Skype Users Can Now Call 911 From Desktop

Skype has announced that its US users can now use the platform to dial 911 from their home computers and that its software can share their location with emergency services if necessary.

According to The Verge, the US is the latest addition to the list of regions with Skype emergency calling facility. Until now it was only available in Australia, Denmark, Finland and the UK.

Skype’s move to enable 911 calls comes with some limitations, but could be significant for users who still have an adequate Internet connection in case they lose access to a cellphone or landline in an emergency. .

In the ‘Notices and Disclosures’ warning that appears before you opt in to location-sharing, Skype warns that the service does not work the same way as traditional phone calls.

Users are encouraged not to make emergency calls through Skype when they are out of their home area because the call could potentially be rerouted elsewhere.

It also clarified that a Skype outage, Internet problem, or power outage in the area could cut calls in situations where a traditional telephone would still work.

In addition to calling 911 with Skype 8.80, users can now leave a five-minute voice message instead of the two-minute capping.

According to The Verge, users will also notice a choice of light or dark mode when on a call, can send custom responses, and the ability to zoom in or out when they share their screen.

---

    ,