New Skype available: All Windows and Mac users have to update by 1 March

'Necessary changes must be made along the way'

Microsoft says the new build will be faster and 'more responsive' (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)

Microsoft has announced that users will have to update to the new version of Skype for desktop in order to continue using the program beyond this month.

From 1 March, people will no longer be able to log in to version 7.16 (and older builds) of Skype for Windows desktop, or version 7.18 (and older) of Skype for Mac.

The company hasn’t given users a great deal of notice, having only announced the update on 3 February.

“At Skype, we’re committed to creating the best possible app experience for our users,” it wrote in a blog post. “This is why we’ve been focusing our efforts on transitioning Skype from peer-to-peer to a modern, mobile-friendly cloud architecture.

“Because we want to provide our users with the best possible Skype experience, necessary changes must be made along the way. So, beginning March 1, users running older versions of Skype for Windows desktop (7.16 and below) or Skype for Mac (7.0 to 7.18) will no longer be able to sign in.”

Microsoft has promised “a better, more consistent user experience”, adding that the new build is “faster, more lightweight and more responsive than ever”.

Fortunately, it’s easy to get on board with the new software. The new version of Skype is available here, as a free update.