Last November, Microsoft began rolling out on a limited basis a beta version of Skype that would run in Web browsers.

On June 5, Microsoft expanded the Skype for Web beta to include anyone in the U.S. or U.K. interested in trying out the Skype for Web beta. Microsoft will broaden the pool of testers to include those in other countries "in the next few weeks," said officials in today's blog post.

Those interested can go to Skype.com or web.skype.com and sign in and connect to Skype for Web.Skype for Web alleviates the need to download the Skype app before conferencing and/or instant-messaging others.

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The Skype for Web beta works on Windows with IE 10 or above, the latest version of Chrome or Firefox and on Mac with Safari 6 or higher.Since it currently requires a plug-in, Skype for Web cannot work on Chromebooks, but this will change once Web RTC is baked in.



Update: Microsoft officials previously said Chromebook users could use Skype for Web for IM, but not yet for voice/video calling, but are now saying Skype for Web can't currently be used at all by Chromebook users.

Microsoft also unveiled this week an updated version of Skype for Outlook.com.