The latest update to Microsoft Edge Canary appears to have added Skype integration that enables users to start a video call right from the browser. Edge is Microsoft's Chromium-based web browser bundled with Windows 11. As for Skype, it started off as an independent company that brought VoIP calling to the mainstream, but was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for a reported $8.5 billion.
Microsoft Edge has long superseded Firefox to become the third-largest desktop browser after Chrome and Safari, but many users have been complaining that it is becoming increasingly bloated. The company has recently added multiple unwanted features, including an online shopping feature and browser games. Now Skype integration is likely to be another addition to that list.
As spotted by Redditor u/Leopeva64-2, the latest version of Microsoft Edge Canary has added a new Skype 'Meet Now' button to the Edge's address bar. The button is hidden by default, but can be activated via a new toggle in the browser's 'Appearance' setting. Clicking on the toggle reportedly opens a Skype Meet Now panel directly in Microsoft Edge, and users can start a video chat from within the browser itself. The Meet Now panel also lets users name their meeting, create a link that can be sent as an invite to others, or join a different meeting using someone else's invite link. As the panel itself says, it will let people join Skype meetings without downloading and installing the standalone Skype app on their computer.
Microsoft's Juggling Act With Skype And Teams
Like most experimental features in Edge Canary, the Skype integration is likely to be a controlled release, which means not all users will get it on their devices at the same time. However, for people who do get it, it will be interesting to see if they will appreciate the new feature or if they will regard it as yet another example of bloat that the browser could have done without. In the meantime, the feature is still only available in Edge Canary, with no word on when it might make its way to the stable version.
Given the increasing popularity of Microsoft Teams, it is a little surprising to see that the company is still pushing Skype instead of the app that's catching momentum with consumers and organizations alike. Microsoft has already integrated Teams into Windows 11, where the app can be accessed with one single click on a taskbar shortcut. What's more, Microsoft has also deprecated Skype in recent months, having closed down Skype for Business last year in a stronger push towards the adoption of Microsoft Teams.
Source: Leopeva64-2/Reddit