Skype users, rejoice: The ubiquitous but frustrating communications service is about to get a lot less annoying. Thanks to a new feature called active endpoint that addresses what is probably the worst thing about Skype today, you will soon no longer need to deal with multiple, repetitive notifications across all of your devices.
Let that one sink in for a moment.
Got it? OK, go ahead: Scream. Do the fist-pump. Jump in the air. However you celebrate in your solitary moments when no one is looking, now is the time. Yes, it's that good.
"It can get a bit much," Microsoft's Eric Lin admits of Skype's annoying multiple notifications across devices (and other end points like Outlook.com). "Especially when you have the same app running in lots of places. Plink. Plink. Ring. Beep. Beep. Beep. ENOUGH! You don’t need your phone to tell you there’s a new message that’s right in front of your face on your computer screen."
No, you don't. But that is exactly how Skype works today.
Thankfully, that's about to change. Starting today, and rolling out across the Skype service over the next few weeks, Skype only deliver chat notifications to the device that you're currently using. So if you're signed in to multiple devices, like many are regularly (PC, phone, web), all of your other devices will "remain blissfully silent."
For this to work, you have to be actively using Skype. When you stop doing so, all devices of your will begin receiving notifications again, so you don't miss anything.
To get this feature, just make sure you're using the most recent version of whatever Skype client(s) you do use. This isn't hard, as most platforms will auto-update for you.
I feel like Skype has a long way to go before it will ever gain my trust. But this change is most appreciated. And if it works as promised, I just may stop cursing Skype regularly.
You never know.
