Skype users in the US can now make 911 calls from their computers

Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Users in the US can use the service to call for help from their home computer, and the service can give users their location if needed. Until now, the US was only available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

The move to enable calls to the emergency services comes with a few limitations, but it could be important for users who still have an adequate internet connection when they lose their phone.

The warning that appears before opting in to location-sharing cautions that the service doesn't operate the same as a traditional phone call. Since the call could potentially be diverted elsewhere, users are encouraged to not make an emergency call through the service. It's clear that internet problems, power failures, or a Skype outage could cut off calls in situations where a traditional telephone would still work.

Users can now leave a five-minute voice message instead of the two-minute cap on the service. Users will notice the choice of light or dark mode while they are on a call, can send custom reactions, and have the ability to zoom in or out when they share their screen.