Ina Fried

Recent Posts by Ina Fried

Skype Begins Testing Video Messaging Feature

Skype has started allowing some users to send short video messages to one another when their friends aren’t available for a live chat.

The Microsoft-owned service had said the feature is coming. Starting Friday, those with the latest version of Skype for either Mac, Android or iOS can send the messages (users of Skype on other platforms can still receive video messages).

Over time, Skype plans to roll the feature out to all its other platforms, but the company didn’t give a specific reason why Windows isn’t one of the first operating systems to support video messaging.

Update: Skype said it is working to have the ability to send video messages from Windows PCs by the end of April. “Video Messaging is in early release for testing in several markets for Android, iOS, and Mac with functionality to send and receive video messages,” said a spokesman. “Users in these markets across all Windows desktop and mobile platforms can receive messages, too. We will have send capability in Windows by end of April.”

The messages can be up to three minutes in length. The feature is available in a handful of countries including the U.S. and United Kingdom, and Skype is looking for feedback before fully turning on the feature.

An update to the Skype terms of service late last year spilled the beans that the feature was coming.

Latest Video

View all videos »

Search »

Nobody was excited about paying top dollar for a movie about WikiLeaks. A film about the origins of Pets.com would have done better.

— Gitesh Pandya of BoxOfficeGuru.com comments on the dreadful opening weekend box office numbers for “The Fifth Estate.”