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Skype video messaging available, but Windows Phone support lags

Skype video messaging is now generally available across a variety of mobile devices and computing platforms, but Windows Phone support is only partially there.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Skype video messaging as of today, June 17, is now free and available for most computing platforms, Microsoft announced today.

skypevidmessaging

The one ironic exception -- given that Microsoft owns Skype -- is Windows Phone, where users can receive and view Video messages but not send them.

Supported platforms for the generally-available Skype video messaging release include Windows Desktop, Windows 8, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry, officials said in a blog post today. Microsoft rolled out  test/beta builds for most of these platforms in February 2013.

When asked about the status of Skype video messaging on Windows Phone, a spokesperson said: "Windows Phone users can already receive and view Video Messages. We will inform you if we add send capability at a later date."

Microsoft officials provided no information as to what would be the determinant as to whether or not send would be added.

Video Messages, which can be used for online and offline messaging, lets Skype users send up to three minutes of video to each other. Video messages can be received and viewed on any platform or device running Skype.

With the final release, users can send and receive as many video messages as they want for free. That wasn't the case with the preview, which only provided free viewing of video messages for six months, but unlimited viewing for those who purchased Skype Premium.

A list of frequently asked questions and answers about Skype video messaging is here.

In other Windows Phone news, Microsoft officials said they have made improvements to voice recognition in its mobile phone platform, improving accuracy and speed.

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