Microsoft-owned Skype redesign ditches Snapchat-like ‘Highlights’

Skype 

Skype’s redesigned desktop app moves the “chats,” “calls,” “contacts” and “notifications” buttons to the top left corner.

A Skype redesign in June last year — when the “Highlights” feature was introduced — was mostly unpopular with users. Skype said that most people use the platform purely for calls, video chat and instant messaging.

“Highlights” was very similar to “Story” features offered by competitors Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook Messenger, where users can document their day with photos and videos that stay up for 24 hours before being taken down automatically.

Skype said users will still be able to download their “Highlights” posts until September 30. The firm said its latest revamp was “only the beginning” and that more updates over the next few months were expected.

The platform has struggled to retain dominance in the market with the rapid rise of competitors like Apple’s FaceTime, Facebook’s WhatsApp and Messenger, and Tencent’s WeChat. WhatsApp is currently the dominant messaging app, according to Statista data, raking in 1.5 billion monthly active users, while Skype only has 300 million monthly active users.