SKYPE FINALLY ADDS GROUP VIDEO CALLING TO ANDROID

Skype is easily one of the most popular video calling platforms out there, and yet up until now Skype had totally neglected iPhone and Android phone users when it came to group video support. Thankfully, Skype has formally announced that it will start rolling out such functionality in Western Europe and North America

over the next two weeks, with all other Skype markets to follow by the end of March.

So what can we expect from the mobile apps’ new group video calling feature? For one thing, you’ll get support for up to 25 participants, as well as 1080p quality, with the choice to broadcast your front or back camera (and switch them on the fly). As you might expect, the Skype team also made some specific UI tweaks for group calling.

A view of what you are broadcasting is pinned to the lower right corner, and you can then choose a view different view modes including a grid mode that lets you sell all the callers lined up in a grid, or a focus view that shows just the active speaker. You can even pin a particular participant that you want to focus on, if you prefer. The latest version of the app also makes it easier to invite people into your group, even if you don’t already have them as a Skype contact.

We’ll be sure to update this post once the app update starts rolling out to more folks. What do you think, could you see yourself actively using Skype for group calling on mobile? Or do you prefer to take to your computer when it comes to group voice calls? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.