Skip to main content

Skype is finally getting a fresh, modern new look on Android and iOS

skype android ios app
Image used with permission by copyright holder
To date, Skype has not been the most mobile-optimized app, but that will all change in the next few weeks. That is because Microsoft announced it is rolling out a redesigned app for Android and iOS that will be much more mobile-friendly.

For example, Microsoft will simplify the app by including new one-tap access calling features, and the Calls tab, which is newly added, will let users make audio or video calls, as well as calls to mobile or landline phones using Skype credit.

Recommended Videos

The Calls tab replaces the “Call phones” tab, which didn’t make much sense considering it allowed users to call tablets, and other devices — not just phones. Microsoft says the change will let use users call any individual or group from the same place, which should simplify things a little.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The Calls tab is not the only change coming to the Skype app. The company is now killing off the voicemail feature of the app, a response to the fact that there has been a serious decline in traditional voicemail use. If you use voicemail a lot, do not worry — you can still enable voicemail through the Skype account portal, although you will not be able to check those voicemails on Skype for Android, according to a report from ZDNet. What the company really wants, however, is for you to start using voice messages instead of voicemail.

The updates to the app come at an interesting time — the Skype team has been moving away from its self-built infrastructure to Azure, which should give Skype better support on mobile for file sharing, video messaging, and group calling on a phone. That highlights the shift at Microsoft toward mobile — the company has been increasingly releasing apps from its Windows Phone platform to operating systems like Android and iOS in an attempt to try and disrupt the mobile world the same way the Windows Phone could not.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
We know you don’t like AI in Mail. Here’s how to get the old look
Categories in Apple Mail app.

The AI-fication of the iPhone was heavily anticipated, apparently more so by analysts and investors than the average user. Apple Intelligence put AI in all key places that define an iPhone, including Mail, Photos, Safari, notifications, Notes — you name it.

But those changes haven’t been welcomed by all. The Photos redesign continues to test the patience of iPhone users. But the Mail app is not too far off in the rage race. On Reddit and other user forums, many have been venting their frustration against the new categorization system, which sorts emails across different classes.

Read more
I finally have RCS on my iPhone, and it’s one of my favorite iOS 18 features
An iPhone 16 Pro showing RCS messaging.

Apple’s Messages app has certainly come a long way. When the first iPhone launched in 2007, it could only send SMS -- there weren't even picture messages. Then it got MMS protocol support in iPhone OS 3.0 with the iPhone 3GS. With iPhone OS 5.0, Apple implemented its own iMessage chat protocol, making it easy for Apple users to communicate with other Apple device users.

However, when it came to messaging Android users, Apple dragged its feet for the longest time, sticking with SMS and MMS, which aren’t encrypted and don't offer full-quality photo and video sending. It also sparked the whole blue bubble versus green bubble war.

Read more
Here’s every carrier that lets your iPhone send RCS messages to Android phones
A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

RCS messaging has gained popularity by leaps and bounds this past year, especially in the Western market. More than 1 billion people are estimated to use RCS messaging at present, and a huge part of that growth is due to Apple introducing RCS compatibility with the arrival of iOS 18.

While iOS 18 has supported RCS messaging with Android phones since it launched in September, carrier support was a bit scarce upon launch. Now, Apple has updated its support page with an expanded list of carriers that support RCS.

Read more