X
Home & Office

Skype prepping video messaging

All Skype users will be able to use the new video-messaging feature, but Premium subscribers will get to send unlimited numbers of messages and see those messages stored indefinitely.
Written by David Meyer, Contributor

Skype is preparing to launch a video-messaging feature, the Microsoft subsidiary's updated terms of use have revealed.

The updated T&Cs contain a paragraph at the end entitled "Skype Video Messaging" — a feature that does not currently exist on Skype, although it does on the Skype-owned Qik service.

The text of that clause suggests that ordinary customers will be able to receive an unlimited number of video messages and send a limited number, while Premium subscribers will get to send as many as they like.

The messages will also have no expiry date for Premium subscribers.

"As a non-Skype Premium subscriber any Video Message you send or receive will expire within 90 days, except for Video Messages received from a Skype Premium subscriber or where you upgrade to a Skype Premium subscription before the 90 day expiry period ends, and in either case the Video Message shall cease to have an expiry date," the text reads.

It is not clear when the terms got updated — we have asked Skype about this — but the video-messaging elements were spotted on Wednesday by ComputerWorld. There were subsequent reports that Skype had changed them back, but if so, they seem to have reversed the reversal.

Editorial standards