Skype has just detailed i its forthcoming Windows 8 app, which will launch alongside Microsoft’s latest OS later this week, on the 26th. The app will be accessible from the Start page/homescreen thanks to its own Live tile that will show any missed calls or messages. The app will always run in the background, promising quick notifications but reportedly without draining battery life on mobile devices.
Users will know if they got a message or missed a call simply by looking at the Live tile, without the need to open the app. It will also integrate with Windows 8’s People app and share contacts. The app uses the entire screen and is optimized for touchscreens, with a large dialer and recent calls, as well as the status and Skype Credit amount. Windows 8 users will also get the ability to snap the app to the left or right of the screen, while multitasking and having another app open.
You can visit Skype’s dedicated page to download the app on starting on October 26, though newly purchased hardware running the OS will have the app preloaded in most, if not all, cases.