"Microsoft has just released a new version of Skype for Linux, once again addressing many of the reported bugs, but also introducing some new features that certainly come in handy to those on the platform."
According to the official changelog, which you can read in the box at the end of the article, Skype 1.7 for Linux is still part of the alpha development stage, but it includes several important improvements, such as fixes for the reconnection of the app that occurred every once in a while when it was suspended for a longer time.
There were plenty of users who complained that Skype for Linux was reconnecting automatically when not using the app for a certain amount of time and Microsoft has already acknowledged the bug. This new version fixes the problem, so everything should work correctly after updating.
Additionally, Skype for Linux 1.7 introduces a new grid layout of the group calls, but also fixes the standard behavior of unread messages. According to Microsoft, this means that "when opening chat with unread messages, the view will focus on the first unread message and as you scroll, messages will be marked as read."
http://www.softpedia.com/blog/microsoft-officially-releases-skype-1-7-for-linux-508199.shtml
(Score: 3, Informative) by canopic jug on Monday September 12 2016, @07:12PM
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 2) by butthurt on Tuesday September 13 2016, @12:09AM
There's an announcement on the company's Web forum, made by someone with "Staff" written next to his/her alias.
https://community.skype.com/t5/Linux/What-s-New-in-Skype-1-7-for-Linux-Alpha/td-p/4473114 [skype.com]