Skype Emergency Services Expanded, US Users Can Call 911 Via App

JAKARTA - Skype announced that starting this week US users of the app will be able to use it to dial 911 from their home computers. Even the software can share their location with emergency services if needed.

The United States is the latest addition to the list of regions with Skype emergency services calls. Previously this sprit emergency service was only available in Australia, Denmark, Finland and the UK.

Skype's move to enable 911 calling comes with a few limitations. However, it can be very important for users who still have an adequate Internet connection when they lose access to their mobile or landline in an emergency.

In the "Notifications & Disclosures" warning that appears before opting in to the location sharing feature, Skype warns that the service does not operate the same as a regular phone call.

Users are encouraged not to make emergency calls via Skype when outside their home region as the calls could potentially be diverted elsewhere. It also explains that Skype outages, internet problems, or power outages in the area can cut calls in situations where traditional telephones still work.

According to a report by The Verge, in addition to making 911 calls with Skype 8.80, users can now leave five-minute voice messages instead of just two minutes.

Users will also see a choice of light or dark mode when they're on a call, can send custom reactions, and have the ability to zoom in or out when they share their screen.