About
of users will use the system apps that ship with their mobile device.
Google accounts for 7 of the 10 most used apps. All of these apps ship as core Android apps.
of users download less than two apps per month.
Apple Maps is used 3.5x more frequently than the next leading maps app on iOS.
Integrating Skype into Cyanogen’s system apps gives them an advantage over competitors because most people use their default Phone and Contacts apps. This means that Skype no longer depends on people discovering their app through an app store. It’s built directly into their mobile device—exponentially increasing the chances someone engages with the service.
The initial designs went through many design iteration before landing on a final design.
Messaging was distributed throughout Cyanogen OS to inform the people that their device had new Skype functionality built directly into their Phone and Contacts apps.
People find Skype contacts the same way they would find any other contact on their device. Skype contacts appear in both Phone and Contacts apps.
Skype includes unique functionality that allows the people to make Skype-to-landline calls using credits. Because the feature is similar to making a normal PSTN call, it was concluded that including a mode switcher on the dial pad made the most sense.
The initial launch of the Skype Mod resulted in user feedback that lead us to believe that the mode switcher was not obvious enough. Future iterations of the Skype Mod revised the UI to be clearer with a theme change and include a Skype-to-landline option in the user’s contact cards.
The logical place to purchase Skype Credit is where people would be using the credit—in the Phone app. This was backed by data which drove this decision. After someone was informed that the Skype Mod was on their device, we found that people instinctively went to the Phone app first when seeking where to buy Skype Credits.
This flow was found to be frustrating for those who used a Skype Subscription instead of credit. Future iterations of the Skype Mod changed the messaging so that it was clear to people with subscriptions where they could manage their account.
The hero use case for the Skype Mod was the ability to escalate a normal PSTN phone call to a Skype Video Call. While the UX is simple, a lot of magic had to happen in the background to make this possible. People would remain on their PSTN phone call while the Skype Video Call connected to ensure a seamless transition.
Since the Skype Mod was intended to simply extend the functionality of existing Cyanogen OS surface areas, people could redial the same way they would expect to redial a normal phone call—from their Recent Tab in the Phone app or from a contact's card.
Not all contacts will be Skype contacts or Skype users for that matter. People can invite and search for Skype users from within the Contact Card.
Skype support for group calls came out immediately after the launch of the Skype Mod. The Skype Mod was updated to support all group call scenarios.
