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Skype releases app for iPad - finally


Skype has released an app specifically for the Apple iPad, more than a year after the release of the iPhone app.

Alex Walls
Wed, 03 Aug 2011

Skype has released an app specifically for the Apple iPad.

Until now, iPad users have made do with the iPhone version of the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service since January 2010, meaning video was often huge and pixellated. 

Skype - recently bought by Microsoft for $US8.5 billion - said in its announcement it had seen growing demand for an iPad app ever since, and today released the iPad optimised app to the iTunes App Store.

Skype said the app takes advantage of the iPad’s large screen and has other optimized features including contacts displayed in a grid with large avatar photos and instant messaging.

Skype for iPad also takes full advantage of the iPad 2’s dual cameras, Skype said, allowing users to switch between face-to-face video and rear camera views of what the user can see.

Skype for iPad works across both 3G and Wi-Fi networks, the company said, and allows users to make voice and video calls across platforms, to other Skype users on iPhones, Mac, Windows, HDTVs “and more” -  no word on Android then, much to the annoyance of the comments on the announcement.

Skype for iPad is free and runs on iOS 4.0 or later.  Users who have the iPhone version on their iPad need to download the iPad app separately. 

The release has not been smooth, however, according to Macworld, who reported that a video of the program’s interface was released online in late June, and on Monday, an iPad app appeared in the App Store, before being removed by Skype.

Alex Walls
Wed, 03 Aug 2011
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Skype releases app for iPad - finally
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