyone in the call is notified that the call is being recorded,” explains Microsoft’s Skype team. “Call recordings combine everyone’s video as well as any screens shared during the call.”

Since its original release in 2003, Skype never had a call recording feature till date. There have been a few third party apps and services which users had to resort to in order to record skype calls, but with this new feature, it can now be done natively, which is a welcome move. Microsoft is also experimenting and testing out a new ‘Content Creator’ mode for Skype to help users stream their content easily, be it vloggers or gamers or live podcasters. They are also working on integrating services like Xsplit, Wirecast, and Vmix into Skype. A few other changes Microsoft is working on, is a new redesigned UI for its PC client, to look more like its mobile app. The call recording feature will start rolling out by the end of July and will be included in the next update across all platforms.

With popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger offering video calling capabilities and Google’s own service, Duo, featuring high quality video calls while consuming lesser bandwidth, the number of users of Skype seem to be depleting, since apps like WhatsApp are usually present on almost every single smartphone, so using a service provided by an app that you already have, makes more sense than downloading an additional app. However, by offering features like call recording and live streaming for content creators, Skype is trying to get back to limelight, as these features are absent on other similar services.