A Huge Change Is Coming to Skype That Will Make It Much More Helpful

Microsoft wants Skype to be more than just a chat app. The company unveiled a significant Skype update that will turn it into a platform for interacting with other apps, similar to what Facebook has done with its Messenger app. This new version will allow Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana and third-party apps to integrate with Skype. Microsoft is touting the ability to plan trips, shop, and book a hotel all within the Skype app by interacting with virtual bots. "We want all of these conversational tools to become rich canvases for computation," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said on stage at the company's Build conference to preface the announcement.