Skype rolls out new logo in line with Microsoft branding

Skype has rebranded with a new logo that brings it more in line with other Microsoft products.

Skype is a video chat and instant messaging platform, which was bought by technology company Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 bn (£6.7 bn).

It previously featured a bubble-shaped logo, where a round-edged, sans-serif, white wordmark sat against a blue background.

The new branding sees the shortened, app icon version of the logo, which features a white “S” set against a blue background, sat next to a refined, straight-edged wordmark.

The new logo is similar to software brand Windows’ logo, which is also owned by Microsoft. This features the Windows icon to the left, with a straight-edged, sans-serif wordmark on the right, all set in blue.

An early version of this logo was developed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher in 2012 for Windows 8.

The Microsoft logo also features its square, four-coloured icon on the left, with a sans-serif wordmark on the right.

The rebrand comes alongside a website and app redesign for Skype, which aims to enable give users the ability to personalise and customise the platform.

Users can change the colours of the interface, and add “reaction” emojis to conversations, in a similar style to Facebook Messenger.

It also has a new Highlights feature, similar to Instagram Stories or Snapchat, where users can create “reels” of their day by adding various videos and photos.

Other brands have also been incorporated within the new Skype app. These “add-ins” or “bots” include StubHub, BigOven and Expedia, and allow users to search for event tickets, recipes or flight times and hotels within the app, then send it somebody via a Skype message.

The new version of Skype is currently rolling out across Android mobile devices, then iPhone. It will roll out to desktop for Windows and Mac later this year.

The new Skype branding has rolled out online.