Skype and the Apple iPad
We’ve updated our iPhone app – you can now receive video calls on your iPad.
Update: We’ve released a quick update to our iPhone app which addresses a couple of iPad teething problems. You can download it now (opens in the App Store). Your feedback is still very welcome though, so keep those comments coming.
As you may have noticed, the Apple iPad has been released in the US today.
We don’t yet know how our app will behave on the iPad. Some journalists who had early access have reported that the existing Skype for iPhone app works just fine on the iPad hardware. This is great news, but certainly doesn’t give us enough confidence to be able to announce and release an app today as we want to give you the best Skype experience possible.
You can expect to hear more from us about an iPad app in the coming months as we now have our hands on actual iPads and can start tuning and testing.
I’d be very interested to hear from you about your experiences, so please keep me posted, either in the comments below or on Twitter: @peteratskype.
I just can’t believe that an organization like Skype has missed this boat in this way
The iPad is now over 6 months old and the are thousands of apps
Nothing from Skype
Why?
My company develops software and we always have release dates that we adhere to within a couple of weeks.
Why can’t you say the month you expect to release?
Very odd
Rob
I just downloaded the iPhone version of Skype onto my iPad. It seems to be working okay. However, is there any way that I can change the settings (like to alert me when someone is calling when i am not signed in)?
Hello Peter! I cannot believe it takes you that much time to create an native iPad-app. Could you give us a hint about when we can expect you to provide us with an acceptable solution for the iPad?
Agree with all the people asking for an iPad version.
agree.. Any news on a native iPad version? While I have used the iPhone version on an iPad and it performs well, the interface could really benefit from an iPad facelift.
agree too, where is the Native iPad App????
The iPhone App on the iPad is ugly, my friends start to laugh about this App!!!
Still, no native iPad version available. Are there any issues with Apple or mobile carriers themselves? And what about supporting video on the iPhone version? The 4 GS device is able to handle that, I guess.
Seriously, still no answer to all these iPad timetable posts!!
Get your act together Skype and do the absolute minimum and tell everyone which year an iPad app will be released! 2010, 2011 or 2012??
When will you release the native IPAD app?
When will you support bluetooth headsets on IPHONE & IPAD?
2 days ago Apple announced FaceTime for Mac, so the next iPad wil have a camera! And the complete Mac platform will move from skype to FaceTime, specially when FaceTime for windows is released. You guys had almost 6 months… It’s just a pity!
Not having a native iPad apps is an absolute disgrace!!! How do you survive with what looks to me totally unacceptable management on something fairly basic???? And whilst you on it could you look into ways of linking the iPhone cam over blootooth to your soon to be released iPad ap. That would really make sense. And of course an apps that can use the face cam of iPhone 4 is a must too. Seen your placement of an ad for an iPad developer, reads like an add to apply for the post office. Maybe better change all your team and pay best rates for best talent. Just a thought.
I can’t believe it. Seems that you guys in Skype even do not have a vision if you going to have native Skype app for iPad or not. If you do – can you share it with us?
Also don’t understand why no iPad interface for skype yet. Maybe they wait for iOS 4.2?
I suppose that Peter Parkes, in the meantime, is dead, otherwise he should’nt risk to loose his face not answering to out complaint messages.
Say a praier for him
ATT: Peter Parkes
FROM: Daniel
RE: Skype for ipad Release date.
Dear Peter,
Could I have an ETA for the release of Skype for ipad? Will release date fall within 2010, or 2011? If in 2011, when?
As a paying customer, I believe I have the right to know.
Awaiting your response.
Daniel
I’m guessing they’re waiting for iOS 4.2 to come to the iPad so you can call on skype while multitasking.
Thanks for all of your comments – we don’t have any additional information to share at the moment, but rest assured that when we do, it’ll be on this blog.
Well, this is amazing. This is the second blog I have read within a few months and both of the are very unhelpful. It was back on 1st July that Peter Parkes said they are working on a native iPad app and now it’s nearly then end of November and he hasn’t commented since other than to say there is nothing to say! The same thing happened with the iPhone 4 update. I don’t think this is acceptable as paying customer are being nothing short of ignored. Not very impressed at all.
Still no Skype for iPad. Ridiculous. Someone please save us from Skype. Their software is buggy, their releases take forever, they don’t respond to messages on twitter. I’m just fed up.
Skype ought to hire someone from Apple who is familiar with the HIG (human interface guidelines). You ought to offer them triple wages to what Apple paid them, as your AWFULLY designed app badly needs an overhaul & defragmentation on ALL PLATFORMS, because your sense of how humans interact with software is a total mess!
You sign into Skype sometimes, and your contacts don’t appear. Sign out then again, and suddenly they appear? WTF? Also, what’s with having about 5 separate windows JUST FOR ONE VOIP APP?
Go back to school, you corporate monkeys – you know nothing about humans OR design.
Consumers who lock themselves into Apple products have such a sense of entitlement. They seem to always be griping that third party developers are too busy looking after their major customer base and not babysitting their interests.
Apple customers: before you extend your brand loyalty by buying another Apple-branded product, know that sitting on the sidelines waiting to join the action is part of deal.
I would say they are waiting for iOS 7.9 before they release a dedicated IPAD application, why so long?
Would you please release an iPad version already? How hard can it be? Oh wait, I’m an iPad developer. Answer: “NOT THAT HARD”. C’mon already.
Peter:
The trend in your responses is rather worrying.
April: you’ll hear more in the next months
June: working on it, just want to take a little longer to make sure it works
November: nothing to tell
Basically, based on what you have posted, no new information in nearly nine months.
Skype is obviously free to allocate its develoment resources as it pleases. And the iPhone app works on the iPad as a stopgap measure. However, it is hard to fathom why Skype chooses to communicate with a fast growing user segment (there are more than 10 million iPad users out here) in such an off-handed and disdainful manner.
If a proper iPad app is not on the roadmap, please let us know. If it is planned for Q something next year, please let us know. Even bad news is better than being hung out dry the way we are now.
As a long-time loyal Skype user, I feel rather disappointed with your chosen (non-)communication strategy.
@tooltucker: Oh boy, another “you don’t use Windows like the rest of us so quit whining” post. Save it, guy. We not acting entitled, we just want Skype to do what they said they were going to do a long time ago which is release a usable iPad app.
And in case you haven’t noticed, Microsoft is growing less and less relevant all the time.
iPad – Released on April 3rd Skype: – iPad Layout X
iPhone 4 – Released on June 26th – Retina Display √
– Multitasking √
– Video Calls √
iPhone 4 Related: Retina display, multitasking and video calls.
iPad related: iPad Layout
Dear Peter,
I just started using your app recently and at first I was floored with potential I saw in your product but after using it for a week or so I’m greatly disappointed. First your app is still designed for the iPhone, why is that? I failed to mention I have an iPad with the AT&T data plan. Second I went out and spent $40 on a Bluetooth headset just to find out skype doesn’t support it! Now I’m stuck with a headset I don’t need! Please give us some sort of ballpark figure for this feature.
Please try and make a SKYPE app for the iPad instead of the iPhone app that can be used on the iPad.
Where is the iPad version? Using the iPhone version is really lame! Com’n guys when you will release it?
Where is the iPad version?
My first hour with the iPad, and I was making calls with Skype (the iPhone app – I didn’t find an iPad app). I was disappointed when I went to make notes or read a web page – the call got cut off.
I resolved this by READING THE GETTING STARTED GUIDE – the part where it says multitasking.
For those of you who have not read it….
You minimize Skype (and leave it running) by double clicking the home button! So, yes. It is possible to talk on Skype and do other things at the same time. If you are on facebook or just drawing, and you receive a call – it pops up and rings. When you answer the call, one touch and you pop over to the Skype program.
I’m giving up, they are waiting until iPad 2 comes out, that’s prejudice, only because us iPad 1st gen users don’t have a camera!? Come on!!!!!!
If you are iPad user — Im+ Pro only. For chatting there is no better alternative… I know it costs some money, but for price of two beers you’ll get best chatting sollution ever. Loose the Skype, it is only for crappy small iPhone display.
Wow, I have never seen so much bitching over a company that offers a FREE service, (because I’m pretty sure the majority of posters aren’t paying for the pro services). Guess what? Its a software company. Software is difficult to fund and develop. They can’t please everyone’s request all at once, and sometimes higher priority development takes place. So please, chill with the hatred. It’s kind of ridiculous.
Some of us are paid users, myself having one personal Skype number and one paid by the company I work for. These are my only phones and are in use all day for calls to clients world wide and also corporate conference calls and chats. That said, there is a sense of urgency in getting SOMETHING for the iPad, considering all the money we spend with Skype per year. I don’t care about video, this is not a toy, but a business tool. We do, however, use screen sharing for presentations and training.
I GAVE UP on skype… How can a worldwide known and respected company NOT create a specific version of it’s app for the apple ipad but can update it fully for the iphone 4?
That’s so stupid.
I’ll use another app
It’s been over a year since then, and still no native iPad app. the iPhone one works but doesn’t take advantage of the huge screen the iPad has. We need an iPad app!
Alright Peter, I’m on an iPad 2 and am dying to get my hands on the iPad native version of Skype. How about a ‘day of’ release?
If not that’s ok, but a little bit of a status update will suffice.
I just bought an iPad and wanted to call some friends on Skype but… Guess what… No Skype for iPad !!! Please Skype, we love you but you cannot ignore your customers requests !
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, pleeeeeeease release the ipad app. I get really sad when I see skype in 2x mode. I want it soooooo bad. c’mon!
Come on, we need an iPad app now!
Good grief what is taking sooooooooo long for native iPad app?
Hmm, I have no idea what Skype is doing. The iPad 2 would be optimal for Skype video and voice and would (hopefully) allow conference calls. That would completely blow away any other product on the market and the current Mac/PC version would look perfectly on the iPad …. So where is it ? Our whole company are paying Skype business customer and we’re migrating most of our mobile computing requirements to iPad. The only thing missing is cross platform VoIP !
Ok Peter and Skype. The Ipad 2 is now out and still no app available for the ipad. This is a joke, hence i will now delete my credit card details from skype. I hope more skype users will do that until you give us a proper app
The Skype team has 10 days now until the 1 year mark of this post. We, the Skype community, have been patiently awaiting to “hear more from [Skype] about an iPad app in the coming months.”
The thing about coming months is, they just keep coming. It’s like repeatedly going to the store to find it closed with a “back in 10 minutes” sign posted.
Let’s be clear. Every respondent to this post wants an actual native iPad app designed specifically for the iPad, and not just an iPhone app running in 2x mode.
Can we at least have some news concerning the actual intention of releasing an iPad app? This post makes no mention of this intention, but takes a wait-and-see attitude. We’ve waited, and now see the iPad as the #1 dominant tablet platform, along with the release of a completely new iPad 2 model.
The demand is high, the time is now. When Skype, when?
Skype – what are you doing?
We already have iPad 2 and we still waiting for a good app which is not 2x of iPhones.
There is Viber who found an innovative way to replace you on our iPhones!
I really hope you have some good ideas on the way.
And release iPad app already, it can be just a little better, and then you can do what ever you are doing!
I just bought the iPad 2 on the 25th of March, still have the iPhone 4, Skype-App iPhone is compatible with the iPad.. developers can you make a better one Skype-App (HD) for the iPad?
I would never typically login to a blog such as this but I feel that much like the other comments above this is deserving me going out of my way to let you know as a Skype customer how I feel – get off your butt. And if you’re on your butt, give us some transparency as to why. Your users just want some communication, and after a year of no communication and still no iPad app, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do to maintain your integrity.
Sype, you are becoming less and less relavant. With no information coming about a native iPad 2 app, I have now turned to other Apps/services. Facetime is a good App (even if there are fewer clients right now). Plus, it’s iPad 2 native! For the past two years, I have had an Sykpe unlimited outgoing calling subscription. I am now voting with my dollars by canceling that subscription due to an apparent lack of interest on the behalf of Skype in keeping up with what the customer wants.
Come on, how is it possible that Skype isn’t available on the iPad more than a year after the iPad 1 ? A 2x iPhone app isn’t enough, users deserve something better.