You Can Now Collaborate via Skype Voice, Video Calls in Office Online

Microsoft is bringing Skype voice and video integration into Office Online and Outlook.com. The feature will make it easier for users to talk to their colleagues and friends while working on Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other Office Online services. The feature will go live in November.

Users have long been able to send text messages via Skype to their friends while working on Office Online. But as you may realise, you can only type at one place at a time. Which is where the new additions come into play. The company announced on Thursday that users will be able to see and chat with their Skype contacts right from within their file. The company says the chat history will be logged in the document.

Microsoft also released a Chrome extension dubbed Office Online which gives users a quick option to browse their Office and Sway documents stored on their computer or in OneDrive. The extension also gives users the ability to quickly create a document. It is already live on the Chrome Web Store for download.

[Also see: Skype for Business Launched for iOS; Android App Due Later This Year)

On the sidelines, the company also announced that it has reduced the size, or footprint, of Office for Android apps by 40 percent. Furthermore, it said that it has also improved the login experience. The company also announced that it has updated the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) on Office 2016 for Mac to add several features such as the ability to Add Modules from with the Project Viewer.

(Also see: Skype for Business Launched for iOS; Android App Due Later This Year)

The new addition to Skype and Office Online is one of the many features the Redmond company has added to its service in the recent times. Just last month, Microsoft introduced Skype for Business into Office 2016 (the standalone Windows client).