Skype had introduced the group video calling feature on Android, iOS and Windows phone last month. Today, the company is officially rolling out the functionality on iOS and Android devices.
Skype’s free group calling feature supports full HD broadcast and Microsoft has collaborated with Intel to optimize SILK Audio codec to run on Azure cloud servers to make sure audio is very clear even with the increased number of participants. Now, the service lets you group video call for free with upto 25 participants and brings a grid view to see all the callers as well as a focus view that shows just the active speaker. Prior to this update, Skype allowed only 5 participants in a group chat. Users can even swipe through that lineup and find an individual caller and “pin” them to the screen.
Moving on Skype will also let you flip between the front and back camera. You don’t need to be a Skype user to join a group video call as it will enable you to start conversations by simply clicking on a link that can be sent out over a variety of apps. Skype rolled out this feature in October this year which is really useful. Skype’s free group video calling feature is coming to iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets in Western Europe and North America and and will roll it out globally in coming months.