Skype wants to get on the train of standalone apps for disappearing video messages with the Skype Qik app. The Skype Qik app is perfect for on the spur of the moment video conversations between friends. It is a standalone app for smartphones and does not require a Skype ID to use. Skype Technologies says the app is meant to run alongside the traditional Skype.
‘’Skype started with desktop, it was really our heritage but we’ve seen users adapting and shifting to more mobile scenarios. We really wanted to find a way of helping users stay connected in between their Skype calls.” said the principal program manager lead at Skype, Dan Chastney.
To start using the app, all you need to do is verify your phone number and your account would be automatically created from there. You can have group chats and include hundreds of participants and record short videos to send to friends in the group. You can also have one on one chats with friends and send videos to them.
After two weeks, all videos are automatically deleted from message threads. Users can also decide delete their own videos before the expiry date and the videos would be deleted from previous conversations with friends or groups.
On iOS and Android, you can make Qik Fliks – these are 5 second pre-recorded videos which are quick canned responses to messages.
Download Skype Qik on Windows Phone, Google Play Store and Apple App Store.