Following successful testing of a Skype replacement app, I have now updated the majority of 8 and 10.1 inch tablets with VSee - which will now provide automatic answer video calling in myhomehelper.

To start using it you will have to configure the app on the tablet. This guide walks you through the setup of the new app.

For the time being Skype will still be on the tablet and you can continue using it, although the automatic answer will stop working on 5th July.

Some tablets were not updated as they were offline - these will be updated when they come back on-line.

The old 9.7 inch model has not yet been updated. This is being worked on and a further update will be issued when progress is made with this model.

If you have any questions please e-mail me at helpdesk@myhomehelper.co.uk.

Thank you for your patience and understanding with this issue,

I am in the process of deploying an alternative to Skype which will continue to provide automatic answer video calling. This will be fully deployed by Saturday 8th July 2017.

Microsoft have sent out an e-mail notifying of their intent to "retire" older versions of Skype. This includes the version that comes with myhomehelper which will stop working on July 5th.

Before that date I will be updating Skype on all tablets to the latest version that Microsoft recommend. This update will happen automatically and you won't need to do anything. Unfortunately, this Microsoft recommended version does not fully support automated video calling and will require the user to touch the myhomehelper display to activate the camera. If they don't do this they will be able to see you, but you will not be able to see them. As this goes against the core design principle for myhomehelper ("no user interaction required") I have contacted Microsoft to request this feature be re-enabled, but I don't hold much hope.

I am aware that this is a very important feature and many of you have come to depend on it to remain in touch with your loved ones, therefore I am currently in the process of developing my own video calling solution to replace Skype, however, due the short notice given by Microsoft this will not be ready by the time the old version of Skype is retired.

As a result, from 5th July and until a replacement is made available, you will not be able to see the person you are calling without them touching on the camera icon on the screen during the call. You will be able to hear them and they will be able to see and hear you. Through personal experience with my own Mum and having spoken to many of you, I fully appreciate that interaction with the display is extremely difficult or even impossible for many users and I am aiming to have a replacement ready as soon as possible. The first target is to have a very early beta (prototype) version available for users to test by early August.

I have created this forum post on the myhomehelper website that I will use to keep you updated on the progress of the Skype replacement. To receive updates via email please view this forum post and use the "Add to favourites" feature. To avoid any confusion all previous posts related to Skype have been removed from the forum.

I am very sorry about the inconvenience this will cause and aim to have a solution in place as soon as possible. If you have any questions please contact me via the helpdesk (helpdesk@myhomehelper.co.uk).