Microsoft is debuting a lightweight version of Skype made for locations where internet connectivity is spotty, and India is its first test market.
Announced Wednesday at Microsoft’s Future Decoded event in Mumbai, the Skype Lite Android app weighs in at 13 MB, is optimized for 2G networks and supports eight languages. It also includes chatbots for services like Expedia and Skyscanner and is available on Google Play now.
In other nods to market conditions in India, Microsoft says the app will perform well on older Android devices and offers a reduced data usage mode for customers who want to make video calls while conserving data. Users can also send SMS messages from the app.
For business calls and other communication when security is important, the app will be integrated with India’s national identification system, Aadhaar, by June 2017. Users will be able to log in to the system to verify their identities, and the information will be wiped from the app once the call completes.
India is one of the fastest-growing markets for technology worldwide. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella referred to “how India is reshaping technology” in introducing Skype Lite, according to ZDNet.