Skype Qik, Microsoft’s attempt at spinning off video messaging into a simplified mobile utility, is shutting down. The app was once first introduced in fall 2014 to serve a distinct audience than the higher, more fully-featured, Skype utility. instead of providing real-time chat, screen sharing and audio and video calling, Qik used to be designed just for asynchronous video messaging.
The Qik app was the staff’s re-imagining of the Skype experience if Skype had been constructed for mobile first, the company mentioned on the time of its debut. And whereas the app shared its identify with the cell video startup Skype bought again in 2011, the technologies were utterly completely different. The older version of Qik was about reside streaming – a sort of proto-Periscope, if you’re going to. The 2014 utility was once constructed from the ground-up with all new code and a singular goal.
With Qik, users may keep up a correspondence with their family and friends via quick (get it?) sending video messages. You’d press a button, report your brief video, then hit ship. As you communicated back and forth with a recipient, a history of your video responses have been saved on the backside of the screen as rounded profile icons in chronological order. That allowed you to re-play prior movies, however simplest up to some extent – after 8 messages sent and acquired, the older ones would disappear. That function was a nod to the rising development of ephemerality in social apps, made popular by Snapchat.
alternatively, in step with a post on the Skype builders’ blog, most of the ideas from Qik have now made their approach over to Skype’s main application – together with video messaging. Skype has also presented fun features, like filters, to make messaging more non-public, in addition to other tools for speaking with teams – like staff video calls on mobile.
as a result of Skype now supports Qik’s core performance, the Qik app is being shut down.
of course, what Skype also recommendations at in its weblog submit is that the Qik app bombed. When referring to how Qik was once designed to assist customers share moments with pals, the Skype crew writes:
“seeing that [Qik’s launch], we’ve learned that many of you’re already doing this stuff in Skype, and in consequence, we migrated a few of Qik’s most used features into the Skype app you know and love.”
In different words, Qik did not achieve traction. Skype’s consumer base caught with Skype. in step with App Annie, Qik’s present ranking is #350 within the Social Networking category on the iOS App store, and #239 in the Communications class on Google Play. It’s very nearly invisible.
The Qik app for iOS, Android and windows cellphone will now not be to be had after March 24, 2016, says Skype. the corporate is now urging customers to save lots of their vital messages prior to that date.
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mobile – TechCrunch
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