Skype, an instant and video calling platform of Microsoft has added a new feature of interactive videos and moving emoticons specially designed for India. This feature of interactive videos and taking pictures is termed as images by Skype.
Skype has made its collaboration with Indian studios Yash Raj Films and ErosNow, the on-demand entertainment platform of Eros International, to develop the Bollywood specific mojis. Skype’s Mojis are short clips from popular Bollywood movies and TV shows. The newest update in Skype, brings the user to reply the messages with mojis featuring Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai etc.
These mojis from Skype will be available for Windows desktop, Mac, Android, iOS and Skype for Web.
Anand Gurani, VP-Digital, Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd. said that, “Sometimes when words aren’t enough, a popular film dialogue often fills in. YRF has a rich library of films and content that caters to a wide audience base. The introduction of Skype Mojis is an extremely innovative addition to instant messaging that should get instant traction.”
Microsoft’s app will allow users to reply with Mojis from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge to Tanu Weds Manu Returns. It has also created some Bollywood centered emoticons dedicated to various gestures and expressions.
Gurdeep Pall, corporate vice president, Skype told when asked about the success of the new feature keeping in mind about the high data tariffs in the country, “We identified that these clips might be heavy on data usage for users and hence we have cached them on the app itself reducing the need for the user to download them every time while sending them over the platform."
The demonstration video of adding new features of of Bollywood emojis.
"There are about 100 Mojis now and we will keep adding them on the app. We are also thinking about including several features which may allow users in the future to send custom Mojis via the instant chat," Pall said.
Pall further added that the company wants to emphasize the importance of an Indian market. "Our goal is to provide the best possible messaging experience on Skype, and tapping into India's extremely active and vibrant film culture is a perfect way to do that. The app has seen at least 500 million downloads from the Google Play Store."
