Skype once again giving presence controls an overhaul

In its latest motion to accost a storm of feedback from Skype users, Microsoft is revamping its presence controls in one case again. If this is giving you a small case of déjà vu, it's because the Skype team did something similar in Oct of 2022. But this time, Microsoft says information technology has combed through user feedback to produce a new lineup of four presence states that are intended to give you more control over when you appear active.

You all have been asking for this: A major review of the S7 to S8 presence model. Nosotros have been at this deeply, washed lots of testing and HOURS of internal meetings. Information technology is much more than complex than Copy/Paste S7. Prelim feedback please! https://t.co/JsRYpAHZjS
— peter skillman (@peterskillman) September 20, 2022

Here's a look at how the new presence states break down:

Active: You are in the app. On Desktop: you have the app running in the background and are either using [the] mouse or keyboard.
- Can you lot set the condition? Yes.
Recently Agile: You were active less than an hour ago
- Tin you lot set the status? No.
Away: Y'all were agile more than than an hr ago.
- Tin you set the condition? Yes.
Not Active: Y'all are signed out, not reachable or have not been active for an extended period.
- Can you set the status? No.

In the case of the latter three statuses, Skype will show the fourth dimension since you were last active too.

Things become beyond these four bones presence displays, all the same. You'll besides be able to hide your presence, which volition continuously show you as "Not Active" to your contacts. The downside is that yous too won't be able to see others' presences when you cull to hibernate your own.

A new "Placidity Mode" will too be available as a more pleasant replacement of sorts for the current "Practice Not Disturb" status. "Many users shared that they found the Do Non Disturb status rude and preferred to sign out to minimize interruptions," Microsoft says. "We programme to have a new feature that we believe is a subtler but better style to handle unwanted interruptions." Quiet Way works by silencing incoming letters and calls, and you yet take the selection to gear up your status to "Exercise Not Disturb" to let contacts know that you aren't responding to messages.

Finally, in addition to all of the above options, yous'll likewise be able to use condition messages such as "Working remotely" and "Commuting" to communicate whether you're reachable or if they might await a delayed response.

These new presence features are in testing with Insiders and will somewhen roll out to everyone, Microsoft says. They come alongside a change to the Skype mobile app that let yous save a new number in skype from contacts or the dial pad. You'll shortly be able to add and edit existing Skype contacts' numbers besides.

Even more than! Hi Skype Fans: Nosotros heard you lot and agree this is long overdue. You'll soon be able to hands save a new number in Skype from Contacts or the Dialpad. Coming soon after that, you'll be able to add and edit your existing Skype contacts' numbers likewise. Ameliorate? moving picture.twitter.com/41Lv3QNUrL
— peter skillman (@peterskillman) September 20, 2022

These moves are all part of a broader try by Microsoft to have a stride back and address outcry from Skype users over some of the more than controversial changes in the modernized Skype version viii. Other changes coming down the line include split up view, improved privacy settings, and more than.

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