Microsoft, the company behind Skype, has now released version 6.27.1 of Skype for iOS, which integrates with Apple's voice-enabled virtual assistant Siri. Skype users can now send messages to Skype contacts right inside Siri.
Skype added a call functionality with Siri back in September, which also brought integrated contacts so users wouldn't have to scour different contacts stored in Skype or the device's main contacts app.
The new update ties the concept of Siri integration with Skype in a nice package, offering a seamless delivery system for when you need Siri to do something. In this case, make calls or send messages.
The changelog over at the App Store listing for the new update says "Send Skype messages to your Skype contacts using Siri." Also, for those who have Apple Watch devices, you can view recent messages and favorites in Skype using your watch again, which is a nifty feature for those on the go.
Skype for iOS version 6.27.1 is available now for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Siri integrations are slowly filtering in, which began when Apple opened the virtual assistant to third-party developers via SiriKit, springing open a platform of integration protocols that developers took advantage of in order to migrate a semblance of their apps right inside Siri, when users needed a task.
There's no doubt that Apple is gradually beefing up Siri, even hiring an artificial intelligence expert from Carnegie Mellon to helm the company's machine learning research. Apple also acquired machine learning company Tuplejump in June, a move seemingly indicative of the company's keen push on AI and expanded cloud services for its mobile devices.
While Siri is a fantastic feature in and of itself, it does still need to play a little game of catch up with direct competitor Google, with its smart virtual assistant named Google Assistant. The two virtual assistants recently sparred in a comparison video. The performances of both assistant were almost on par, but Siri noticeably struggled in terms of contextual commands, something Google is very adept in.
The release of iOS 10 brought exciting features for Siri, but the real takeaway is that the assistant is now more welcoming of third-party apps, a function it needs to start brushing up on to prove itself as a formidable smart assistant in an increasingly competitive race for AI in mobile platforms.
The Skype improvements are small inroads, but important ones at that, since they signal what's possible for Siri in the future. Whether Siri could replace dedicated apps for dedicated tasks in the long run is a tall discussion, but it nevertheless proves that the smart assistant is getting smarter.
