Richard Humphreys |
Skype has unveiled a completely rebuilt service, with new features to help people chat, call and share.
It has been completely rebuilt, giving users the power to personalise their experience on mobile and desktop.
One feature of the new Skype allows people involved in a conversation to tap the reaction icon next to any message or video call to express how you feel in an emoticon.
Meanwhile, the ‘Highlights’ function lets you create a reel of photos and videos from your day to share with friends. Users can simply swipe their finger across the screen to access their camera, take a photo or video, then post it to Highlights or send it directly to contacts or groups. Once a Highlight is posted, friends and family can react to it with emoticons or start a conversation.
A new “Find” panel makes it easy to locate anything in Skype. Using this option, you can tell bots to find you event tickets, recipes and holidays, among other things, and drag these straight into a conversation you are having with a friend. New bots and add-ins will be released regularly, so users can connect with their favourite companies and brands from within Skype.
“We’re really excited to share this new Skype with you. We think it’s the best Skype we’ve ever built – inside and out – and it’s been designed to make it easier for you to use for your everyday communications,” said an official Skype blog post. “Now, Skype can be with you for all life’s moments, no matter where the world takes you – on your favourite devices, to smart speakers, and beyond.
“Skype has been a part of your life since 2003. Yet, our promise to you has always stayed the same: to help you create meaningful connections, regardless of the distance, in new, simple and intuitive ways. And with the new Skype we’re closer than ever to bringing your world together.”
The new Skype is now available on mobile devices, and the desktop version will follow in the near future.