Microsoft has given a big push to digitisation in India with the launch of Skype Lite for mobile phones. This app will be available in India for now, and work on entry-level mobile devices across varied connectivity (2G/3G). The most critical aspect about Skype Lite is its built-in support for Aadhaar.
Skype Lite will directly rival Facebook’s WhatsApp messenger that already offers 2G connectivity support and features video calling as well.
As Nadella pointed out, the Aadhaar feature on Skype Lite can become pivotal for digital payments in the country, with consumers easily able to buy across various fair price shops (FPS).
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made the big announcement for India on the sidelines of the #FutureDecoded event on Wednesday in Mumbai.
As stated by Microsoft, the app is sized at 13MB, supports 9 Indian languages as of now and has been designed to work with chatbots. With a mobile phone number and Aadhaar ID number, Skype Lite will offer users a lot of features in the coming months.
Microsoft has taken a cue from Google and Facebook by adopting product policies that are tailor-made to work in India’s conditions.
Microsoft is mirroring what Facebook did with Facebook Lite and Google announced with YouTube Go for offline use on mobiles in the country.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)