Skype for Android: The Drawbacks
As you may already know, the Skype for Android app has officially been launched. If you would like to get it, you need only visit skype.com/m from your Android-powered mobile phone, or access the Android Market. By getting the Skype for Android app you will basically be able to do all the bits and pieces you can do with the desktop version.
With Skype for Android you can make free Skype-to-Skype calls (over WiFi, 3G, GPRS, or EDGE), you can make cheap calls to landline and mobile phones, send and receive instant messages, see when Skype contacts are online, or receive calls to your the Skype online number.
The app also lets you import names and numbers from your Android-powered device’s native address book; and sync contacts between Skype and the native address book and after synchronization place Skype calls directly from the native address book.
There are a few drawbacks though. Here they are:
OS Compatibility
Skype for Android works with Android 2.1 or later, so if you are on Android 1.6 for example, you cannot use the app. You have to upgrade the Android operating system first.
Phone Compatibility
Skype said it tested the app on HTC Desire, HTC Legend, Google Nexus One, Motorola Milestone XT720, and Motorola Milestone. Skype also said that it can’t guarantee the app will work properly on other phone models and that it is aware of some issues with the Samsung Galaxy S that will be fixed in the future.
Connectivity
Skype for Android works over WiFi, 3G, GPRS, or EDGE. In the US it works over WiFi only.
Availability
For the time being, Skype for Android is not available in Japan and China. On the upside, the app supports Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese and several other languages. Here’s the full list of supported languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.
With Skype for Android you can make free Skype-to-Skype calls (over WiFi, 3G, GPRS, or EDGE), you can make cheap calls to landline and mobile phones, send and receive instant messages, see when Skype contacts are online, or receive calls to your the Skype online number.
The app also lets you import names and numbers from your Android-powered device’s native address book; and sync contacts between Skype and the native address book and after synchronization place Skype calls directly from the native address book.
There are a few drawbacks though. Here they are:
OS Compatibility
Skype for Android works with Android 2.1 or later, so if you are on Android 1.6 for example, you cannot use the app. You have to upgrade the Android operating system first.
Phone Compatibility
Skype said it tested the app on HTC Desire, HTC Legend, Google Nexus One, Motorola Milestone XT720, and Motorola Milestone. Skype also said that it can’t guarantee the app will work properly on other phone models and that it is aware of some issues with the Samsung Galaxy S that will be fixed in the future.
Connectivity
Skype for Android works over WiFi, 3G, GPRS, or EDGE. In the US it works over WiFi only.
Availability
For the time being, Skype for Android is not available in Japan and China. On the upside, the app supports Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese and several other languages. Here’s the full list of supported languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.
