Skip to main content

Skype Lite is Skype's new 13MB Android app for areas with low connectivity

Facebook has done it, YouTube has done it, and now, Skype is doing it, too. It, of course, refers to releasing a “lite” version of the company’s signature service, in this case Skype Lite, described as “the new Skype built for India to help you stay connected on the go.” Targeted specifically at the burgeoning market in the country, Skype Lite seeks to address a number of pain points relevant to India and other developing countries.

Microsoft debuted Skype Lite today at its Decoded event in India, noting that the Android app is just 13MB in size. According to the service’s new website, “Skype Lite is optimized for 2G and unstable network connections, so you can stay connected with friends and family,” and it promises to run smoothly on both new and old Android smartphones.

Recommended Videos

And for its data-conscious clientele, Skype Lite includes a reduced data usage mode for video calls, and will allow users to see exactly how much data they’ve used to prevent any major shocks in the billing cycle. But Skype Lite won’t only be your go-to for video calls — rather, the service will also allow for SMS messages, chats, and various Skype bots.

In a blog post, Microsoft further noted that it will soon integrate Aadhaar, India’s national digital identity scheme, to allow for certain functionalities, starting in June. These will “enable Skype users to verify the identity of unknown callers in a variety of situations where identification verification is required, including job interviews, [and] goods and property sale,” the company noted.

With India as its first target market, Skype Lite has been made initially available in Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The company has yet to reveal if or when the service will become functional in other countries.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The Google Pixel Tablet is way more enticing when this deal is applied
Someone holding the Google Pixel Tablet outside. Its screen is turned on.

The Google Pixel Tablet has had a rough go of it. In the past half year we learned of a Google Pixel Tablet 2 that seems to have died in conception, which could very well mean that the original Pixel Tablet will be the last of its kind, at least until a revamp of the line inevitably comes out.

Even the original seemed too confusing at its high original price. But now the price for the tablet alone is $399 and, after a $100 discount, the tablet is down to just $299. Though obvious from a mathematical standpoint, there's a lot psychologically going on when you drop the price from $399 to $299. This is one of those tablet deals that gives a product an entirely new perspective — and others, too, as stock is already limited on Amazon. So, that's what we need to ask, is the Pixel Tablet worth buying now that it is heavily discounted?

Read more
Boox puts stylus support on its new Android tablets with a paper-like screen
Taking notes on the Boox Go 7 e-reader.

Over the past couple of years, Boox has emerged as one of the most ambitious brands in a segment where Amazon’s Kindles have been the go-to choice. The brand makes monochrome and color E Ink devices in a variety of form factors, from the phone-like Palma and compact tablets to ambient-lit slates and monitors.

The latest from Boox are the Go 7 and the second-gen Go Color 7 tablets. Their biggest draw is stylus support, allowing them to double as a digital diary built atop Android. Complementing the pen support is the fantastic Notes app, which offers a ton of features such as pre-made and custom templates, brush variations, handwriting recognition, and more. 

Read more
I swapped my camera for a game controller, and became a better photographer 
DT OuttaFocus: I swapped my camera for a game controller, and became a better photographer 

I don’t trust my photographic instincts, and my life doesn’t always afford me the time to go out and hone them and experiment with my camera. If you have a similar problem, I may have found a way around all this. It requires nothing more than sitting in your living room holding a video game controller. It’s a game called Lushfoil Photography Sim, and it’s like a set of training wheels for your camera. 

How does it help? 

Read more