14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has recently announced that Skype for TV would go dark in June 2016 and no other updates would be provided beyond this date.
Basically, with Skype for TV, anyone having a smart TV could chat with contacts from their couch, and it’s no secret that many people across the world were actually using it.
“We’ll focus on the other Skype versions”
So while this new Microsoft decision might come as a big surprise for some, Redmond says that it doesn’t make sense to keep Skype for TV alive since most of its users have installed the messaging app on their mobile phones, desktops, or tablets.
“Since 2010, Skype has delivered a great calling experience in the living room in partnership with several TV manufacturers. But over the years, users have changed the way they use Skype, with the majority accessing it from a mobile device – including when in the living room,” Microsoft says.
“We want to make sure we prioritize delivering the best possible experience to the platforms our users are asking for, which is why we’ve decided to focus our efforts in other areas while supporting key functionality on Skype for TV for as long as possible.”
Even though Microsoft’s pulling the plug on Skype for TV in June, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will no longer be able to use it beyond this date. The software giant claims that it’s all up to your TV manufacturer, as they can remove the app from the TV or keep it available for a little longer, it’s only their decision.
For what it’s worth, if you have Skype installed on your smart TV and the manufacturer does not remove it, you should be able to continue using it just like before, only that new updates will no longer be received. At some point in the future, however, everyone will eventually remove the app because of security concerns.