The importance of updating
At Skype, we regularly release updates to our software, and with every update, we introduce new features, improve existing ones and fix bugs.
Keeping Skype up to date is the only way you can take advantage of these improvements, and is vital to making sure that Skype remains safe and secure.
As a result, we use a variety of methods to help make sure you’re aware of the latest versions when they appear. You can subscribe to our blogs, follow us on Twitter or head to our Facebook Page. We also display reminders inside Skype, in the App Store on iOS, and in the Android Market to let you know that there’s an update ready. On Windows, we now make it easy to stay up to date by downloading new versions in the background while you work.
An important note: From time to time, we may discontinue older versions of Skype – this helps us keep things safe and secure, helps us tune our customer support efforts to focus on the latest versions, and, most importantly, makes sure you’re benefiting from all the latest goodies, including features like group video calling which require everyone to be using the latest version of Skype. In these situations, you’ll have to update in order to continue to use Skype, plain and simple.
You can always download the latest version of Skype from our website, or from skype.com/m on your mobile.
Hi Skype Team!
Well, as a new SUBSCRIBED user…I have had some good experiences and some bad experiences with your product. The most disconcerting…would be the issue of a knowledge base…a more, user friendly knowledge base that does not simply exist as a blog where customers complain about issues. The first problem with this…there is no “reply” link to a posted message (you know…threads, like in a true blog), just in case somebody reading the posts has some information they can share. This would be really helpful. Also, did you ever notice that on http://www.skype.com…there is no link to the blogs? Now, I am not a novice to computers, or using the internet…I even worked for sometime for a dotcom whose sole purpose was to find information on the internet for customers. I am pretty good at this…but finding solutions to problems regarding Skype…well, that’s a whole other ballgame to say the least. What I find usually…are unofficial Skype blogs that attempt to answer the questions to user issues…which, ironically is your responsibility…you created this software.
Up next…the issue of customer service; it’s just not what one would expect from a company that has millions of paying subscribers each month (not to mention all the extra services they may purchase as enhancements). I am disappointed…and when I need answers, or I am having a problem with a specific service, as a paying customer, I expect propitious and expeditious results…not a blog without any real answers. Therefore, it is extremely important that you work to resolve a more professional, customer focused assistance that does not leave people out here in cyberspace feeling distraught.
Up next: Updating! This should be as simple as clicking on the “Skype” button in Skype…and right there, before my very eyes is a link that says “UPDATE Skype”. I shouldn’t have to go to some blog, sign up for Twitter, or Facebook to be notified. This should just be right there where I can just click on it! Given the wide variety of problems experienced by paying customers…I would say that this should not be a consideration…it should be a part of successful engineering.
Pure Gold: Another feature that should be immediately incorporated into Skype…”Tip” bubbles…which appear when any function in the screen is rolled over by the cursor. For example: the little circles that spin silently to the right of a message or file that was sent should have a tip bubble, so that when the cursor is scrolled over it, a user can know what this means. Any function in Skype should have this feature so that a user can know what to expect without having to try and find the answer to these functions buried in some blog on some page in the midst of millions.
Now for the biggies: I know that there are many people who appreciate their privacy, and I do appreciate mine as well…but, there is something missing in all the anonymity that is possible by the various social sites, and yes, even Skype. Whatever happened to “protocol”, and social politeness? If somebody “blocks” you…or deletes you from their contacts…this should be more than obvious to a customer. I have read as many as 50 blogs dealing with this issue and it appears out of control. People should understand that if they are going to be a part of something as unique as Skype…that there are rules of engagement…politeness at all times, and, courtesy and respect. If you don’t want to talk to somebody you should just tell them…if you can’t, then block them by all means…but there should be a notification that happens when they are either blocked, or deleted from another users Skype. This is not only reasonable…but it saves the “blocked” person any personal inconveniences or undo emotional stress. Apparently, this situation (due in many cases to technical issues), has caused quite the distress for many users; which later on was simply unfounded. Personally, I want to know if somebody blocks me or deletes me. It saves my time, and emotional expense, giving me the opportunity to just simply move on.
Did they read it? This one seems to be one of the big questions on blogs everywhere, and though one could assume that such concern could indicate an “obsessive” issue; it makes no difference. Whether one is prone to such emotional irregularities is nobody’s business…but, creating an immediate “received” notification upon sending a message or file is crucial to a successful service. Whether it is actually read by the recipient is irrelevant…the sender knows they got the message no matter what! This beneficial service provides two things: responsible, courteous, and polite communication, as well as personal well being in the case of the sender. As long as they know the message was received; it makes no difference if it was read or not. In most cases…who can resist reading any message anyways…which just may serve to improve communications with people that may have inadvertently had experienced some form of negativity with one another…maybe this could help them get past any immediate issues. Truly, the issue is one of decency…we should assume respect and politeness from all users…and if this just cannot be managed…then by all means…block them or delete them…but know, that the person you intend these actions for will be notified.
So, the bottom line is this…as paying subscribers, your service is for us, and it should work for us…even if this means working overtime to ensure a slick, polished, professional, easy to use service that has redundant assistance services built in or provided for outside of the actual Skype software. I took the time to share these observations because I do like having Skype…but not if I must become subservient to the software, or experience daily frustration because of it.
Sincerely,
Mykol