Microsoft has release a new version of Skype for Windows Phone 8 and 8.1 that adds, among other things, add support for its new Cortana digital assistant.
The new 2.19 version of the app allows U.S. users who have Windows Phone 8.1 installed on their devices can now begin calls just by using Cortana. Microsoft says, "Now you can start Skype video and audio calls by simply asking Cortana something like "Skype get Lara Kingwell on the screen".
In addition the new version lets 8.1 users swipe down to see any emails, texts and Skype updates in the Action Center feature. It also lets users edit their last sent message, which might come in handy for folks who type something up quickly.
The app has also increased the number of languages from just 19 to 51. Finally, there's some performance improvements for the app's push notifications in this update.
You can download Skype 2.19 from the Windows Phone Store right now. What do you think of this new Skype version and, if you have Windows Phone 8.1, will you use the Cortana feature?
Source: Skype blog
Reader comments
Skype for Windows Phone updated with Cortana support
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I practice Arabic conversation via Skype classes from Preply. com . Winidows phones work the best with Skype. I can attest to that.
Doesn't work properly with Cortana
Why Skype doesn't has transparent tile?
howd u make that background?
we need alot more updates for this app,sucks that on Microsoft Windows Phone ,skype sucks when on iOs and Android it rocks, i have lumia 1020 and used all other mobile OSes and we really taking a beating with ours when we shouldn't
Please tell me how to log out.
No option in the setting.
L520.
Vineet.vpns@live.com
After I installed skype, it appears an error on my sd card :O
Cant fix :/
Got the update last night will be using it a lot today. Will leave a comment tomorrow. I only wish the update came with transparent tile.
So, they did nothing for the following problems:
Honestly for video chatting, Skype is my favorite app. I do wish it had picture, video, and voice messaging but still its fast for me and quite responsive
So they finally added the ability to edit sent messages, but it's still not good enough when compared to Android or iOS. Skype for WP still needs the ability to send and receive files, and have animated emoticons. Heck even the ancient Windows Mobile version could do that.
Also it's about time they added a transparent tile. At least as an option. That cyan tile is really annoying.
honestly can someone LOOKING AT YOU Daniel shed some light on whether this is the major overhaul they promised or is this just a minor update? from the version number and the feature they added, this doesn't seem to be "major" in anyway
To be fair, it is a lot faster.
Wow, I'm almost ashamed to be a windows phone user with all the bitching and crying going on in this forum. Btw, I'm fine with the performance of Skype on windows phone and I'm sure more improvements are coming.
You might be fine with sub par performance but others, as you can see, are not. They have a legitimate reason to "bitch" you not so much.
Then by all means cry more.
I think all these fancy smancy new features are nice but what about basic friggan functionality? How about they focus on fixing the unreliable nature of Skype? And maybe do something about the fact that it is not stable? Fox that stuff first... I wouldn't even explore it on my phone and I would never even learn about all of these goodies because it is such a head ash to use.
Skype is the best IM in the world!
Can I send pictures yet?
Nope sadly. But Android and iOS can.... Funny how that is.
Posted via Windows Phone Central App
And still Skype for WP is stuck in the Messaging Dark Ages.
Certainly giving the Xbox Music team a run for their money in the pathetic App department.
+1000
Cortana sucks. She fails at getting the Skype contact to launch. Using the command as in the article, the app opens then she says she doesn't know who and what I asked her to video call. What a joke.
Worked for me
Cortana opens Skype, but despite recognising the command correctly, responds with "bummer, I don't understand that" and I have to manually choose contact and call type. Is it same for anyone else?
Where is the big update that was promised? Is this it? Joe is better off keeping his mouth shut, for me this is a broken promise. I am so disappointed.
Still the same subpar skype...Bill Gates must be spinning in his grave.
What grave? He's not dead.
Can't install it on WP8.1 on my HTC 8S
Instead of Microsoft sponsoring hidden gems they should sponsor their own devs to create usable apps
I need to log into multiple accounts. They have crippled my use of Skype.
finally they're providing the level of skype integration they promised at the beginning of WP8... a LONG ASS TIME AGO... i hope they keep updating this to be competitive with Google Hangouts...
Good
still no rotation (for two fingers typing on messenger)!!!!!
Plenty of good update for WP 8.1... Is it Xmas already ?
still says "resuming" and it lags in everything compared to fb's messenger, good to have the edit option but other than that this is hardly a news worthy update
After update it's become more slow
Slower than before. Atleast own app should be strong and smooth in own OS.
Odd... i am finding it to be much faster loading. Maybe a reboot? Although I didnt reboot.
They need to make it easier to use. Simply saying "Skype John Smith" does not work. You have to say "Skype get John Smith in the screen". Still glad to have the feature in its current form though.
Are they saving features for windows phone 9?!
It is now listed as a Universal App on the Windows Phone Store. Not yet on the Windows Store thought. This is good news as it means that the two versions will be evolving hand-to-hand from now on.
I hope that's not the big update...
PICTURE (maybe file) ATTACHMENT! It's the twenty first century FFS! :D
Still slow, and already froze up and crashed on me once in the first couple minutes of actual use. Impressive!
When is voicemail coming to Skype on wp8.1
I have to say I'm pretty disappointed.
Microsoft promised a better Skype update. All they did was change the icon font and Cortana addition.
Frankly I'd not mind if they updated the rest of the app first and then updated Cortana. You have to be able make the app work as it should before you start giving commands to Cortana.
Skype is really crap compared to other devices. I really don't know what windows phone team is going. They lack motivation to innovate or even make the thing work. Probably busy playing candy crush on their android? -_-
C'mon Microsoft get your shit together.
How come it always show unread message count of 1 when I read them all on another device? I always have to launch the app to clear it.
Also, if I swipe out the alert in the notification center, shouldn't it reset to 0 like it does for email and txt apps?
This app is shit.
Sloooow!
They introduced Skype integration in OS on april. But i dont think it was for users. Because they haven't integrated it till today and am sure they will not do this even in cyan update. Its time to move on.
Now thats what i call "ICE ON CAKE"
Skype is the only chat app I use. No fb, no WhatsApp. And im very disappointed if this the much awaited update Joe bel-something promised :(
There is no alternative for this app either except IM+ which sadly doesn't support live Skype accounts.
Hungarian language now available.
Also Turkish.. I'm glad about that. The whole time our friends and community wanted it too bad and were asking me if I can translate it or not.
Why active downloads are at the bottom ??everytime I have to swype down to see the progress of my app being downloaded.. New store really sucks in terms of usability...
That's because the apps which need attention should be at the top...
I'd prefer it the other way around still
It's more snappier on my L925, more features would def be nice though.
So up till now, no file support. Really? Why can't they add this feature to our Skype for Windows Phone app?
Wow Cortana must be very useful on a daily basis... For those 3% of people in the US that can use it without having to make changes to their phones....
lol )))
Who cares about Cortana, we all want feature parity with other platforms. Joe Bel... Needs to keep his mouth shut, this must be the most disappointing update to date. I thought were would get at least voice mail. Had free voice mail when I got my surface 2, yet haven't been able to use it. What a joke!
After 4 years of these under performing apps, and lack of features have taken their toll. Time to consider an alternative OS unfortunately. There seems to be something inherent in WP that just doesn't allow apps to perform like their counterparts on iOS and Android. Might revisit the platform again in WP9, but all the recent posts and user comments on WPC point out that 8.1 isn't the leap forward many were hoping for
Although being a die hard windows phone fan, I have to agree with you. Microsoft's actions are getting absurd when it comes to windows phone.
Unfortunately I have to agree with you. I've been windows phone user from the beginning but i think it's time to switch to Android L. All the apps that i use daily are working like crap (skype, music player,....) meanwhile on Android or IOS it's the opposite.
I think it is the leap many were hoping for. I visit WPCentral every day. Anyway, it seems rather silly to me switching when WP has just become a mature OS.
Mature with sub-par apps? Based on comments here, I am seeing completely the opposite
Yeah maybe for you guys in the US. I can't use Cortana, no swype keyboard, bing is crap here in Europe. Microsoft's services work better on competing platforms and they get almost everything first. I'm not gonna even start on music/video app. Now that Android L is becoming flatter like the metro design in wp8 what other benefit do we have?
I would agree, this update is a kick in the gut. Skype is so bad it needs updates every 2 weeks.
once again, MS pouring resources into integrating Cortana with yet another product, rather than integrating Cortana with the rest of the world. If the strategy here is to annoy, frustrate and alienate anyone outside the US, its working!
It doesn't work. Cortana keeps using the mobile phone number.
It already worked the voice activation, if I said "Skype call.." It actually called that person..before the update
Personally I find it hard how much useful this update is for me. I just use data plan on L1520 ( without voice service). As of now Skype does seem to resume quickly but I would love features like call waiting to be implemented. I am not sure if it ever worked but that's one feature I would badly need. It would be awesome if I could completely avoid another messaging apps. Text messages to mobile phones with subscriptions would be great.
Still just waiting for Skype on Windows Phone to tell my contacts that I'm using a mobile device. Otherwise they presume I'm online/available and ignoring them all the time when they send me a message. I have to keep switching Skype off to avoid this, which renders Skype a bit pointless.
I just set myself to invisible unless I want to accept calls/msgs. Admittedly, you still get some, but not so proactively....
That's an option, but if I'm invisible, friends don't message me at all. I do still want to receive messages, but I want friends to be able to see I'm using my phone and may not reply immediately. Just as I'm able to see that my friends are using their iPhones.
I'd like to have all the status choices available on desktop Skype: available, away, do not disturb, invisible and offline.
Wp in v2.19 and iPhone v5.1 wow. That's Microsoft! We do love u!
It seems the update has unlinked my contacts with their skype account. Am I the only one?
same here
Took me like 20 min to recontact them all ]:
the wierd part, that 1 contact remain linked, no idea why.
The article didn't mention maybe the most important feature of this update.
Skype now has proper Fast App Resume !!
It doesn't for me.
Nope, not here.
If u mean fast app resume like the stock Calendar and facebook have, then it doesn't for me. Takes 3 seconds or so for the app to open.
Damn it, my wife left me. She told me she is in love with someone else.
Blame Microsoft!
Seriously, the Skype development team for WP sucks!
Still can't share files!
And you guys are giving importance to Cortana which is available only in the US
Clearly, that shows one of two things:
Either skype team is a punch of lazy people who don't want to spend efforts on windows phone app
Or Windows phone is not good enough to make it run smooth as iOS...
in both cases, I would blame Microsoft.
Adobe photoshop express is in the store now!!
Can you provide the link?
Sam just posted an article :)
The app is still sluggish when loading
These are not the updates you are looking for
still im unable to connect Facebook and microsoft account.. :(
Still no landscape text?
Still can't add attachments or photos to my messages on Windows Phone. Who the heck cares about Cortana support? Bring the basic features FIRST!
This!
Landscape keyboard?
+L625 from Nokia 5110! Was hoping against hope.
I Just hope it doesn't crash anymore.
Its weird that the Windows Phone 8.1 version of a MS owned app is the weakest. All the same, at least its still getting updates.
Why there's no Arabic???
"Receiving files is not supported on this device" :( I was expecting this update to bring it to the same level as the new iOS app.... I hope that's not the "big" June update they had promised..
If its from the new IOS version, you now get a link to see the picture
At least something I guess... But it's time we get a decent app. It's been years..
So MS is selling WP as a phone that does business. Skype, their own platform can't even send a damn file. I'm like "wait ill send you the image through email" and my clients are probably rolling their eyes wondering why not right away with Skype. SKYPE. Seriously. It can't be that hard and is one of the most requested features since WP7!
What is Cortana? Oh yeah! That US only feature.
Umm... it's coming to many countries at launch if you haven't been paying attention. This is still in Beta phase.
as a Microsoft Product on a Microsoft platform of OS, I have expected that this so "upcoming update for the 8.1" would bring a Huge improvment, one that would bypass the IOS version.
I was expecting status updates on the People Hub.
I was expecting more basic features such as sending files or even just images. Skype can send videos via the send Video Message thing. but cant add existing one, which i find absurd. although i know it works differently.
and much awesome other things such as faster startup, on the older version, each time you open skype it logs into your skype account all over again, but i thought for myself, "Isn't skype already intergrated into my microsoft account? and Isn't my microsoft account already on the phone? why does it have to log-me-in all the time to the skype account" although i have to admit that now i cant see the reconnecting thing, but i still didnt check if it just for the display.
I hope that there is another update incoming :)
Completely agree with you.
Posted via Windows Phone Central App
Finally with full-functionally resume!
Happy to see an update rolling out.
Where is the ability to add attachments!!???
In 2016 maybe..
News of the ability to attach files in 2017 and the update to it in 2019..... I think I will be going for iPhone 6 now.... there Skype is updated before news comes out
On Skype for iOS and Android
Who runs Skype at Microsoft? Coz I wanna harass them with Tweets until they bring it to parity with other platforms! Why on earth would u make their experience better than ur own f#ckin platform!!!
Find out who and let me know. We'll harass them together!!!
I'll join you guys let me know
Agree 100000%
I'm in.
Not really what you wanted but try https://twitter.com/skype
I'll bring the pitch forks.
The sad part is it seems like way too many people in the WP "community" think that harrassing or shaming MS into doing stuff is a good thing to do.
Well nothing else seems to work and people are tired of having crappy experiences with MS products on an MS platform. So until Microsoft does something about these subpar experiences, shame on!
+925
still slow...takes ages to open and no file transfer yet seriously.....is this massive update Joe was talking about??/
I don't think it's the same one. The one that Joe showed looked very different.
I don't get any notifications on Skype and as soon as I exit the app, it makes me offline to all my contacts. What happened to always being online? This app is completely hopeless.
Are you on Windows Phone 7? As what you are describing sounds like pre 8.x behaviour.
No, 8.1 dev preview
Same here :'(
I have the same issue, its useless! And it can be even worse when I'm using it through my phone's data plan, that way I can ever see who's online or text them.
Finally
Yes loving the update! Much needed btw
Skype update always excites me as I am regular Skyper..
I can tell you are a Skyper because this update has made you hyper.
Lol..
Huh? I used Skype via Cortana already. By saying : Cortana call ...... On Skype. Isn't that kinda the same thing.
Smoke and mirrors from Microsoft.
Exactly, to spooky imo. Magician Hans Klok at work.
Still cant send files, how is this a big overhaul nothing looks different.
One would think that Microsoft employees would use the changelog/New In This Version section in Windows Phone 8.1........
Hi Jonn C. You can share the wallpaper that appears in the image?
"Skype initiate file transfer"
Blue screen of death.
Would be good if more than the US had Cortana first, yes I know about the hack
Yes, you know about the hack. Yes, we know that you want it internationally.
and call integration ? Can I migrate upgrade a normal call to a skype video call ?
Yaa u can do it of your outlook contacts are synced. When u call someone u will have call options while calling in that one of them,would be video call. Tap on it and it would give u an option to select Skype to call the person whom you want too
how can I sync ? thanks !!!!
Seems like both devices need to be 8.1. I could be wrong, but that is what i found in my testing.
this make sense.... thanks !!!
The Cortana functionality is nice a bonus, but OMG I've been waiting for Action Centre integration for months. So happy to have this now!
I'm confused, what's different with this Skype in Action Centre? My current Skype notifications have already appeared in there this whole time.
I was wondering about this too...
Mine has worked since day one of 8.1. Hmm...
It now clears the live tile in clearing notifications.
Not fast resume in my Lumia 1020 with 8.1
I can't see my contacts online (and they are because I can see them at Outlook.com)
Also, the app still is very limited compared with Skype for desktop.
I hoped more improvements of that update. it's a pity :(
Fast App Resume works brilliant on my L820. It loads from multitasking in 0-3 seconds. It's not constant, but better than 5-6 seconds.
Yes
Thanks to developing team
Still a battery hog?
It never has been a battery hog like Rooms or Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp or Line or Hike or WeChat has been. Skype was a battery hog in 2012 but no one could use it anyway. Now it is always non-intrudingly online in the cloud. It obviously drains battery when you video call for an hour, but so does watching a movie on 4G.
Still can't accept photos..
Why Skype is showing loading written screen while starting the app they should put splash screen image of Skype like windows 8/8.1 app.
I too don't understand this ...
They were to give an overhaul change what happened to that??
2015.
LOL. So true. With the way that Skype is supporting its own platform.
2016.
'It's coming....'
Awe. some.
Has they make it faster??
Yes. It has Fast App Resume now.
Is it equal to IOS one??
Nope
Not even close.
Absolutely not. Not being sarcastic, maybe next year
The iOS version of Skype is miles ahead compared to the one on *Windows* Phone.
For a *Microsoft* application.
Yeah.
Now it's time for Twitter to update their app, we've seen Twitter beta leak like 2months ago.... and still it's not here.
I agree.. It shouldn't take them that long to update an app..
Btw, Facebook beta also has Cortana support!!, you didn't mention this.
Still no file Transfer
I'd rather have file transfer than Cortana for Skype.
Same I reallllly dont give a shit about the voice activated calling. Please just build out skype for the phone. I want to be able to use skype dedicatedly. I dont want the nice features I want the real ones.
Amen to that. I keep WhatsApp around for the sole purpose of sending photos to people. Those photos that are part of a conversation, you know, not photographs worth keeping, because the quality isn't that good when sent via WhatsApp. If Skype supported file transfer I wouldn't have any need for other messaging apps...
It's almost like people forgot what email is for.
I don't think most people use email to share pictures.
Who is "most people"?
I've never received pictures from friends in emails. They either send MMS or WhatsApp. Email is more of a business tool than a way to share pictures with friends.
The only time any friends used email for pictures was to share links to sites where they have hundreds of photos hosted.
Because you have no friends?
Most of people i know still emails pictures through email or uses services such as OneDrive
Stop being ignorant
Sorry for being straight with you. This must be the dumbest comment ever. If most people you know use emails to send pictures, it doesn't mean that other people have to do the same! I also only receive pictures via messages and group messages. It's really annoying to see people only seeing things from their perspective and bashing others that don't do things like they do. To me, this is ignorance. Please keep an open mind
I use Outlook e-mail to share pictures.... WhatsApp doesn't support high res images.
Why not? It can transfer files just as well as any of these messenging apps.
Skype is business oriented as well and it gives a bad image to my clients when they ask to send images right away and I gave to tell them please wait for an email. Besides file sharing is a common feature on all similar platforms since a decade ago.
I'm not a business user, but I need WhatsApp for picture sharing. Skype is not good as an IM app without file sharing. I don't have much use for the calling features of Skype and never use video calling. It could be a replacement for WhatsApp if it didn't lack features.
Well since sending photos via email on WP results in them being sent at a reduced resolution that really isnt a good solution.
This. This update is moot.
+1
I'll use the Cortana features when Cortana is available in the UK!!!
That's all nice and all but can we get basic features like sending photos? At least get all the other features of other platforms? Make it faster to. Hate this resuming/loading screen. It's like the only so on my 920 that does it.
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