Skype users in the UK can now make audio and video calls directly from within the Outlook.com (formarly Hotmail) email service. Microsoft promised that they would be bringing Skype integration into Outlook eventually and it looks like they have finally started rolling out the feature to their users.Microsoft has chosen to pilot the service in the UK and you can test it right now by visiting your email accounts on your web browser if you live in the United Kingdom.
Microsoft promises that the service will be rolled out to the U.S. and Germany in the coming weeks, but have not given a specific date on when it will arrive.
When you sign into your Outlook.com you will be asked to merge your Skype and Microsoft accounts. Next you have to download all the necessary plug-ins when asked to install.
- If you are having issues downloading plugins, get them directly from here: https://rendezvous.skype.com/linking.html#plugin-install-page
All you have to do is click on the Skype video / audio buttons from the contact's picture and you can initiate a Skype call.
With the addition of Skype on Outlook, Microsoft has positioned itself to better compete with Google, which has been offering Google Video chat from GMail for some time now. In fact the merger of Skype into Outlook.com can even make the Skype desktop or Skype for Windows 8 client obsolete for many users (at least in the UK)
Those who don't live in the UK, US or Germany will also eventually get access to Skype calls from Outlook.com. Unfortunately you will have to wait until sometime later this year.