Microsoft is making it easier to use Skype anywhere in the world without downloading the app or entering a password.
Simply join Skype as a Guest to quickly chat with friends or make a voice or video call to family "without any hassle," the company promised.
Guest access was originally introduced in October 2015 to US and UK users, but the feature is now available to folks worldwide. To get started, visit Skype.com, click "Start a conversation," and enter your name. Then copy and share your unique link to connect with up to 300 people via chat and up to 25 people on a voice or video call.
"Best of all, you can still enjoy all of Skype's free features, including one-to-one and group instant messaging, voice and video calls, screen sharing, and even file sharing—so everyone can join the fun," a company blog entry said.
Guests can generate links only via a computer browser, though anyone can join the conversation from any Skype client or as a Guest using Skype for Web. Redmond last year also teased an on-the-go feature for iOS and Android mobile apps.
But beware: conversations are limited to a 24 hours before disappearing. To return to a discussion, make a call, or use Skype Translator, you'll need to sign up for a free account.
Members gain access to additional features such as new Skype bots that can help plan travel or buy concert tickets, for example. The first round of artificial intelligence add-ons produced by Microsoft launched in August. They even allow users the opportunity to chat with Spock, second in command of the USS Enterprise.
It's not all poisitive news for Skype, though. The Redmond-owned company was recently accused of "failing to adopt basic privacy protections on [its] instant messaging services, putting users' human rights at risk," Amnesty International said last month. Snapchat also landed in hot water.