Skype is Microsoft’s communication service that supports text, voice and video to connect its 250 million users across many devices. The premium services allow users to call mobile phones or landlines as well as send text messages at very competitive prices. From its mobile apps, users can get that functionality and share files, complement their messages with animated emoticons. Recently, they launched a web interface so that users no longer need to download the app in order to use this service, it can be easily accessed through any browser, although it’s still in Beta.
As usual, the Android app has been updated several times to enhance the experience, with the colors of the conversations having been changed so they are easier to read and the avatar photos are now circular, making them more coherent with the whole UI. Today, Skype for Android is getting a new update, bringing more functionality to the version 5.10. The first new feature is the ability to personalize the ringtone for incoming calls for any given contact so now they can recognize the caller by audio without the need to look at their phone. Users can now choose any sound stored in their devices, to do so, in any conversation tap the menu button in the bottom right corner and choose “Ringtone options” and then select “Set custom ringtone”.
Another new feature is that now it is possible to share photos from a chat with people who is not participating in that particular chat. It’s really simple, just tap and hold the photo from the conversation and select “Forward photo” to share it with another contact. Other changes are more subtle, like the ability to change the color of the avatars of group chats to be recognized more easily and some bug fixes. As usual the app will be updated through the Google Play Store, so you can check if it’s already available or just wait until it gets automatically updated like any other app if you have that setting activated. Microsoft is interested in getting feedback for its products, so if you have any comments about this app, tap the menu button, go to Settings and tap on Feedback.