Skype pulls its client for Windows Mobile

By on Feb 25, 2010 at 8:27 AM
General February 25, 2010

skype-windows-mobile-pulled

Windows Mobile users looking to download Skype may have to dig a bit deeper to find the necessary .cab file for installation. According to Skype’s website, the Windows Mobile version has been removed because it does not offer the same rich user experience that is available in Skype for the iPhone and Skype for Symbian, an unusual reason that leaves us scratching our heads. Skype does not indicate when the Windows Mobile version will return, if ever, and it is possible that Skype may have chosen to cease development of the older Windows Mobile version while focusing on a new version that will be compatible with Windows 7 Phone series handsets. If this is the case, then it’s pretty odd that Skype would pull its current version so soon, leaving millions of current Windows Mobile users in the lurch for the next eight to nine months while we wait for the first Windows Phone 7 handsets to debut. Reading between the lines, another possible explanation is a bit of a conspiracy theory and contains the words “exclusive” and “Verizon Wireless”. Similar to the rumored delay in the 3G enabled version of Skype for the iPhone, this rumor suggests that Skype may have pulled its Windows Mobile version due to its exclusive agreement with Big Red. Regardless of the reason, Windows Mobile owners may want to head over to Skype’s website as soon as possible as the download link is still buried in the website if you know where to look. Once Skype becomes aware of its presence, the link and your ability to download Skype from its official channel may be long gone.

[Via Wmpoweruser and Fuze Mobility]

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  • Will

    Oh that’s pretty stupid reason. Skype works fine on my WinMo phone. I can’t use it alot w/o having it on the charger but I do use it without any issue.

    The Verizon theory sounds better imo.

  • zephxiii

    I’m starting to hate Skype….

  • Laz

    The HTC Incredible is launching on VZW soon? Why not the Desire? The Incredible seems so weak in comparison to the Desire! I know the drill and should not be surprised that such a nice phone is missed by VZW once again…

    • VZW

      How does the Incredible seem like a weak comparison of the Desier? Whats so weak about it? Everything is the same about both of them. For all we know right now it could be like the HTC Hero and the HTC Droid Eris. The specs on both are the same.

    • VZW

      How does the Incredible seem like a weak comparison of the Desier? Whats so weak about it? Everything is the same about both of them. For all we know right now it could be like the HTC Hero and the HTC Droid Eris where the specs on both are the same.

      • Laz

        The Desire has 576MB of Ram where the Incredible only has 256MB Ram and has not listed the ROM just yet. I am not a VZW hater just a long time customer who will not drink the “punch” any longer…

      • jackfrost

        Those specs aren’t real. Just wait for some real information from actual HTC (leaked) documents, not some random dude who claims to have seen it.

        Desire is probably an AT&T exclusive. Sucks, but VZ is getting the Nexus One as an exclusive. You can effectively turns the Nexus One into an HTC Sense phone with the Desire ROM. You’ll just have to wait… and wait… and wait…

      • Drybones5

        The Nexus One is carrier wide stupid. every carrier will have a Nexus One available for it.

        That includes AT&T. That means AT&T gets the Nexus One + Desire while Verizon gets Nexus One + Incredible

    • mrdudeguy

      stop posting the same thing in every story… your an idiot trying to bash VZW, come with some real facts and dont just troll

  • 1jaxstate1

    Windows mobile users who also use Windows OS, should stop supporting Skype.

  • http://www.pc-prime.com Ben

    I’ve have paid for skype for 2 years and have saved myself a ton of money.

    However, this garbage with Verizon, no blackberry client, no native android client..well..they can go to hell.

    I am hoping that Google has their own VoIP up and running when my subscription ends in August with Skype. I’ll switch in a heart beat.

  • Christopher Cox

    This is nothing new. Usually the iPhone version of the same app by the same developer offers a much better experience. Docs2Go for iPhone kills the winmo version. BeejiveIM on iPhone is better. Google maps? No contest. I have not found an RDP client as smooth for winmo as what I use on iPhone. Jaadu VNC is 10x better than what you get on winmo. Skype? No contest there either. It is all because of the SDK. If Microsoft would wisen up, they would put a lot of effort into the SDK and get better tools out to the developers.

  • Channan

    If the WinMo version of Skype is worse than the iPhone version, then I don’t blame them for pulling it. No push notifications, no alerts of new messages even while in the app, no calls over 3G yet, constant crashing, slow, freezes…I couldn’t imagine Skype being any worse than it is on the iPhone.

    • http://www.applebythehour.com Jarrett

      Yeah, and that is their best implimentation of the app.

      • Dara

        Really Jarrett?

        Can somebody call your Skype account when you’re on the road and get your phone to ring?

        That, to me, seems to be pretty important for a Skype user. Now I might be asking for a two lane road where you only need a one way alley (did I get that analogy right?), but incoming calls seem like a pretty key feature.

        Of course, I suppose you could receive an IM, get to a wifi hotspot, and then call them back, but weren’t you all for simplification?

      • Channan

        You still don’t get push notifications for the Skype app, so you’d be no better off if someone sent you a message than if someone called you and just couldn’t get through. You’d be notified of both at the same time only when you open the app.

      • Chris

        @ Jarrett, it maybe their best looking implementation, but I wouldn’t call it the best.

        Skype for WinMo supports calls over 3G and running in the background… so that you get calls and messages even if its not active on your screen. You can’t do either on the iPhone.

    • eternal

      Skype 3 works great on my HTC HD2. Skype are obviously retarded.

    • eternal

      It’s not actually worse. No probs running it on the HTC HD2. Imagine it on 480×800 4.3inch screen with 1GHz CPU.

  • Dara

    I’m a regular user of Skype for Symbian. What Skype are doing is trying to not have different (i.e. worse) levels of user experience as it harms their brand.

    When you use Skype for Symbian it works properly. You have online presence, full IM capabilities, two way file transfer, voicemail, full contact management, and of course 3G incoming and outgoing Skype calls.

    A new user who first got Skype on a Symbian phone is able to sign up for a new account on their phone and start experiencing “real” Skype.

    The “Skype Lite” type of application that WinMo has, and Symbian used to have, just makes them look like a half assed calling card company.

    I think that they realize that a lot of people will pop their Skype cherry on a mobile and want it to be representative of the very high level of service quality that they have achieved on other platforms.

    • Chris

      Have you actually used Skype for WinMo? It does everything you just described right down to less important stuff like file transfering.

      • Dara

        I was under the (wrong) impression that Winmo only had the Lite version.

        A friend of mine has a Touch Pro 2 and was just complaining about it the other day. I guess I should tell him about this while you can still get the files.

  • Jason Price

    Windows Mobile 6.5 has been hemorrhaging users to Symbian, RIMS, iPhone, and Android for the past few years. It’s no surprise developers are pulling out as well.

    Windows Mobile 7 is the only leg Microsoft has in the cellular/mobility world. Let’s only hope the SDK is released soon so that developers can see what potential they have.

  • mikee

    Skype took out their app from the Android Market, too.

  • ron

    It’s an Apple/Skype conspiracy.

    Just get an iPhone and a Mac and stop worrying.

    • jackfrost

      That doesn’t even make any sense. We’re talking about mobile platforms, which means it’s more Verizon’s doing. And VZ doesn’t have any Apple products in their lineup, and won’t probably ever.

      • http://www.applebythehour.com Jarrett

        Sure Apple will have a device on Verizon. Right after they give the next product a floppy drive.

    • rederikus

      I’m not THAT stupid.

  • Phonewhore

    Kelly,

    Your title should say “Skype pulls client for Windows Mobile”, not “Skype pulls it’s client for Windows Mobile”.

    Just trying to help you out a little :)

    • jackfrost

      Um, no. “Its client” is possessive, not “it is client” like you are suggesting.

  • Nokia N900

    Skype is built into the Maemo 5 OS. I’m loving it on my Nokia N900.

    • eternal

      That’s fine but otherwise the N900 sucks with barely any software and poor support from nokia (cut down Nokia Maps for instance lol).

  • Dakota

    “We’ve chosen to withdraw Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Mobile because we want to offer our new customers an improved mobile experience”

    Right. So an improved mobile experience is not using Skype at all? Got it.

    “… much like the version that has proved so popular on the iPhone, and which is now available on Symbian phones”

    So, Skype now expects me to buy an iPhone or a Symbian-powered device to continue enjoying their services? Sorry, but I’ll go SIP and take my money elsewhere, as I used Skype on a simple WiFi WinMo handheld to communicate in the office.

    Oh, wait: http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windowsmobile/ – STILL THERE, FOLKS.

  • anonymous

    Or is it because Apple are purchasing Skype? $25bn cash reserves, no 3G Skype for iPhone (yet), video calling in iPad SDK, pulled from WinMo

    mmmmmmm makes one wonder

  • http://www.sprint.com/begin A Sprint Nextel Retail Store Employee

    I just sent an e mail to Skype customer care/technical support for the immediate removal of the Windows Mobile version of the application.
    Here’s the URL I uses people for the request.
    https://support.skype.com/en/support_request?

    I’d appreciate any feedback via my e mail address of cyberpsionic@yahoo.com
    Thanks!

    • http://phonescoop.com bobo the clown

      you hate this because sprint is a crap company with sub-par service rate plans and sub-par humans working in India answering your customer service calls?

  • http://phonescoop.com bobo the clown

    just downloaded from the site. thanks works great.

  • dfprodz

    can someone post a link? ive looked all over the net to no avail!!

  • vithur

    hi i ve a htc touch diamon i would like to have in my mobile .But o know its not possibled to dowload where i can dowload skype. im a french user.

    thanks

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