Microsoft launches Skype Qik, its own ephemeral video messaging app

Skype Qik 1.0 for iOS (iPHone screenshot 001)

Tuesday, software giant Microsoft launched a brand new ephemeral messaging app, Skype Qik, in a bid to take on the likes of Snapchat and other applicationsĀ in the increasingly crowded ephemeral messaging space.

ā€œImagine if you could reinvent the Skype experience, taking into account how messaging, selfies and app culture have changed the way we communicate,ā€ reads the blurb.

The free of chargeĀ iPhoneĀ app is based on Microsoft’s $100 million acquisition of the mobile video provider Qik three years ago. Microsoft retired the original Qik appĀ soon after, clearing the way for a re-introduction of the reimagined Qik software for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

As the name suggests, Skype Qik is being promoted through the Skype brand, itself owned by Microsoft. Matter of fact, Qik runs alongside Skype to provide an ongoing form of video chat allowing you to share laughs, and chat with groups of friends.

Qik exists to make video conversations ā€œmore spontaneous and fun so you donā€™t have to wait until your next call to connect with your favorite people,ā€ the team argues. You canĀ swap video messages with an individual content or groups of friends.

Each message automaticallyĀ disappears after exactly two weeksĀ andĀ should you need to delete a certain message or clip manually, Qik lets you do that, too: you can easily erase any video youā€™ve sent from the chat, whether itā€™s been watched or not.

Contact blocking is supported as well, though Microsoft said that the ability to block contacts on Android and Windows Phone will be available on the Ā iPhone ā€in the coming monthsā€.

Here’s Skype Qik in action.

Finally, the app features something they’re calling Qik Fliks, basically glorified five-second videos saved as animated GIFs. You can store Fliks on your device and send them with just a tap, or choose among a couple built-in Fliks.

Skype Qik 1.0 for iOS (iPHone screenshot 002)

Now available on Android and the iPhone, Fliks are due on Windows Phone ā€in the coming monthsā€œ.

The app doesn’t require a Skype account as it’s based on your phone number, like WhatsApp, Viber and similar messaging apps.

You can even message people who don’t have Qik, in which case they’ll receive standard text message containing instructions to download Qik to watch your video message.

The 31.9-megabyte iPhone app requires iOS 7.0 or later.

Do you think you’ll be giving Skype Qik a whirl?

[App Store viaĀ Skype Blog]