Skype has followed Instagram by following Snapchat. Vibrant colours, stickers, animations and emojis: it’s the opposite of growing up.

SnapSkype

Skype’s total redesign hones its focus on texting with a slick interface, and an ability to react to individual messages with emojis.

Then, there’s ‘Highlights’—Skype’s answer to Stories. Take a pic or video, decorate it with stickers, sketches and captions, then share it with your friends.

Nothing ground-breaking, but new for Skype. One commentator calls it ‘the most boring version of Snapchat Stories that an app has adopted’.

You can still video chat—and now you can do it with stickers, animations and live emojis.

More social messaging

For ages, Skype seemed happy being Skype, even amid increasing video chat competition.

It’s categorisation as a social app sometimes seemed odd given the clear differences from other high-profile networks like Facebook or Twitter. Skype’s been functional rather than recreational.

This redesign repositions it within that social sphere, but it’s hardly a less competitive space. Whether it gets traction in its desired location remains to be seen.

Update schedule

Skype has prioritised mobile, with Android first to get the new version and iOS shortly behind.

Windows and Mac version of Skype will wait a little longer. PCs are likely to get the full new experience before Aussie spring 2017.

Will the next-gen Skype make you more likely to use it for social communication? Will you be less likely to use it for business?

Copy Transmission is a Melbourne-based agency :: Better Brands. Loud & Clear.