Latest Skype preview update brings new features: weather integration, improved Bing integration, and more

Skype, the popular VoIP service and messenger from Microsoft, has recently received a significant update as part of the Skype Insider program. Version 8.99.76.102 introduces a range of fresh features and enhancements, offering testers an exclusive opportunity to try them out before their official release to the wider public.

The latest build, 8.99, brings several notable improvements that promise to enhance the Skype experience for users. Among the key additions are integration with Microsoft Weather, revamped call tabs, improved Bing integration, and more.

Let’s delve into the new features and changes introduced in Skype 8.99:

1. Microsoft Weather Integration: Now, users can stay informed about the weather without leaving Skype. By simply clicking on the weather icon next to your profile, a side pane will open, providing you with a detailed forecast courtesy of Microsoft Weather. 
2. Reworked Call Tabs: Skype-to-Skype and Skype-to-Phone calls are now easier to distinguish with separate tabs catering to each type. The Skype-to-Skype tab prominently features buttons for initiating video or audio calls, while the Skype-to-Phone tab offers quick access to information about your subscription, current balance, and more.
3. Prioritized Skype Contacts: Finding the right person to chat with on Skype is now simpler than ever. Skype contacts now appear at the top of the Contacts tab, making it convenient to locate and connect with the individual you wish to reach out to.
4. Interactive Bing Chat Prompts: Engage in fun and interesting conversations with Microsoft’s AI through Skype. Interactive Bing Chat prompts offer suggestions for various topics to discuss, such as inventing a new gadget, telling jokes, and providing entertainment. Microsoft ensures that these prompts shuffle each time you launch Skype, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.
5. Bing Toolbox: Experience an enhanced 1:1 chat with Bing through Skype, thanks to the introduction of the Bing toolbox. This feature provides a range of tools and interaction methods, covering areas such as education, social media, travel, creativity, entertainment, language, sports, and technology.
6. Access to Bing Chat: In addition to these new features, Skype 8.99 Preview also brings instant access to Bing Chat, eliminating the need to wait in line. Furthermore, users will appreciate the redesigned landing page illustration, consecutive audio messages that auto-play, and a fix for the search bar issue that previously blocked the top chat on iPad.

Although the precise date of the general release has not been disclosed, you can still download and use this latest Insider version from Skype’s official site.

Via: Neowin