Skype updates its iPhone and iPad apps with Siri integration and CallKit support

(Image source: Skype.)

One of the new frameworks in iOS 10 is CallKit, which allows developers to integrate their VoIP apps with the native phone user interface. If an app supports CallKit, users can see incoming calls displayed fully on their lockscreen, and be able to choose how to use the app when making calls from the native Phone app’s contacts, favorites, and recents, among others. In short, a better and more integrated call experience for third-party VoIP apps.

Facebook’s WhatApp and Messenger apps are a couple of apps that are out of the gate early to support CallKit. But if you prefer Microsoft’s products, Skype for iPhone too has recently been updated to support CallKit. In addition to allowing you to answer Skype calls from your lockscreen just like a regular phone call and store your Skype contacts in the iPhone’s Contacts app, the updated Skype app also supports SiriKit, which means you can use Siri voice commands to start a Skype call. Skype for iPad, which is a seperate app, is also updated with the same features.

CallKit functionality will also arrive in Skype for Business iOS apps sometime in October.

Source: Skype (Skype for iPhone, Skype for iPad).