SKYPE CALLING FOR LINUX USERS

If you are a Linux user, and you want to use skype, you need to have Canonical's Ubuntu Linux distribution. Well this was an old news. But now there’s some good news for Linux users. The next generation of skype has been launched.Recently it was announced that Skype would be available as a Snap file in the universal Linux app packaging format. This means that Skype can deliver its communication service to a wider range of Linux users, not just those who just use Ubuntu. You can easily download the skype preview and check out its features.The Microsoft application skype enables users to make video and voice calls, send files, video and instant messages to their contacts. Its popularity increases due to its amazing video calling features. The Skype-to-Skype calls are free anywhere in the world. There are premium features in it like voicemail, SMS texts or calls to landlines and cellphones but video calling was absolutely out of cost which bought a greater change in the tech world. But earlier it was only available to windows, android and apple users. Linux users never had the chance to try it out.By the release of skype as a Snap file, Linux users received the latest versions once it was released. In addition to it, the Snap rollback feature allowed users to go back to the previous working version if there is presence of a bug. But users do not have to worry. The installations are quite secure provided with layer of security.

What It Does

For the working of the Skype Snap app, your OS should support Snaps. It works natively on all Linux distributions, which includes Linux Mint, Manjaro, Debian, Arch Linux, OpenSuse, Solus and Ubuntu. The Skype desktop application is compatible almost in every Linux platforms, thus spreading it to a wider range of devices and millions of users.What are snaps? Snaps are basically designed to work safely and securely in any Linux environment across desktop, cloud and Internet of Things devices. They are containerized software packages. Thousands of Snaps have been launched since 2016.If you are a first time user. Do not worry. Users will be able to get the guided instructions for the Snap installation in the download page. And for that Microsoft doesn’t need to know how the user's computer is configured. Every time Microsoft pushes an update, the user's installation automatically gets updated.

How It Works

Due to its automatic updating system the Snapcraft servers checks the availability of any updates every four days. If there are any, the user's system will pull them down and automatically install them.It is not exactly a manual process on the end user's system. Users can trust that the Skype installation as it is tamper proof according to Microsoft. It is secure and won’t interfere with any other application on their system.

Easy Platform

The Snapcraft platform allows Microsoft to have one binary file which will be target all of Linux distribution and not one per distribution. The Snap package in the Linux version is the same one which is running on Windows. Actually it has become independent on platforms thus Skype installations do not have to target different releases. It is the same in all kind of devices and OS whether it is windows or Ios or android. Every day new updates adds new features thus differentiating their applications. The Snap distribution model has actually become a success.  According to Charles King, the principal analyst at Pund-IT, Snap's distribution model for new software versions are widely available for widely diverse users and devices.

Essential Tool

Microsoft Windows has always been the core OS for a wide range and majority of businesses globally. According to King, after Microsoft purchased Skype in 2011 from eBay new features were added such as free and low price for calling and messaging."While there are obviously competing VoIP communications available, none offer the deep integration and seamless functionality that Skype provides to Windows-using businesses," he said.This is a true statement. Today in 2018 there a number of apps and web portal which provides video calling, in fact video calling has become a common source of communication everywhere and Linux has become another important OS after windows. The additional feature of Snap and its related features and functions to Skype delivering high quality experience for Linux users is one of the most vital example showing that Microsoft supports Linux and open source users and platforms.