Skype for Android
It’s not every day that you can write about a brand new Skype experience – and this is one that you’ve been asking us to deliver for a while.
Before continuing to the details about the application I would like to thank publicly all of Skype’s internal and external Closed Beta testers who have done a great job in helping us to make sure that the application works well.
Get Skype for Android on your device by visiting the Android Market, or browse from the device to skype.com/m, or for more info, visit our Android page.
You will need to install Skype on your device’s internal storage.
Please let us know what you think about Skype for Android by commenting on this blog post or by talking with us on our forums.
Skype for Android should provide a good Skype experience on Android phones with operating system 2.1 or newer. Skype has been designed to run on phones with 600 MHz or faster CPUs and with screen resolutions of 480×320; 800×480; 854×480.
We have been focusing on following devices when testing Skype for Android:
* HTC Desire
* HTC Legend
* Google Nexus One
* Motorola Milestone XT720
* Motorola Milestone
Skype may work on devices which do not meet the required hardware specification, or which aren’t in the list above, but we can’t guarantee the experience.
Skype 1.0.0.538 for Android supports following features:
| Feature | Description |
| Account creation | Users can initiate the process of creating a new account from Skype for Android |
| Connectivity | Skype can be connected via Wi-Fi, 2G (EDGE/GPRS), 3G or WiMax network. |
| Language support | Skype can be used in following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japan, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese. Skype detects automatically the language from phone’s local settings. |
| Automatic and manual sign-in/ start-up | Skype can be set to sign in automatically or manually. Settings can be changed from Sign-in screen or from Skype Settings. In addition, Skype can be set to start automatically after phone is rebooted. Settings can be changed from Skype Settings. |
| Contact list management | User can add, remove, block, unblock Skype and SkypeOut contacts, set them as favorites, remove from favorites, accept or decline new incoming contact requests and send contact requests to other Skype users. |
| Importing contacts from Native Address Book | Users can make a search based on native contact’s email address and/or phone number from native address book and import found contacts from native address book to Skype contact list. Imported contacts are saved to Skype contact list and can be accessed also when users is logged in using some other Skype client (e.g PC) |
| Integration with native address book | Contacts in Skype contact list can be synced to Native Address Book from Skype Settings. After contacts are synced, user has the option to start Skype/SkypeOut calls directly from native address book. |
| Profile info management | Users can manage the information shown under their profile (add, update, delete). Users can start buying Skype subscriptions (credit, online number) from Skype for Android. |
| Settings | User can manage call forwarding settings, chat and call privacy settings, profile picture privacy settings, incoming call ringtone settings, call and chat notification settings within the application |
| Notifications | Users are able to receive notifications about: incoming calls, missed calls, incoming chats, incoming contact requests, credit low, no credit, birthdays. |
| History | Skype keeps history of calls/chats for 90 days. User can delete all events under event history. |
| Calling | Skype and SkypeOut calls can be made via Wi-Fi and 3G-network connection. Calls to user’s Online number can be received via Wi-Fi, 2G or 3G network connection. Incoming GSM calls while on a Skype calls can be received and established. Skype call is be put on hold. Incoming Skype calls which are received during GSM calls are noted as missed calls and not answered calls are forwarded accordingly if user has activated call forwarding. Calling via Skype and receiving Skype calls is allowed only over Wi-Fi network in the United States. Sending/receiving Skype chats is allowed over both Wi-Fi and mobile data connection. |
| Call forwarding | Call forwarding can be activated from Skype for Android. Calls can be forwarded to phone numbers. |
| Chats | Chat messages (including emoticons) can be sent and received. URL’s can be opened from chat view and user can copy and paste text from one chat to another. |
As with every software release we have few known issues . Please be familiar with them when using the application.
| Devices affected | Description | Current solution |
| All Android smart phones with firmware 2.0, 2.1 (including 2.1-update-1) | Links in Skype.com (retrieving password, buying Skype subscriptions) do not open with native browser | User is notified to download and use some other browser (e.g Opera Mini) |
| Galaxy S 2.1 | We do not recommend installing Skype 1.0 for Android on this device. | None available |
| Samsgung Galaxy, Spica I5700 2.1 | Switching speakerphone ON does not have an effect | None available |
| Samsung Galaxy, Spica I5700 2.1, HTC Legend 2.1 | Connection is not seamless for these devices. When user has enabled both WiFi and 2G/3G connection, after a while, device switches to 2G/3G, but for other contacts, user appears to be offline as there really isn’t no connection in the device | None available |
| Motorola Milestone 2.0, Motorola Milestone 2.1, Motorola Milestone XT720 2.1 | In case user receives incoming GSM call during Skype call, it may happen that audio is not sent/received during GSM call. | None available |
| Samsung Galaxy, Spica I5700 2.1, LG Aloha 2.1 | These phone models fulfill the criteria to be compatible with Skype 1.0 for Android. The application performance may not be optimal. | None available |
| All | Listening to voicemails is currently not supported | None available |
| All | When selecting contact from Native Address Book in Dial pad view and if you have many contacts in Native Address Book then contacts are synced first and then displayed in alphabetical order | None available |
| All | Call drops when 2G/3G changes back to wifi: In case user has enabled Wi-Fi and 2G/3G connection and receives Skype call while on 2G/3G connection, call drops if device changes connection back to Wi-Fi | None available |
| All | For starting Skype calls or Skype chats successfully from native address book user has to be signed in to Skype | In case user is not signed in or Skype is not running on the background, user is notified about call/chat setup failed. User can still continue setting up the call manually. |
| All | Call duration is for calls which are longer than 1 hour is displayed as mm:ss not hh:mm:ss | None available |
| All | Call quality depends on the signal strength of Wi-Fi connection and the bandwith of 3G connection | In case call quality is not optimal, make sure you have good network connection |
| All | Skype respects device’s audio settings, but when audio and phone vibration are both enabled, phone does not vibrate during incoming Skype call | Audio is still played and user can detect incoming calls |
| All | Multilined mood message displays square mark in place of line break | None available |
| All | In Dial pad view, prefix for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is wrong (shown as +0) In addition, country prefix is not recognized for British Ocean Territory and Pitcairn | User can add those contacts as SkypeOut contacts and start calls from contact profile view or from contextual menu options |
| All | Birthday notification is shown after user logs in | User has to log out and in again to receive birthday notifications |
| All | Sometimes US numbers are not recognized and therefore flag is not displayed in Dial Pad view. In addition to this, Dialer does not store outgoing calls to USA and Canada correctly in the „Recent destinations” in Dial Pad view | None available. User can still make calls |
Hi.
I downloaded and installed Skype for Android on my HTC Desire with Android 2.2 Froyo. It all works fine but there is a MAJOR problem. The software is extremely large and installing it in the phone’s internal storage doesn’t leave space for installing almost anything else.
What is the reason for installing Skype in the internal storage? Is there any plan to enable app2sd and allow moving the application to the SD card?
Until this problem is resolved, I’m afraid it won’t be much usable, and if you check the comments in the Market, you will see size is a major issue for many users.
Thanks and regards,
Roberto
Specs: HTC Incredible; Verizon; Android 2.2
I was wondering why Skype for Verizon doesn’t offer service using wifi. Even if Verizon would prefer users to use their data connection rather than wifi to make Skype calls, couldn’t a feature be implemented which enables use of Skype with wifi when there is no Verizon service (in Europe for example)? Is this a Verizon thing or a Skype thing?
Also, I’ve been having trouble with Skype overwriting existing contacts in my HTC incredible (not even Skype contacts, it seems to chose at random). Anything being pursued to remedy this? I’ve looked online and it seems there are many complaints about this issue.
I have recently got hold on to a Huawei IDEOS running on Andriod 2.2. I loaded the Skype Mobile Lite 1.0.0.5 Beta and I am leaving in Australia and found the local Skype number the software is calling was belongs to Optus and already disconnected. So I have no way to use the Skype to call any mobile or land line in Australia using this app. I also tried with the Skype for Android 1.0.0.538 but it just automatically shunt off the app by itself. Can’t use on this phone at all. Hope Skype has some advise on this. Being such a nice out fit on the IDEOS at such low price, I think Skype should not over look the test on this handset. I was told the same handset is going to push the market in Hong Kong and other Asian countries too.
Hi,
Skype was not found in Sony Ericsson X10 mini, but was on X10.
Thanks.
Hi there!
Thanks for providing Skype for Android – a lot of us have been hanging out for it.
One small request – is it possible to include a toggle to allow/deny the use of 3G/HSDPA/etc data in a future update (ie: force Skype to use wifi only)? Data packages are expensive in Australia and I’d like peace of mind knowing that my phone won’t accidentally use radio data if our wifi drops out.
Thanks.
Hi,
I have installed 1.0.0.538 on Huawei Ideos (U8150) running Froyo Kernel 2.6.32.9-perf
. I have an 8GB microSD card in it which has 7GB free. I can login to Skype but soon as i click on a contact (online or offline) i get error:
“Sorry!
The application Skype (process com.skype.raider) has stopped unexpectedly. please try again.
Force close.”
I’ve tried killing all other tasks but i still get this error. Hope you can fix it in next release.
Huawei Ideos specs:
* GSM / GPRS / EDGE / UMTS / HSDPA
* 2.8″ capacitive touchscreen – QVGA (320×240 px)
* 512 ROM / 256 RAM
* 528 MHz processor
* 3.2 MP AF camera
* GPS
* Accelerometer
* MicroSD card up to 16GB
* WiFi / Bluetooth / Micro USB
* 1200mAh battery
* Dimensions: 104 × 54.8 × 13.5mm
http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_u8150_ideos-3513.php
Fantastic, I navigate a lot on Android and tried to use Skype in my tablet and couldn t, now I understand why, it will be great to facilate the use of it. Thanks Jorge Campos
How can I download skype for htc desire
When can we expect at version with support for SD Card?
The current version is to big to be usable – it need the feature to be copyable to the phones sd card!
Love having Skype on my Android. Would really love to hear about development plans to incorporate SMS features for use on the Droid..
Why is the back button disabled on the main screen?
If someone rings me while I’m using an application, I answer, have a conversation and hang up. Skype then shows me its main screen (instead of just exiting), and I can’t hit ‘back’ to go back to my previous application. I can only exit Skype by pressing the Home button, which then loses my Activities trail.
This is really really frustrating, and completely goes against the feel and usage of the phone. So frustrating that I can see myself uninstalling the app.
Please re-enable the back button to do what it should do in the next release.
Since installing skype I have come across a few problems, I was wondering if you could tell me if you had any plans to fix these problems. The problems I found were as follows:
Over double the battery usage when in use, this coupled with the fact it signs out after the screen is inactive for a couple of minutes. Makes it a pointless app that uses battery when it’s not even signed in. also the only way to exit the program it to use the home key. When you use the sign out option and back out of the app, it looks as if it has closed. But then if you use an app manager you can see it’s still running in the background and still uses the battery as if it’s in use.
Still needs work and for me drains the battery way to much to make it a worthwhile app to have on my device.
Please let me know if there are plans to resolve these problems, so I know whether just to remove the app our wait for an update. As an added note, as a paying skype customer I was looking forward to a fully working skype app with video chat included.
Yours hopefully Stuart Reid
Since installing skype I have come across a few problems, I was wondering if you could tell me if you had any plans to fix these problems. The problems I found were as follows:
Over double the battery usage when in use, this coupled with the fact it signs out after the screen is inactive for a couple of minutes. Makes it a pointless app that uses battery when it’s not even signed in. also the only way to exit the program it to use the home key. When you use the sign out option and back out of the app, it looks as if it has closed. But then if you use an app manager you can see it’s still running in the background and still uses the battery as if it’s in use.
Still needs work and for me drains the battery way to much to make it a worthwhile app to have on my device.
Please let me know if there are plans to resolve these problems, so I know whether just to remove the app our wait for an update. As an added note, as a paying skype customer I was looking forward to a fully working skype app with video chat included.
Yours hopefully Stuart Reid
I just wanted to report an issue I am experiencing on both htc 3g slide with android 2.1 and htc hd2 with windows mobile.
The problem is that in chat, when a new chat message comes, the screen scrolls itself to the very top, and I have to scroll back down to read the new message. Then another message comes, and it goes back to the very top of chat, and you have to scroll down again to read the message. It is unreal to chat, because with every message, you have more and more to scroll down! Please fix!
I upgraded to new 2.2 firmware from Samsung today in my Galaxy I 9000S but Skype is still not working.
Im very disappointed :crying:
Tanks for releasing a skype that works on Samsung Galaxy I 9000 S
2 X-mas presents on one day firmware 2.2 + Skype.
merry X-mas
Unless we can find Skype in Android Market (using HTC Desire 2.2 Froyo in Turkey) it’s useless.. Thanks for not caring and leaving out so many users..
Hello,
Can Skype be used for Sprint phones soon? I have a Samsung Epic, and I can DL Skype, but can’t sign in!!! It would be really helpful since I live cross country from my family!!
Thanks,
Sara
I have HTC desire and froyo,
logging in is fine, texts work fine, but voice calls disabled the touch screen and then I had to take the battery out to end the call? that seems a bit excessive?
Being a 3UK customer Skype usage is free, great. I use Skype for work and private.
When can we expect the move to SD feature. It is a must for the future releases, otherwise will need to remove the app, running out of memory.
Video call is not a must for me, but others seem to needed.
Exit option will be handy, if by the laptop/desktop I need an easy option to kill the app, having duplicate notifications is annoying.
A back button as requested by the.tomahawk is a must as well.
Please develop app2sd feature! The installed app is too big (12 MB).
Hey Skype… what about more Bugfixes?
And Video-Calling (over W-LAN or UMTS, better both)
And Support for Higher Resolutions? In the next Month we will get more Tablets with
Android.. 1024×600 and maybe some other high Resolutions…
“320*240 and 240*400 screen resolutions are now supported.”
Is not enough ^^
Skype 1.0.1 for Android ?? WHERE?
Hi,
Thank you releasing skype for Android. I have been using it on my nexus one and samsung galaxy s and it works fine. One small request – I observed that there is no dialpad option while in call. Can you please fix this in your next release? Note: Dialpad option while in call is available on the skype version for iphone.
Thanks
Sachin
Hi there,
I love this app on my android. finally you made an app that better than any other third part application that uses your protocol.
i have just a few remarks about the app – maybe more like request for a few legitimate (as i think) features.
1. The first screen of the application is the user name and the password.
i have a few accounts – can you make a splash screen that give me an option to choose what account to use right now and also i would like that the app will remember the passwords for all the accounts.
2. The First tab inside the app – “contacts”
when i choose what group to view – why is there a “dot” choice instead “check-box” choice. why cant i display a few group? why do i have to choose only one?
3. The Third tab inside the app – “My Info”
why the app doesn’t remember my status from the previous log in? when i enter the app it always on “Online” even if it was on “Away” or “Do Not Disturb” when i logged out from the app.
for the record – i have Nexus One device with Android 2.2
The funny thing is that you already have all these features in the “PC” version
anyway i would like to hear from you about my feedback
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Skype app bug:
Hi,
I am using Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.2
I was able to install Skype app (from Market) and it worked fine, till I received constant “offline” status without the ability to change it.
I tried to uninstall it, and now when I try to re-install the app, i get “installation unsuccessful” with note “insufficient storage available”, although i have plenty of storage space…
The issue is re-occurring for other users as well see
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=0387f33a768520b0&hl=en&start=160
Thank you for you help,
Ofir
It would be good if the app didn’t constantly display an “S” logo in the top-left corner notification bar.
Using Desire HD android Froyo skype 1.0.0.659.
The skype call pickup does not work with the handsfree click. This is a annoying especially during cold conditions when a call pickup can be done only by taking the phone out and then presing ‘Accept’. It would be great to have the call pickedup using the handsfree (wired/wireless). Anybody has this working ?
I have the Samsung Epic and I can’t get past the sign in screen. I have skype on my my pc and ipod touch, and would love to have this on my android phone.
Sound quality is very poor on HTC Wildfire. Actually I can’t use skype at all on it.
I cant seem to find anyone else who can’t find Skype for Android in the Market, is it just me?
I’m using an HTC Desire HD. Cheers. Mexy
Great now app2sd – call quality over WIFI better than normal phone!
Could you make an option to start automatically when WiFi connection active only. Also push messaging rather than background job would surely save battery?
Thanks
Chris.
I’m just trying and trying to download skype for Android from Skype.com/m for my new HTC desire but from my mobile there: NOT FOUND Error 404 and when i look at this from my computer there is: “Skype not available for your mobile phone. Visit us soon, we constantly add phones.” But I see the people is using Skipe with HTC desire! were is the problem? I’m using Skipe allways and i can not imagine not using it. can you help me please
?
Hi, I joined skype when I downloaded the app. Then I installed on my pc. Now my app won’t sign in. Please fix.
I have a HTC Magic, updated to Android 2.2
Normally, skype does not work on it. The sound is very bad.
But, if I answer or make a call and press the red button, the screen goes off then the call works very well.
If is so simple, why not fix it ? Just send a command to turn the screen off on answer.
SECOND
The only way to quit skype is rebooting the phone ?
Hey,
I’m using the HTC wildfire as well. Tried to make calls over WiFi but sound quality is too poor to be of any use. Any idea how to fix this?
Please use C2DM for push notifications now that most users are on Android 2.2+..and keep old method for legacy devices. I use a network analyzer and Skype is constantly polling the network draining the battery very fast.
C2DM is way gentler on the battery, more reliable, easier to mantain and ridiculously easy to implement…You can implement it in one day.
This is having a negative effect on the battery. Some people need their phones for mission critical jobs and we as developers must be responsible with battery usage.
Most people simply don’t know keeping skype open in the background is hurting to their battery life. THANKS!!!
I Live in PAKISTAN and i m holding HTC Desire A8181 Android Version 2.2
I want to install skype but its not available in Android market and if i get to install Directly to website skype then it will not install in my HTC DESIRE A!8181
tell me what should i to and how to install and it will work ?
Please, make support Android 3.0 and Acer Iconia Tab A500.
Hi sir,
I’m using skype since old version and now I updated to new version in my android phone ( galaxy i9000 ). I noticed that the skype app when the internet disconnect and reconnect is running in background even I loggen out! althought I killed the app from setting .
In previous version when I kill the app doesn’t run again.
I sent this email becuase you know the 3g network not stable sometimes disconnect/connect so it is make noisy to kill the skype app every mins!
its the worst version I use!
note: we need to kill som apps for memory or battrey life.
thank you.
Hi all
I tried just emailing this comment to the email address skype lists for contacting it in the Android market, but it turns out that skype “doesn’t monitor” that address. Poor show skype people!
Rather than leave a grumpy comment and star review on the Android market, can I just ask why on earth video calling has been developed for Sony neo for example when that handset is barely available in Europe, but not on Galaxy S2 or even the S, which are the best phone on the market right now and one of the most popular, respectively?
I use an S2 for personal and an iphone for work and I have almost grown old waiting for something that’s been on iphone forever and still isn’t available on Samsung phones.
I and millions others love skype and have no intention of moving to fring or anyone else – but please tell us when the galaxies will get video!
Hi.
thank you.
Would you guys please make an update for video calling for the htc sensation. I bought this phone thinking that it would be great with Skype video calling but was really disappointed when I try to use it and it didn’t had the video calling option. I and there htc sensation user would much really appreciated
Hi guys,
For the new video feature, can you either support the Dell Streak or give unsupported users a way of forcing it? I’m sure it will work on devices besides those mentioned, even if you haven’t tested them.
I’ve been looking forward to this for a while, please don’t cut me out of the experience.
It hangs connection from time to time and can’t connect. I had to exit the application and login again.
Also it often goes to background when I push “back” button to go to upper menu.
The front-facing camera shows an upside-down view when in portrait mode. The main camera and the front-facing camera in landscape mode works fine.
Phone: HTC Desire S.
hi, I am using Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro. When upgrading to this latest version of the skype client, suddelnly the mic does not seem to work with skype,. Is there anywhere where I can get the previous version of Skype, that worked perfectly? /Staffan