Skype For Business Comes To Mac, Skype iOS Gets Siri Messaging Support

Microsoft's messaging and video calling platform Skype has released two updates heading into the weekend, one each for the Mac and iOS. The first isn't technically an update, but a brand-new app for the desktop: Skype for Business, the platform's service that focuses more on inter-office communication and productivity, along with heavy Office integration. The second is an update the regular Skype app on iOS, which introduces the ability to send messages by dictating them to Siri.

Skype for Business has a handful of advantages over the regular Skype app, including conferencing for up to 250 people, integration with contacts and calendar information from Microsoft Outlook, and Skype Meetings, which allows easy sharing of Office documents.

The new Mac version of Skype for Business includes one-click join functionality, edge-to-edge video calls, and full-screen sharing for improved Meetings.

On the iOS side of things, the newly updated Skype app take advantage of Apple's new Siri API to allow the voice assistant to send messages. This means users can ask Siri to send a message to a specific contact, all without needing to open the Skype app.

This comes after a similar update in late September, which allowed Siri to place Skype voice calls, as well as have incoming Skype calls use iOS 10's native interface. Version 6.27.1 of Skype on iOS is available now on the App Store, while the new Skype for Business Mac client can be downloaded from Microsoft's website.

SOURCE Microsoft