Skype announced a change of plan regarding the retirement of the Desktop API used by third-party developers.
Instead of simply retiring the Desktop API later this year as we covered back in July, Skype has decided to keep call recording and compatibility with hardware devices around for awhile, while still giving the axe to chat functionality.
This still means any of your favorite chat applications that happen to allow Skype sign-ins will be rendered useless, at least on the Skype side of things. You will still, however, be able to utilize Skype-compatible hardware.
Skype is looking to boost its infrastructure a bit, which is its reasoning behind the death of the APIs. Interestingly, even though it’s been known that Skype would be killing off the Desktop API for months, outcry from the community has only recently gotten louder, which ultimately lead to the aforementioned changes.
“… we will be extending support for two of the most widely used features – call recording and compatibility with hardware devices – until we determine alternative options or retire the current solution. Although chat via third party applications, will cease to work as previously communicated.”
Skype has been at work improving the Skype experience on “all platforms, especially mobile devices” to allow for improved call quality and speed “while retaining excellent battery life” for those who use the service through their smartphone or tablet. The Desktop API was created in 2004 and it doesn’t support mobile application development according to the company.
Of course, a large part of the outcry has to do with the chat functionality being killed off, so it’s too soon to tell if this will quiet some of those angry voices.