Skype gets much-needed hype

Microsoft has breathed new life into Skype. A revamped version of the application has got a stories-like feature called Highlights, dubbed in the tech world as a Snapchat clone. This has come as a biggest upgrade since 2006, particularly after Microsoft owning it in 2011. Skype on its official blog says it is “introducing the next generation of Skype.”

When it comes to chats, ‘Highlights’ has an important role to play. It lets you instantly post your moments in a day. Just turn on your camera with a swipe, take a photo or a video, post in Highlights, you are at it. Doesn’t it remind you of the Messenger day? It more or less works the same way. Once you have made a post, your friends and family are open to react with emoticons or get into a conversation. It is up to you to go for Highlights or send the pictures and videos straightaway to your contacts or groups.

In addition, there is an option to customise Skype with a colour. Let the world know how you feel a moment by simply tapping on the reaction icon next to a message or video call.

In a group chat, it’s a whole new experience to ‘find’ some really big happenings to make your day with friends way too special. The ‘Find’ panel makes Skype searchable. Plan an evening to have coffee with friends, or go for a movie, it helps you indulge in what you really want to do. Skype promises that there is more to come. “And that’s just the start. New add-ins and bots will continue to be added, making your Skype experience even more rich and robust. With the ability to connect to your favourite businesses and brands from within the app, the simplest conversations can pave the way to lasting memories,” reads the blog post.

The worldwide launch is immediately made available on Android platforms. In a few more weeks, it will be rolled out on iPhone with a new version. Over the next few months, versions for Windows and Mac would arrive in the market.