What is Skype Lite?

Skype Lite can be installed on Android devices through the Google Play Store. 

• Chat with your friends.
• Send and receive audio and video calls. 
• Make and receive phone calls.
• Receive SMS text messages.
• Manage your phone and Skype contacts.
• Interact with bots.

Skype Lite is currently only available for Android. 

Yes, you can. For the best experience, we recommend being signed in to one app at a time on your device.

Existing Skype users can use Skype Lite and all your contacts and messages will show up on Skype Lite. 

Because Skype Lite combines your phone and Skype functionality in one, there's nothing extra you need to do to import your contacts. When you open the app for the first time you'll be asked to give Skype permission to access your phone contacts. Your phone and your Skype contacts will then sync and already be there when you first sign in. 

Want to learn more about permission requests? You'll find a list of all the Android permission requests and what they mean in this article: Your Permission please? Android permission requests explained. 
 

Skype to Skype calls are free – but to call a mobile or landline from skype, you need a little Skype Credit or a subscription. 

1. Find the person or group you want to call from your contact list, or use Search. 
2. Tap the contact you want to call, and then...
   • Make an audio call: Tap the call button . 
   • Make a video call: Tap the video call button . 
3. At the end of your call, select the end call  button to hang up. 

Yes, but you'll need a Skype Number for them to call you on. 

Skype to Skype instant messages are free – but to send an SMS message in Skype, you need a little Skype Credit.

Find out how much it costs to send SMS messages from Skype.

1. In your Skype or SMS contacts, select the person you want to instant message. 
2. Type your message in the conversation window and tap the Send button. 

Tap the menu icon (three vertical lines), then tap Settings. 

• Data usage
  Direct access to your data usage stats.
   
• Notifications
  Customize sounds and visuals for notifications.
   
• General
  Change to the dark theme or send feedback. 

SMS Insights is a new feature for Skype Lite which is available to users in India. SMS Insights aggregates the relevant information from your SMS messages and presents it at a glance in smart categories, enabling you to get things done more quickly via relevant action links. 

Q: What are the benefits of SMS Insights?
A: Using your most recent SMS messages, SMS Insights enables you to:

• Keep track of appointments
• Check your bank and wallet balance
• Track the delivery status of online purchases across providers
• Review and pay bills
• Check flight status and check-in for your flight 
• Check train and PNR status
• Organize discounts that retailers have sent you via SMS

Q: How does it work?
A: SMS Insights is designed to intelligently pull relevant information from your SMS messages and present it at a glance in smart categories such as financial, appointments or travel.  Behind the scenes, Microsoft uses machine learning models to classify and extract relevant information from SMS on your phones. These models are run locally on users’ phones and are completely automated. 

Q: Which markets is SMS Insights available in?
A: SMS Insights is a new feature for Skype Lite, which is only available to our users in India. 

Q: How do I get access to SMS Insights? 
A: Users in India can access SMS Insights by downloading the latest version of Skype Lite via the Google Play Store, and choosing to give SMS permission to the Skype Lite app.

Q: Why isn’t SMS Insights available in other markets?
A: We created SMS Insights for Skype Lite with the Indian market needs in mind. It is not currently available in other markets.

Q: Can Microsoft read my SMS Messages using SMS Insights?
A: Microsoft does not read your SMS Messages. Full classification and categorization is done by machine learning algorithms locally on users’ phones. 
You can tap on some SMS Insights cards to get relevant online information. For example, you can get your flight status, weather information and travel tips for destinations when you click on a flight reservation card. 

Q: Does Microsoft store my SMS data – is it secure?
A: Microsoft does not store your SMS data on the servers. Full classification and categorization is done by machine learning algorithms locally on users’ phones. 

Q: Is SMS Insights automatically enabled? Can I opt out?
A: SMS Insights is only enabled if you explicitly give SMS permission to the Skype Lite app. If you choose not to give this permission or revoke SMS permission at any point, then SMS Insights will be disabled.

Q: Does Microsoft access my bank details in order to display my bank balance?
A: SMS Insights aggregates the relevant information from your SMS messages and presents it at a glance in smart categories. It can only access the information available in your SMS messages, such as a text message confirming your latest bank balance.

Q: What is the difference between SMS Insights and SMS Relay in Skype Preview?
A: SMS Insights and SMS Relay are two separate features. SMS Relay in Skype Preview enables users to send and receive SMS messages directly from a Windows 10 PC when Skype on their Windows 10 Mobile is set as the default messaging app. SMS Insights is a feature only available on Skype Lite, a new app optimized for all network conditions and requiring less data usage. SMS Insights aggregates the relevant information from your SMS messages and presents it at a glance in smart categories, enabling you to get things done more quickly via relevant action links.

Q: How do I make SMS Insights work on Xiaomi phones?    
A: To view SMS Insights on Xiaomi phones, after installation but before using the app, please give Skype Lite permission to service SMS. It is only after the app has service SMS permissions that SMS Insights will work properly.