Skype for Android has been updated to support Android Wear smartwatches, allowing users to check notifications, reply to chats, and accept or decline calls from the wrist (though the call itself is taken through your smartphone). It’s certainly a long overdue update for Skype, and comes as Android wearables start to gain wider adoption.

Android Wear devices — including the Moto 360, Huawei Watch, LG Watch Urbane, and ASUS ZenWatch — are specifically listed as examples, meaning Microsoft probably feels these are the models currently gaining the most traction in the market. Skype rolled out support for Apple Watch back in April.

Users will be able to reply to messages by speaking into their smartwatch with voice-to-text support, or choose from pre-written responses if they’re in a hurry. “You can even draw on the watch and respond with an emoji,” Skype said. The update also hands off more in-call functionality to Android Wear, allowing users to mute, hang up, or pause and switch to another incoming call from their smartwatch.

You can grab the update (version 6.4) here.

AI Weekly

The must-read newsletter for AI and Big Data industry written by Khari Johnson, Kyle Wiggers, and Seth Colaner.

Included with VentureBeat Insider and VentureBeat VIP memberships.

skype-for-android-6-4-2

skype-for-android-6-4

VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Learn More