BEACON TRANSCRIPT – Ever wondered what happened to Microsoft’s promises regarding those belated updates for Skype? Well, it would seem that one of them arrived just in time to appease the angry users armed with pitchforks and lit torches. Skype launched group video call support for Android and iOS, and, according to Microsoft, with the new update, the application can support up to 25 users at the same time.

Lo, and behold the marvel that stands before us. Microsoft has decided that it’s high time to implement some long-awaited changes in the area of mobile platforms. As of now, Android and iOS users will be able to initiate video group calls. And according to the tech company, the new update is so awesome that it can support up to 25 users in the same video conference.

So, how does this system work? Basically like the one available for Windows, but patched up a bit in order to accommodate devices running Android and iOS. Once you will initiate a video call with someone, you will also be able to add other members to the video conference.

Once one or more members are added, the application will start scaling away the tiles containing the person or persons you are talking to. So, when using the maximum number of participants, Skype’s UI will look like a desktop littered with tens of icons.

And that’s not the only perk of the update. According to Microsoft’s statement, the users will be able to swap tiles and rearrange them as they see fit. For example, if you are talking about your best friend’s new haircut with your other friends, you can invite him or her to a conference and drag his video tile in the center of the screen.

If you want to refocus the group’s attention towards another person, simply change the arrangement of the tiles. Also, the host of the video conference is capable of locking in the arrangement of the tiles.

Skype launched group video call support for Android and iOS and is not aiming to implement other changes. Furthermore, the tech giant also pointed out that all video conferences are in 1080p quality and that the sound is now crystal clear thanks to the SILK Super Wide Band audio codec, a technology developed with the help of Intel.

And last, but not least, thanks to the new update, users who initiate group video calls will also be able to invite people who do not have a Skype account. Usually, these requests are handled through iMessage, a platform that circumvents the login process.

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