Skype to drop Windows Phone 7, focus on iPhone, Symbian, and Android?

By on May 13, 2010 at 1:10 PM
General May 13, 2010

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Skype is reportedly turning its back on the upcoming Windows Phone 7 platform and is instead focusing its efforts on the iPhone, Symbian, and Android OS. Speaking at an event in Australia, Dan Neary, the Asia Pacific Vice President for Skype, confirmed that the VoIP software giant is not currently developing a version of its popular software for the Windows Phone 7 platform. This revelation comes close on the heels of Skype’s removal of its Windows Mobile version due to the product’s less than stellar UI and poor user experience. Neary failed to provide a reason for Skype’s dismissal of Windows Phone 7 but the decision could stem from WP7′s lack of native code and its tight integration with XNA and Silverlight for development. It also doesn’t help that Windows Phone 7 is a new and untested platform. Regardless of the reason, heavy Skype users looking to jump to Windows Phone 7 may be wise to wait for Skype to change its mind or for some savvy third party developer to pick up the slack.

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  • Sonya

    Oh well Windows Phone 7, maybe next time.

  • Meerlol

    Well the reason is probably very easy: there is no support for sockets. So there is no way for Skype to set up their voip calls.

  • Josiah

    This is so not news. Skype will support Windows Phone 7 when/if it’s out and gaining momentum. Being so early in development this kind of announcement means essentially nothing.

    And since when does anyone listen to the “Asia Pacific Vice President for Skype,” Seriously.

  • jaxstate

    Fringe it is.

  • Mark

    Skype: Windows 7? Bah, NOBODY will use that. We’re geniuses!

  • Mrwirez

    I think Windows phones will fail.. too late M$..

    • Mike B.

      Windows Phones 7 have too much hype, and few shortcomings, once copy and paste make it in, i’ll be picking one up. MS knows what they’re doing.

    • VZWHoustonRegionalManager

      people said the same about Android, but have they failed? I argue they just copied a couple of OS’s, but they didn’t fail and neither with MS.

  • bob

    EVERYONE is gonna drop UglyStupidPhone7 because it sucks

  • Nokia N900

    Ah so my only options now are Meego and Android…

  • Channan

    Wait, Skype has been focussing on Android? Why can’t I find it then?

    Oh, it’s Verizon exclusive, eh?

    • Nokia N900

      Its not a verizon exclusive, just go to skype dot com to download skype for android. They only advertise it for android because of an agreement with them, but it is still available for the iPhone, Android OS and Symbian (Nokia).

  • Matt

    As bloated as windows mobile is now I have lost all faith in MS making a good user experience with 7.

  • sean

    Sky what? why is that any use on a phone?

  • Joe620

    according to Engadget Skype says they were misquoted and will build an app for WP7

  • Jon

    So what about for Blackberry users? I know there’s the Skype app for Verizon devices… but I’m not an American, nor am I likely to pick up an Android phone or an iPhone any time soon (I’m sorry, but none of the android devices available up here in Canada appeal to me, and the only one that did has serious battery issues). So… why’s Skype leaving another major platform out in the rain?

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