Skype is an instant messaging app from Microsoft that provides online text message and video chat services. It can be reliable for video calls and VoIP. But for everyday conversation, the product is like a relic of the past.
The product has been wandering around, like aimlessly since competitors from WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger to WeChat, and Snapchat are doing their best to solve everyday conversation needs. While they all succeed in taking most of the market, Skype that was launched in 2003, has long been the verb for communication.
But the thing is, Skype has almost nothing to differentiate itself from others. On the user end, nothing has changed for years.
But in June 1st, 2017, things are finally changing as Microsoft updates Skype to become a whole different thing. The company's Vice President even called it the biggest update since 2006 since it alters pretty much of Skype's DNA.
Skype becomes more than just an app for video chat. It's packed with features that represent hope for Microsoft to win back the loyal visitors it has lost: it wants to be the "personal network" for users' family, friends, and colleagues.
The update for Skype is making the app more optimized for chat. With a much cleaner interface, Skype's design compromises more white color instead of the usual blue. This part is because the update is allowing users to customize their own color theme for a bit of personal touch.
It displays only chats on the home screen and put everything else aside. Users can still use Skype for voice and video calls, but the redesign here prioritizes texting.
Still on the cosmetic side, users can see two additional tabs on their contact list. The notable change include the Highlight feature on the left, which is similar to Snapchat Stories. But instead of the usual 24 hours, Highlights last a full week.
The panel on the right allows access to the camera feature from almost anywhere in the app. Users can decorate their pictures using a variety of stickers, text and also doodles.
As for the sharing part, the Conversations feature has a 'Find’ tab that is like a universal search feature. It allows users to search and share content from the web using Bing, import GIFs from Giphy, watch videos from YouTube and more.
And since big players are already using bots on their respective messenger app, Skype is also providing its own bot feature. Using the bots, users can get quick access to information as they need it.
While the update prioritizes texting, Skype also wants video conversation to be as useful as text. Users can share photos to family members right on the video stream, for example. And if they like, they can share them without interrupting the overall conversation.
Microsoft updates Skype to become a bit like others in the field. While Skype can appeal better to millennials and a broader audience, it doesn't want to be the next Snapchat. Skype doesn't want to follow Facebook Messenger's path, or Instagram's. What Microsoft want, is making Skype the hub for personal network, the place where users can connect with a relatively small group of people in a more engaging manner.