Skype for iPhone – yes, it's here
We’ve updated our iPhone app – you can now make video calls.
For those of you reading this in an RSS reader, you can watch the video here. You can also grab the embed code if you want to use this video in your own blog.
I know you’ve all been waiting for this one – I certainly have – but it’s finally here. The long anticipated Skype for iPhone and iPod touch has hit the App Store, and it’s yours to download for free.
Kurt Thywissen, lead engineer on the Skype for iPhone project, explains all in the video above, but I suspect that many of you will want to dive straight in and download it now.
Skype for iPhone delivers a true Skype experience: make free Skype-to-Skype calls and low cost calls to landlines and mobile phones – and participate in conference calls – from any WiFi zone. You can IM to your heart’s content, and participate in group chats too, whenever you have network connectivity, whether it’s WiFi, 3G, EDGE or GPRS.
The user interface is everything you’d expect from an iPhone app, and it integrates with your Address Book for super low cost calls to friends, family and colleagues abroad. It also integrates with the Camera Roll and your photo albums so you can select a profile picture you love.
As always, we’re keen to hear your feedback – development of Skype for iPhone doesn’t stop here, and your thoughts and ideas can help us make it even better. Leave a comment below, or head to the iPhone area of the Skype Community to share your views.
Update: You might like to read answers to two common questions abut Skype for iPhone.
@angel33eyes this should have been fixed in v1.0.2 – launch the App Store app on your phone, tap the Updates tab and make sure you’re running the latest version (now v1.0.3).
If you are already, please let me know
I love Skype, use it all the time both on the desktop and ipod. So much easier to talk! Any sign of a new version with push technology? That would make the app (almost) perfect….
Gr. Push notifications still absent from Skype?
I was so excited about the update today. Thanks for the letdown.
At least the app doesn’t crash all the time anymore.
First of all, the app is great, I downloaded it using my US account from itunes, I’m on Rogers in Canada, and it is blocked by the monopoly carrier here.
I downloaded the system update from Apple, and it asked if I wanted to install the Rogers update, which I said yes.
I had to update some of the apps for the new operating system, and now Skype is blocked from the iphone. If skype works on an itouch ipod in Canada using wifi,
then this would not be a patent issue as the legal team at Apple and Skype are saying, but a block of the application.
Canada is the only country in the world blocking this app, lemme see, could it be a threat to the monopoly. The CRTC is bought off. I’m sure there’s a workaround somewhere, I can understand maybe this happening in China or North Korea, but a capitalist state like Canada, go figure, hope you guys at Skype can keep the heat on Rogers and the CRTC
Hi,
We were just in Vancouver the last week in August with our iPhone 3gs and it allowed Skype phone calls off wi-fi perfectly. AMAZING!!! I have a paid Skype account, but hardly ever use it. This was worth the whole $15 I dropped just to be able to phone any number in the U.S. for next to nothing. I did have a Canada plan and an international data roaming plan, but all of these were off when I phoned the U.S. (for free, essentially) using Skype.
Is the Touch being blocked in ways I’m not aware of, or has something changed? How could Rogers have any power to block software and hardware out of their control when it was not even being used on their network?…
Are Touch users buying plug-in mics for their Touch units? I’m not aware that they ship with a mic.
Mick
Hi Mick:
I use Skype on my iPod Touch and it works great! You have to have a great signal and a set of iPhone ear bugs which you can buy online or get a off market pair for a lower price than the $35 bucks I payed. Either way, I’m really excited about the new agreement with Apple allowing the calls to be made over the 3G network. Now it’s time to drop my plan once an update comes out. I currently receive an error message when I attempt to make calls over 3G. Is anyone else having this same issue?
FYI – I have both the iPod Touch and iPhone 3G. I can’t justify moving over to the 3GS.
Every time I install Skype and run it on my iPod Touch it crashes to the reboot screen. I delete it and reinstall it again, and then I go to use it and it crashes my iPod again. Every search I’ve done on this problem addresses the problem “…how to stop Skype from crashing JAILBROKEN iPods…” My iPod is NOT JAILBROKEN and I don’t want to jailbreak it. I am reading posts on this page asking about this problem that go back to March, and I am typing this in December–nine months and this problem is not resolved? Here it is again.
1. My iPod Touch crashes every time I run Skype, no matter how many times I delete and reinstall it.
2. My iPod Touch is NOT jailbroken and I do not want to jailbreak it.
3. I want to know how to stop Skype from crashing my brand new, non-jailbroken iPod Touch.
Please help me with this.
i would like to see the new version of skype on the iphone to keep a wifi connection alive (and stay signed in to skype) even when the iphone screen is locked/off
i goto far away places where at&t doesn’t have coverage but i have a wifi network (a verizon mobile hotspot and wifi routers at the remote sites)
pandora internet radio does it perfectly (keeping wifi up when screen is off) and that is what i need skype to do (skype saves me a good deal of money when communicating with long distance contacts)
Man I know japan is far but is there any way to have a better connection.I’m tryna talk to my homie that’s in the marines and it keeps messing up but he did say he had alot of problems from that earth quake from chile.He said japan felt the aftershock.
crashes all the time, please fix ASAP
Can you use extras like Pamela Call Recorder?
This program still crashes, but it’s not very frequently. I can typically make 20 minute calls, but more than 30.
im trying to call indonesia with it. I have iphone version 3.0 and the other phone is a blackbery curve, i tried to call from skype to skype but via mobile phones and both parties when we try to call eachother gets decline.. Any suggestion? I tried calling to from iphone to pc gets decline. But from pc to iphone its fine? Any suggestion would be great.
When will Skype start using video calls for the iPhone app? Us iPhone 4 users would LOVE to see that come out sooner rather than later…
Why I can not do video calls on Skype with my iphone 4?
I posted a question to Skype about using the iPhone 4 to make Skype video calls but have had no reply. Anyone know anything?
AHHHHHH
I bought a new Itouch4 purely for skype video calling. No video !!!!
Whats going on Skype. Please fix.
Just bought an iPod touch 4 just so I could use Skype.
It appears that one needs a valid itunes account just to be able to log into Skype.
In order to have a valid iTunes account, one must supply a credit card or PayPal account, even if you don’t want to buy anything from iTunes!!
All this just to install an app??
Version 3 of the iPod touch had skype built right into it, not anymore.
It’s going back to BestBuy tomorrow, I’ll stick with my Ipevo phone. It ALWAYS works, just can’t do email or browse- but it doesn’t need an extra $30 data plan for skype.
I am disappointed that the new Ipod Touch (gen 4) with the camera cannot do video calls with Skype.
I would love to have the video feature for the IPOD 4th. Please, Please, Skype fix this!
Hello Skype people – what is the point in having Skype on your iPhone when pretty much all calls and texts are inclusive on your contract anyway?? We only want Skype for video calls so you really have missed the point, FYI… Pleeeease sort this out. I’m hoping enough people will write similar things on this blog so it will then act like a petition and you will do something…
I also want Skype for video. I have Skype on my parent’s desktop computer and on mine to keep an eye on how they are doing, making sure no one has fallen. Would like to be able to check on them when I’m away from my computer with my iphone 4! Is this something that has to be okayed with Apple? or something that Skype could accomplish by itself?
Hi Skype guys,can you enable Video for iPod Touch?It would be great.
Thanks,
NEW-KIDS1
while the new Iphone and Ipod touch Skype app is nice, with no video, whats’ the point? Fix it Skype, update your app to include Video.
Hi
I have strange problem. When I login on Skype application on iPhone my iPhone get worm and battery start getting drain very fast. I am using iPhone 3G-S model with 3G data service while connecting to Skype and keep wireless connection off.
Does anyone face similar problem yet?
PLEASE can you enable use of the camera on the iPhone 4!!!!!!! My kids are dying to see their grandparents far far away, and we are not always near a computer.
PLEASE give us video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough people are asking for it, don’t you think?
Please give video Skype calling available on iPhone4!
I think this could be even payable option.
Thank you in advance!
Cheers
Hey guys. Sorry I must be blind but where the fudge is the key/setting for enabling video-calling? I’ve just downloaded Skype to my new iPod Touch but I can’t use the facetime camera and do video calls!!!! Frigging pointless, am about to delete the App til Skye can be arsed to come up with a decent one. May as well use my proper computer, at least Skype has 21st century functionality on that. From an iPod Touch with camera user to Skype: FAIL.
In mean Facetime has been out for MONTHS. Why still no video-Skyping?!? Skype — u’re not gonna get very far showing up to a gunfight with a knife. That’s the equivalent of what releasing this App on new iPhones is. Please address ASAP before people just leave.
I can’t believe Skype devoted this “Big Blog” to the launch of such an underwhelming video-less product that people clearly don’t like (read above). RIM, Myspace, AOL: you now have company in the “we’re too big to be able to fail, whatever we release – we’ll just force the consumer to take it” school of terminal corporate arrogance. Skype: please DO listen, iOS 4 has been out all summer, sort it out! I’ve already deleted Skype from my iPod Touch for one.
I don’t think it is too difficult for Skype to develop the app with cam function. If they did I would even sign up for World Talk credit account because I travel too often. However, is it possible the delay has to do with Apple itself?
IpodTouch 4g Facetime works fine only with other device owners. Other apps in iTunes also work with mobile phones only and none of them work with ipod/pc. Even Yahoo does not have a camera function. So I think it may be connected to Apple and its device security.
Meanwhile I thank Skype for the free calls and keep using it while waiting for video function. By the way, people remember Skype is providing a Free service and some thanks and appreciation is well deserved.
It seems they dont want to answer when video calling for the iphone will be there!
WHY DO WE POST HERE, WHEN WE DON`T GET ANY ANSWERS!!!!!!!
COME ON! GIVE US FEEDBACK! IS IT SO HARD TO PUT A MESSAGE ON THIS BOARD?
PETER PARKES!!!! HELLOWW?
Well I have to add my opinion too. Please allow video calls. It has already been mentioned that what is the point of skype if you can’t see one another. I can just phone using my I phone and it will still fall into my capped plan so won’t cost any more. I want video!
Please make video Skype calling available on iPhone4!
It would be much appreciated if you added video chat to this app. No offense but there’s barely any purpose of this app until you add video chat. I hope you do for most of my friends do not have the itouch so i can’t facetime with them and Apple sucks at advertising. because when i heard from apple that i could connect with another skype account they did not nottify anyone that it would only work with voice chat and not video calls. i have officially wasted my money on this. i would feel better if video chat was added
It has already been more than said. But just wanted to add my voice to the group of people hear and say that I would rather buy a video app, then get an audio app free. Thanks.
Mine doesn’t crash. It says this version of the app works only on Unmodified versions of iOS
I’ve just try it out! It awesome )))) Thanks a lot, guys for giving this great and the most important thing free opportunity to call your family or friends!!!! ^^
I love Skype, but I agree. I got the app specifically for video calls. None of my friends have an iPhone/iPod Touch, so FaceTime is useless to me. My best friend and I used to Skype all the time, but since my computer crashed I’ve been using my iPod to go online and without video chat on here we don’t bother using it anymore. Since I need Internet to go online, (and the only place I get connection is at my house) there’s no use when I can just call from my house phone or cell phone and get the same, if better, quality. Sorry for repeating what everyone else has pretty much covered, but this upsets me seeing as I thought Skype’s main focus/feature was video chat. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Thank you for reading my feedback!