Skype VP says company isn't developing software for Windows Phone 7 (Update: it's 'on the roadmap')
By Vlad Savov 
posted May 13th 2010 3:26AM
posted May 13th 2010 3:26AM
Consider the bombshell dropped. Skype, the godfather of VoIP apps and an increasingly ubiquitous piece of mobile as well as desktop software, has just let it be known that it's not planning on bringing its goodies to Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS. Dan Neary, the company's Vice President for the Asia Pacific region, said that it's "not developing software for the new Windows Mobile software due later this year," but seemed reluctant to expand on the reasons why. Perhaps, like Mozilla, the Skype devs felt they weren't getting access to the right tools. Whatever the reason, this would be a major competitive disadvantage for Microsoft's great new hope on the mobile front, which is already expected to launch with a few things missing. Then again, we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves as this isn't an official renouncement from Skype, merely a statement of the status quo -- and from a regional exec at that. All we can take away from it for now is that the road ahead looks a bit bumpier than before for WP7.Update: Looks like this quote might've been taken out of context. MobileTechWorld followed up and learned that while Dan Neary left out Windows Mobile and Windows Phone from a list of currently supported platforms (which makes sense, since one is dying and the other isn't out yet), he said Windows Phone 7 "is on the roadmap." The question seems to be more of a "when" than an "if" they'll start building it.
Fring.
@Sogeking I wonder if skype is gona be on the EVO becuase qik is cool but i would perfer skype..
@Sogeking I was going to say the same. I dont use skype on my iphone. Or any of the other native IM/VoIP programs. Just Fring.
Its obviously still a marketing disadvantage. However, I dont think the last word has been spoken in this matter.
@liftedngifted1 Qik is a different thing to Skype. Skype for chatting and video conferencing to friends (VOIP), and I believe Qik is for streaming video to a wide audience. Although I never used Qik, as it's not accessible here.
Hopefully Fring will give Skype functionality to WinMo7. I prefer Fring anyway as it's a multi-protocol VOIP client.
@Sogeking
No Fring either. You can't do it with WP7 http-only APIs.
@Sogeking
i'm no future seer, but i have a feeling they'll be back....
@simbadogg
U can bet your...car they will, as soon as WM7 comes out. It looks nice and as far as I can see there are lots of ppl interested in this new/old platform, and Im sure that Skype aint gona let that market get away
@vangrieg There are definitely APIs that allow camera access, and Microsoft even mentioned Skype saying that they wouldn't be able to run in the background, but they did say it could be made.
@Omen
It has nothing to do with camera access. You need socket manipulation APIs to implement Skype Protocol. And this is not allowed in WP7.
@liftedngifted1 : look here, if the Evo doesn't get Skype, or at the VERY least, GTalk, I'm still buying one.
That's how stubborn us Evoys are.
Poor WP7.
Is there a Skype app for Android? Better be.......
@Sogeking
The problem with Fring is that all your calls go through Fringe servers before hitting the Skype network. Moreover' Fring need to have your Skype credentials for it to work. Do you really trust Fring that much?
@blenderman345 yes... there is a skype app for android. Dont worry, works great on my droid.
@Sogeking: Not Fring. Android.
So we got HTC feeling the shaft on the hardware side, now this on the software side... let's hope they have some boob apps on hand to bail them out.
@coolblue830
HTC is a partner for windows phone 7. what are you talking about
@account5 I'm talking about them not being able to develop their Sense UI as they have for Win Mo 6.5 and that the HTC HD2 got shafted because of button overload. /sigh, the fact that i had to clarify made me lose a few inches :P
Something is definitely fishy here... First, a while back, they make the WinMo version unavailable for download and claim it's because it just wasn't up to snuff (well thanks, but I liked having SOME Skype on my WinMo, even if you could do better, guys) and don't replace it with anything... Now this. What's really going on, Skype ?
@MarcO
Either way, I'm glad they're holding out. Hopefully if enough big players do that, MS will break down and say, "OK, fine! We'll stop with this Apple-style totalitarian shit and let people do awesome things with our OS!" And you know MS will break much quicker than Apple on stuff like this.
@sonicyoof
Except Skype has an iPhone app, so it's not the totalitarian BS. The reality is that a developer targets any significantly large market; it's an income source. Either there's something fishy going on or Skype is waiting to see how much WP7 takes off. Guarantee they won't be shying away when customers are clamoring for support.
@harkening iPhone one is the only "decent" and wifi only app too. I don't even want to think about the crap they released for BBs and Android phones.
@Aku Or that Skype haven't released a 3G version for the iPhone, despite saying they had it ready "months ago" in December and passing the blame to Apple, yet when the green light was given in February, there was no 3G version to be seen.
It still hasn't shown up, Fring on the other hand had a 3G version up and running on the first day.
@Aku Amazingly, Skype client for Symbian works flawlessly. It was good choice to buy a Nokia. There is also Skype for Maemo. Actually, I think that I will probably get the next Nokia wi Meego that comes out.
@stoffer too bad the interface is so horrible on those resistive screens and Symbian is as bug laden and problem prone as ever.
Be thankful for the removable battery you usually need to remove and reset a few times a week.
@hill60 Besides it only took Skype a little over a year to release an S60v5 version after much fanfare from both Nokia and Skype over the pending release of the N97 with integrated skype functions.
@hill60
N900 skype integration is awesome! It is built in phonebook so you don't have to start separate skype app. The resistive screen is really good one too. Lot more precise than my itouch. Took couple of days to get familiar with.
Now that they have background capabilities on the iPhone, if WP7 doesn't want to offer them the same capabilities what would be the point of developing for that platform? There's not much in it for them... Makes sense for them to have little interest in WP7.
@jellotime91 Could be it. But should WP7 pick up market share and fast, that attitude will be the first to fly out the window, should it be true.
@Bahumbug
Of course. Some companies were quick to dismiss iPhone OS but soon ended up developing for it anyway to take advantage of the market. If WP7 proves successful and their marketplace is thriving, you can bet there will be a skype app.
@jellotime91 They do backgrounding in the same way iPhone OS 4 does.
@TSSaloic
Uh, common misconception. No, they don't. Microsoft even said explicitly that the OS can't support pandora in the background, it has zero background APIs, which is definitely not like iPhone OS4...
Pfft, I didn't want skype anyway, I'm sure XDA will create a voip app if no-one else does, much cheaper.
It probably just comes down to resources. Why should Skype pay programmers to develop for a platform that's probably going to be as popular as the Zune? Might as well wait and see how it goes first. Microsoft isn't exactly a proven name in mobile.
@SlappySquirrel
because it';l be more popular than android for sure... windows mobile has 15% marketshare compared to androids 5%, WP7 will be more popular.
@account5
What is this vendetta you have against Android? You always seem to troll with that
@AlienSix
that its overrated. Windows mobile alone is more popular, imagine WP7. an OS thats actually polished unlike android
@account5
WIndows Phone 7 may look good and solid however Androids future is looking quite good to be honest..
You also cant comment on WinMo being polished since you are only judging on visuals and potential, have you tried it working fully on a mobile device?
@account5 Windows Phone 7 is not polished. It is dysfunctional. It can't even Copy & Paste. What use is Office software if you can't Copy & Paste between different programs?
@account5 Windows Mobile has also been around for like a hundred years. I've got a WM phone and I like it, but even I'm not going to pretend that WM would have any market share if it had come out at the same time as Android. That said, WP7 looks like it's going to be amazing and I hope it picks up a solid userbase and gets some kind of development support.
@account5
You don't think maybe Skype decided to do this based on independent market share numbers and trends do you?
How about this:
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=1&qpcustom=Microsoft+Pocket+Internet+Explorer
or this:
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=8&qptimeframe=M&qpsp=135
Seriously your "marketshare" numbers are about as realistic as believing in Santa Claus. What company in their right mind would develop for a platform that has been trending downwards for years?
We can continue to imagine what WP7 might bring, since we've been wondering for nearly 2 years now (it was originally supposed to be released back in August 2008). Android has had five releases in the same timeframe. If you were a CEO of a software development company, would you honestly invest resources in WP7 at this point?
That sucks, but since I never use skype I'm still switching to WP7.
Maybe Skype just needs to develop a square icon to fit in.
@The Joker speaking of which, they really need to ditch that lame IE6 icon they're (still) using for Internet Explorer... it just doesn't fit in
@grellanl
Whut? They use IE8's logo, which last time I checked *was* rather different to IE6's. Unless I'm missing something, of course...
Sellouts. You will se WP apps written by Skype, in native code, but with an operator brand and only over an operators cellular connection. We are really talking about the death of WiFi and the selling out to operators.
Disclaimer, I think Skype are the most arrogant bunch of arese-wipes I've ever had the displeasure of doing business with.
@bodeNGE they wont dare do that, its suicide. Ppl will show WP7 the middle finger and switch over to android or iPhone.... problem solved
@jediknight999
Verizon already do http://phones.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile/
That is also the "real" reason behind Skype pulling their public client for Windows Mobile, Nokia, and (soon) Android.
@bodeNGE
I think you got it right. Skype on android exists only on verizon. Skype is probably looking for similar deal for WP7. Skype on iPhone is free for all just because they don't really have an option as Apple and AT&T are the only ones with the device.
FU Skype..FU Dolphins
skype is crap anyways.
So Skype does all the hard work and Fring gets the market share...... What a bunch of idiots.
Fring FTW