14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft might be working on another project involving the Skype team that could lead to the creation of a cross-platform messaging app called “Skype for Life.”
At first glance, this could be an entirely new client, but there are bigger chances that Microsoft is rethinking its entire strategy and looking to bring all Skype versions currently on the market under just one umbrella.
Ars writes that this is actually one of the reasons behind Microsoft’s decision to close the London Skype office and laying off hundreds of people, with the company thinking that some of the jobs in the United Kingdom could become redundant given this new strategy.
Too many Skype clients
At this point, Skype is already cross platform and available on Windows desktops and Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, and Xbox as a universal app, in the browser as Skype Web, on Linux, and iOS, Android, and macOS, so what Microsoft might be trying to do is offer a simplified experience provided by a new project called Skype for Life.
This way, Microsoft could be aiming to offer a client that would look and work the same on all platforms, with some thinking that the new universal app, that’s currently in preview stage on Windows 10 devices, could be used as the pioneer of the transition.
It appears that the new client, which is currently referred to as Skype for Life but could be using a different name when it hits the market, is currently being worked on at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, alongside Skype for Business and Skype Teams.
For the moment, there’s no confirmation from Microsoft or any other source that such a project is indeed under development, but judging from these first details, it does make sense for the company to look into this direction. More information should emerge soon, as work on this advances.