It looks like the next version of Skype for Android will bring a new feature with it, the ability to sync with the phone’s address book.
This new feature, according to Microsoft, will be just a part of Skype 5.0, which is set to release in the near future for Android devices.
According to the Skype blog, in the coming months users that download the latest version of Skype will be asked to verify their phone number. Once they have done that, it will be put into a database that will help other users find them. The Skype app will then be able to search for matches between the database and a users address book. If matches are found, then those contacts will be automatically added to the Skype contacts list. Microsoft also noted that it won’t be spamming your friends with invites to connect, which is nice (we’re looking at you Facebook).
Apart from phone address book syncing, Skype 5.0 will also be able to sync with the address book of anyone logging in to Skype with a Microsoft account, and will draw from services such as Outlook.com and Windows 8.
Microsoft will also be adding these syncing features to other versions of Skype in the coming months, but that has left people wondering: “Why Android first?”. Microsoft did not provide an answer to that question in its blog post, it only made the above statement.
What do you think? Are you happy to see Android finally get something first? Let us know in the comments!
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