Skype is one of the more popular apps available on Android, and now the latest version of the app adds even more functionality and a new UI.

The new version of Skype, which bumps it up to version 5.3, will be released into the Google Play Store at some point today, April 2. With it, the Android app is now closer to the apps available on other platforms, including PC. The biggest part of the update includes an updated user interface, which now includes chat bubbles.

With Skype 5.3 for Android, we’ve made some big changes to make the chat experience more consistent and more fun. You’ll see a new bubble style chat layout, similar to the Skype apps on desktop and iPhone. We haven’t just improved how your chat looks, but also what you can say. We added support for emoji, so you can go beyond Skype’s emoticons and triple the number of ways you can express yourself without typing a single word. When you choose one of Skype’s emoticons, we’re rolling out a new feature to display a large animated version, if the emoticon’s the only thing you send in a message.

The update also includes animated emoticons, as well as support for emoji. As usual, the update also includes plenty of performance enhancement behind the scenes.

Here’s the full breakdown:

• Catching up on an active conversation is now easier; chat will no longer auto-scroll to the latest as new messages come in.
• Now you can change and view avatars for all of your group chats; just use the “Participants” option in a group chat to get started.
• After signing out, you will now need to re-enter user name and password to sign in again. This will make it easier on those of you who use multiple accounts.

The updated app should be available soon. A link to Skype for Android is available below.

Download: