Skype for Web beta opens up for all in US and UK
Microsoft will broaden the pool of testers for Skype for Web to include even more countries "in the next few weeks."
Last November, Microsoft began rolling out on a limited basis a beta version of Skype that would run in Web browsers.
On June 5, Microsoft expanded the beta to include anyone in the US or UK interested in trying out Skype for Web. Skype, Microsoft's popular Internet-calling service, is already available for multiple devices including PCs, smartphones and Microsoft's Xbox One.
Microsoft will broaden the pool of testers for Skype for Web to include those in other countries "in the next few weeks," said officials in today's blog post.
Those interested can go to Skype.com or web.skype.com and sign in and connect to Skype for Web. Skype for Web alleviates the need to download the Skype app before conferencing and instant-messaging others.
The Skype for Web beta works on Windows with Internet Explorer 10 or above, the latest version of Google's Chrome or Mozilla's Firefox and on Mac with Safari 6 or higher. Since it currently requires a plug-in, Skype for Web cannot work on Chromebooks, but this will change once Web RTC is baked in.
Update: Microsoft officials previously said Chromebook users could use Skype for Web for IM, but not yet for voice/video calling, but are now saying Skype for Web can't currently be used at all by Chromebook users.
Microsoft also unveiled this week an updated version of Skype for Outlook.com.
This story originally posted as "Microsoft opens Skype for Web beta to all in U.S., U.K." on ZDNet.