Microsoft with its once pioneering video service, Skype, has introduced major changes this year. It started with the India-centric Skype Lite launched in India earlier this year. Microsoft Skype for mobile then went through a major redesign change, albeit borrowing a few features from Snapchat. Microsoft has now officially started rolling out the new Skype for desktop app.

The update will be gradually available to Mac, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Linux users. With the redesigned Skype app, Microsoft aims to give a smartphone experience on desktop as well. You can choose between different colors and themes on the new Skype app. Your chat list can be customized by organizing your contact list according to time, unread, or status, and also pin people or groups. The new Skype also allows you to change the layout from a standard view to compact view, or collapse the chat list.

Skype is now cloud-based which means that you can share up to 300MB of files, photos, and videos on the app. You can do so by dragging and dropping the items. Microsoft also says that with cloud connectivity, Skype consumes less battery on your device. Skype is also enabled with cross-device functionality letting you use the app on whichever device it is installed on. 

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An interesting addition to Skype is the notification panel which can be accessed by clicking the bell icon on top. Here, you can view reactions to your messages, and if you’ve been mentioned in group conversations or quoted. You can tap on the notifications to open the selected message. There’s a chat gallery as well where you can look for shared media between your contacts. Skype also has add-ins now for sending content straight from Giphy or YouTube.

Quite late in the game but Skype on desktop is now enabled with reactions. You can now reply to messages during chats or video calls with reactions. In group chats, you can also mention someone by using the @ symbol against their name. Microsoft has re-introduced status updates on Skype. Lastly, Skype on desktop gets bots like Scoop, Hipmunk, among others for small tasks like ticket pricings and flight timings.

Despite the growing competition from services such as WhatsApp and Facebook, video calling and conferencing service Skype has reached 1 billion app downloads milestone on the Google Play Store. Microsoft acquired the service from eBay for $8.5 billion in 2011, and has continued to improve it over the years.

Skype had been one of the primary sources for long-distant family members or colleagues to connect over video conferencing seamlessly, before the advent of the newer and more popular services. However, Microsoft‘s messenger has retained its own place in the market which is evident from its app download numbers. As GSMArena notes, Skype for Android hit 100 million downloads in July 2013, reached 500 million downloads in February 2015, and since, has continued to grow rapidly.

In a bid to stand at a better position against competitors WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, which are mobile-friendly services, and offer video calling, messaging, as well as some photo editing tools for social sharing, Skype underwent a major design change earlier this year. The new update introduced bots, add-ins, photo and video sharing capabilities, and more.

In addition to that, Microsoft also announced a new Skype Lite app which is aimed at low-end Android smartphones running on slow internet connectivity. The original app for Android has a file size of about 32MB, while the Skype Lite app is just 13MB. One of the important features of the app is that it comes with built-in Aadhaar integration.

The Aadhaar integration on Skype Lite is aimed at helping verify users’ identity online, and make communications more secure. An example Microsoft has given is of making an important call to a business client or government representative. With the presence of Aadhaar, identification of both parties will be easier and thus prevent impersonation fraud.

Microsoft launched a lighter version of its video calling platform, Skype, in India earlier this February. Skype Lite was introduced for low-end Android smartphone running on slow internet connectivity. Microsoft has now introduced new features for Skype Lite users in India in tune with Diwali celebrations.

To start with, Microsoft has made group video calls available for all users. You can now video chat in groups free of cost. Skype has an initial trial period for group video calls after which it starts charging users. You can also share links for your group video calls on social messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Microsoft also allows you to invite friends who don’t have a Skype Lite account. These people can simply click on the video call link, and join the conversation as a guest. This guest account will be valid for 24 hours for each user. Even for those who have trouble logging in to their Skype accounts can join in as guest, since signing in isn’t required. 

Microsoft has also launched its desi AI bot Ruuh, and new Diwali-themed emoticons for all its Skype products. You can chat with Ruuh on Skype Lite, and also make Diwali cards with the AI bot. Ruuh converses in English, and is available only for users in India. As Microsoft points out, Ruuh is capable of sending and receiving instant messages, and photos. In terms of access, Ruuh will have knowledge of your Skype name, chat messages and content of your contacts. 

Microsoft is introducing an update for its Skype chat app that will have built-in support for its digital assistant Cortana. Cortana “will be gradually rolled out” for Skype on both Android and iOS platforms, starting with the US, The Verge reported late on Tuesday. Users will be able to start a private chat with Microsoft Cortana in Skype and the assistant will give them quick suggestions while responding to text chats.

“With Cortana’s in-context assistance, it’s easier to keep your conversations going by having Cortana suggest useful information based on your chat, like restaurant options or movie reviews. Cortana also suggests smart replies, allowing you to respond to any message quickly and easily — without typing a thing,” Skype wrote in a blog post.

The update to integrate Cortana with Skype was announced more than a year-and-half ago. However, it is not clear what has been the reason for the delay, the report added. The integration would be similar to what we have seen Google do with its assistant in “Allo” and Facebook with “Messenger”.