Microsoft has up to date Skype to let customers within the US make emergency calls by way of the service.
XDA Builders noticed this new functionality within the launch notes for Skype 8.80, which was launched for Home windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, and the online on Feb. 17.
Skype beforehand advised individuals who tried to name emergency companies that it could not be used for that objective. Now there’s another means for individuals within the US to name 911 in a disaster.
Microsoft says in a assist article that Skype can robotically share a consumer’s present location after they name 911 “for the aim of routing your name and offering location info to your native emergency operator.” (Assuming the app is allowed to entry the consumer’s location information.)
Microsoft says this location sharing might be enabled by following these steps:
- In Skype, choose your profile image.
- Choose Settings, then choose Privateness.
- Flip 911 emergency location sharing on. You will want to acknowledge the Notices & Disclosures and the Particular 911 Warning of Limitations & Unavailability to finish the method. You possibly can disable 911 emergency location sharing at any time, however this implies your deal with is not going to be shared with 911 in case of an emergency.
There are some limitations. “If you’re working from a tool that doesn’t have an API for location sharing or are in a location the place location sharing is unavailable,” Microsoft says, “your location is not going to be shared robotically with the emergency companies operator.”
Skype 8.80 contains another adjustments—together with assist for customized reactions on cell, the flexibility to zoom in on the share display screen, and a bump to the utmost size of voice messages from two minutes to 5 minutes—and is obtainable now for desktop and cell platforms alike.