Skip to main content

Want to make a Skype call on your iPhone? Now you can ask Siri!

Best alternatives to Zoom - Skype
gdolgikh/123rf.com
Skype just got a whole lot easier to use on the iPhone and iPad thanks to an update rolled out for the communication app on Wednesday.

It means that all you have to do to call, say, Joe Blow, is tell your virtual assistant to “call Joe Blow.” Siri might ask you to check it has the right contact, but once that’s done it’ll place the call.

That’s right, all that time and energy usually spent tapping on the screen to open the app, followed by subsequent taps to select the contact and initiate the call, can now be a thing of the past. Your fingers will thank you for it.

“Your Skype contacts are closer than ever now that you can store them right in your iOS device,” the Microsoft-owned company said in a post announcing the new feature. “This means it’s easier to initiate a Skype video call, audio call, or even a Skype IM, without having to go into the app first.”

To make the process as slick and speedy as possible, go into Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap on Siri, and then on “Access on Lock Screen,” and “Allow ‘Hey Siri.'”

skype-v6-25

The new update also means that incoming Skype calls will appear on your display just like regular iPhone calls, with a little note beneath the name just so you’re absolutely sure which service it is that you’re using.

The new features are currently limited to the consumer version of Skype, though Skype for Business users are promised the same convenient functionality by the end of October. You can grab the latest version of Skype (6.25) here or via Updates in your App Store app.

This latest update was made possible after Apple opened Siri up to third-party developers with the recent launch of iOS 10.

The move means a lot more functionality with Siri. For example, you can also ask the digital assistant to “make a call to Joe Blow” using WhatsApp (Joe might not be on Skype, y’see), as well as ask it to search for different kinds of photos in Shutterfly and Pinterest, book cars with ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, and make payments via Square Cash.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Your iPhone could steal this Pixel Tablet feature when it gets iOS 17
iPhone 14 Pro with always on display no wallpaper or notifications

With iOS 17 coming in hot for its expected June reveal during Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference, iPhone owners are anxious to hear about any big features coming with the update. According to Bloomberg, a major change is coming in the form of a complete interface overhaul for locked devices that effectively turns your iPhone into a smart display.

The new interface will supposedly display a plethora of information like the weather, push notifications, upcoming significant calendar dates, and more. Per the report, this new interface displays automatically when your iPhone is locked and laying horizontally with its screen facing up.

Read more
iMessage was down today, but it’s now back to normal
Apple Messages opened on iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple's iMessage — one of the biggest reasons to use an iPhone — was having some trouble today.

Apple's official System Status website confirmed that an iMessage issue began at 11:50 a.m. ET. The issue was listed as "ongoing" for multiple hours, with Apple noting that "users may be unable to send or download attachments in iMessage."

Read more
This phone just ruined the iPhone 14 Pro and Samung Galaxy S23 Ultra for me
Vivo X90 Pro with Yashica analog camera on a flat surface.

Vivo may not be as popular outside of China as its sister brands OnePlus and Realme, but it has recently gained widespread recognition for its impressive cameras on the flagship X series.

For their commendable camera quality, Vivo's X series phones rely on its partnership with Zeiss, which provides special lenses and helps tune colors for these devices. The Vivo X90 Pro is the latest product in the series to benefit from this exclusive partnership, which has resulted in some phenomenal photography.

Read more