Email and socialize

Windows 8, Windows RT

	Overview
	One big contact list
	Email & calendar
	Status updates & Tweets
	Skype & IM
	Share photos & links

Skype and IM

See the joy on your parents’ faces as they watch their granddaughter take her first steps. Plan a surprise party with a group of friends. Catch up with your spouse when you're traveling.

With both Skype to Skype video calls and chat, you can stay in touch with anyone, on almost any device, pretty much anywhere in the world, for free. You can also call landlines and mobile phones at a low cost.

Get Skype

Open the Search charm, enter Skype and then tap or click Skype. It should already be on your PC. If it's not, get the free Skype for Windows 8 app from the Windows Store.
Sign in with your Skype name and follow the on-screen instructions. If you choose to merge your Skype and Microsoft accounts, your Messenger friends will be automatically added to your existing list of contacts.

To add more contacts:

Open app commands—swipe up from the bottom edge (or right-click with a mouse)—and tap or click add contact.
Search for people by their name, Skype Name or email address.
Choose the person you want to add, tap or click add to contacts and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note

If you want, you can also download the Skype desktop app.

Call and chat

To start a call, tap or click a contact and then, tap or click the call

or video call button

. To call a mobile phone or landline, tap or click the call button

on the Skype home screen.

To start chatting, tap or click a contact and then start typing.

Tips

When you pin someone to your Start screen, you can tap or click their picture to video call, chat with, or SMS them using Skype.
If you want to chat with your friends on Skype while doing other things, you can also snap Skype to the right or left of your screen.

Chat with Facebook and Messenger friends

You can also send messages to your Facebook and Messenger friends from the Messaging app. This means you don't have to sign in to both messaging services and try to keep track of who's online where. And with over 700 emoticons and emoji to choose from, like a hamburger, space alien, or koala bear, you can express yourself with no words at all!