Skype launches video messaging app

The smartphone app Skype allows users to create and send videos up to 42 seconds long.

The new service seeks to help Microsoft catch up to rivals in the fast-growing mobile messaging space.

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It takes some features from Twitter's Vine—which allows six-second videos—and the ephemeral messaging service Snapchat.

"Skype Qik makes video conversations more spontaneous and fun so you don't have to wait until your next call to connect with your favorite people," said a blog post from Microsoft's Dan Chastney and Piero Sierra.

The Qik app is available for phones using Apple's iOS, the Google Android platform and Microsoft's own Windows Phone.