You can now start Skype calls from Slack

Skype may have its own chat platform for businesses, but that doesn’t mean Microsoft is ignoring the option to integrate its service onto other platforms. Today the company announced a preview of Skype integration for Slack to let teams quickly start a video of voice chat.

When a user types in the ‘/skype’ command, team members will have the option to join a chat via a link. Users will also receive a notification that a Skype call has started, and you can set up multiple calls with the command.

To the service up, simply head to the Skype’s Slack integration page, and click the ‘Add to Slack’ button. The feature also takes advantage of recent updates to Slack as well: you only need a browser to use the service on a desktop, (or the mobile apps on your smartphone or tablet), and you don’t need a Skype account to join or create a call.

Just to be clear though, the chat doesn’t actually happen within the Slack window; the link will either open up the chat service in your web browser or in the native Skype app.

➤ Skype integration for Slack now available for preview [Skype Blogs]