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This question is regarding phone apps on Mobiles and Desktops. When I receive a call on my Mobile phone app "Answer" button is placed on right side of "Decline" button where as on my desktop same app "Answer" button is placed on left side of "Decline" button. Is there a specific UX reason for placing the answer button differently on Mobiles when compared to Desktops?

Skype Incoming Call-Desktop

Skype Incoming Call-Mobile

Shivanand
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  • Well spotted. On an Left to Right language interface, it makes sense to put the more common action on the left. Thus I assume on the desktop version the 'answer' button is on the left. Why is it inconsistent with the mobile interface is beyond me. I thought it might be a localisation business. But it is the same on an English Mobile. Seems just an inconsistency between the different Skype development teams. – Izhaki Sep 05 '13 at 11:29
  • placement of button is the same in windows phone and windows desktop. – Awesh Sep 05 '13 at 12:10
  • @Awesh, you mean to say on windows phone also you have similar kind of placement of buttons in Skype? – Shivanand Sep 05 '13 at 14:37
  • yes, placement of button is same.http://www.windowsphone.com/en-in/store/app/skype/c3f8e570-68b3-4d6a-bdbb-c0a3f4360a51 – Awesh Sep 06 '13 at 05:47

1 Answers1

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Platform Consistency

Most likely this is so to adhere with the platform guidelines.

Microsoft's guidelines are that the primary action is left-aligned.

Whereas Apple's guidelines are that the primary action should be right-aligned.

Skype's Answer

Asking Skype about this, their reply was:

As I have checked, there is no apparent reason for the different positioning of the answer button on the desktop application and the mobile application.

However, I have forwarded your query to my supervisor so she could post this question to the higher departments.

So I guess it's a TBC.

Community
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Izhaki
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