Microsoft Plans to Keep Skype Classic Available 'for Some Time' Following User Backlash

Monday August 6, 2018 2:34 PM PDT by Juli Clover
Microsoft last month announced plans to shut down Skype 7, aka Skype Classic, on PCs and Macs in September, with the company encouraging customers to instead upgrade to the latest version of Skype, Skype 8.

Skype 8, first introduced last year, features a total design overhaul that has not been popular with some customers, which led some Skype users to be unhappy with Microsoft's announcement.


As of today, as pointed out by Windows blog Thurrott, Microsoft has changed its mind following user feedback. In a forum post, the Skype team says that support for Skype 7 will not end in September, with the end of life date extended to an unknown time.
UPDATE: Based on customer feedback, we are extending support for Skype 7 (Skype classic) for some time. Our customers can continue to use Skype classic until then.
It is not clear how long "some time" will be, but customers who prefer the design of Skype 7 can continue using that version of Skype instead of upgrading to Skype 8.

The Skype team also said that it is listening to customer comments and plans to introduce features customers have requested into Skype 8. Classic Skype for Mac can be downloaded directly from Microsoft, as can Skype 8.

Tags: Skype, Microsoft
32 comments


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farewelwilliams
10 weeks ago
any UI changes -> major customer backlash. customers just don't want to change.
...
except for dark mode.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
DaveTheRave
10 weeks ago
Give us end-to-end encryption. No more government loopholes.
Rating: 9 Votes
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ThisBougieLife
10 weeks ago
The Windows store version of Skype actually was a step down. Things (graphics, emoticons) appeared blurred that were fine in the previous version. I’m not someone who opposes all change, but I oppose it if it’s a step down.
Rating: 6 Votes
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pat500000
10 weeks ago
Just use the same design of 7 and enhance more stuff.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Appleaker
10 weeks ago
90% of the people that wanted the experience of Skype 8 had left the platform, while the update made their current users leave the platform. It’s baffling how a company can be so disconnected from their users.

But it’s not unique for such a disconnect with big backlash causing them to start listening. That’s exactly what Apple have experienced with Macs.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Danoc
10 weeks ago
-
Rating: 5 Votes
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Zandros
10 weeks ago

any UI changes -> major customer backlash. customers just don't want to change.
...
except for dark mode.


Skype 7 is way more Mac-like than Skype 8 though, which is a ****** Electron app that straight up ignores Mac UI conventions and not in a useful way.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
fairuz
10 weeks ago
What a mess. Supporting Skype and the "Classic" version of it too? It's just audio/video chat, doesn't need two versions. Kill one of them.
[doublepost=1533602349][/doublepost]

I think it's interesting how the companies that are extremely successful (e.g. Apple) seemly ignore the initial customer backlash to their products. They push their customers forward into the future regardless of whether all the customers agree. Apple has demonstrated this time and time again.
[LIST=1]
* Removal of floppy disk.
* Removal of DVD drive.
* Removal of headphone jack.
* Many, many, other "necessary items".

With each initial announcement there is huge backlash but, twenty years later, nobody knows what a floppy disk is.

Twenty years later, there won't be any customer backlash to Snapchat's redesign because there won't be any customers, or Snapchat for that matter, because they ruined their app with the redesign. And no, it's not comparable to removal of legacy ports.

Skype users are going to Discord, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts. IDK if it's the redesign's fault or other things cause I switched to Discord before even v7 of Skype. Would encourage everyone else to do the same.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
mariusignorello
10 weeks ago

90% of the people that wanted the experience of Skype 8 had left the platform, while the update made their current users leave the platform. It’s baffling how a company can be so disconnected from their users.

But it’s not unique for such a disconnect with big backlash causing them to start listening. That’s exactly what Apple have experienced with Macs.

The problem with “change” isn’t change itself. It’s that these corporations think they know better than their users (in some cases they do) and they change things “just to try something new”, then blindly ignore the negative feedback after all hell breaks loose.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
SteveW928
10 weeks ago
I wonder if Microsoft is moving to the code for Skype for Business? It seems like a totally different product (and it's crap). Didn't M$ have a corporate communication product prior to Skype? Is Skype for Business just rebranded old M$ junk? If so, I sure hope v8 isn't that!

any UI changes -> major customer backlash. customers just don't want to change.
...
except for dark mode.


The question is whether the changes are good or not. I doubt too many of us hanging around these forums are the type that just resist change (as many of us are techs have lived change in the thick of it). The problem is poor change for change's sake.

I think it's interesting how the companies that are extremely successful (e.g. Apple) seemly ignore the initial customer backlash to their products. They push their customers forward into the future regardless of whether all the customers agree. Apple has demonstrated this time and time again.
[LIST=1]
* Removal of floppy disk.
* Removal of DVD drive.
* Removal of headphone jack.
* Many, many, other "necessary items".

With each initial announcement there is huge backlash but, twenty years later, nobody knows what a floppy disk is.


Baloney list. I welcomed the removal of the floppy. I welcomed the removal of the DVD, at least from portable products (as it was a big point of failure, let alone used a lot of space). The removal of the headphone jack, though is as stupid now as it was when they did it.

Wanna make any bets about how long 3.5mm audio jacks are around outside of Apple? Aside from a few smart-phones, the rest of the world is 3.5mm (or 1/4") analog jacks and there is little reason to change that, nor any indication anyone is interested in doing so.

It isn't even so much that they removed it. If they had just said, "hey, we really, really need the space" it would suck, but I'd have been more understanding. But, it was the whole 'legacy port' b.s. that really tripped me off. They replaced a standard with something inferior... that's why I complain.
Rating: 2 Votes
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