Article by George Norman

On 03 Aug 2011

There are a variety of devices you could use popular instant messaging (IM) and voice-over-IP (VoIP) client Skype on. You can use it on Windows, Mac OS X or Linux-powered machines, or you can use it on the iPhone, on Symbian-powered mobile devices and on Android-powered mobile devices. You can also use it on certain internet-enabled TVs. As of this month, you can add one more device to the list of devices on which you can use Skype.

The device I am talking about is the Apple-developed iPad (of which Apple sold 9.25 million in its Q3 that ended on the 25th of June). Skype announced yesterday, the 2nd of August, that it released Skype 1.0 for iPad. If you’re interested, you can grab the app free of charge from the App Store here.


Before you do that perhaps you would like to know what sort of iPad-optimized features the app has to offer. Here’s the lowdown:
- Two-way video calling (1st generation iPads can receive video but cannot send video) so that you can stay in touch with all your Skype friends, regardless if they are on Skype for Android, Skype for Mac, Skype for Windows, or Skype on HDTVs. The app can use the iPad 2’s dual cameras; use the front facing camera so that you can talk to others holding the iPad as you regularly would, switch to the rear facing camera to show others what you see.
- Send instant messages while video chatting with someone. Include emoticons in your messages if you want to.
- You can easily take a glance at your contacts as they are displayed in a grid with large avatar photos.
- You can open a contact and select “Send SMS” to send out an SMS text message. Alternatively you can open the dial pad, type a number, and then type the SMS text message you want to send out.

Here’s what Head of Product Management at Skype, Rick Osterloh, who leads the design strategy, and development of Skype’s product range, had to say about Skype for iPad:
“Skype for iPad is beautifully designed and optimized for the iPad. It offers the best of both worlds for users who want a larger Skype experience, on-the-go. The large iPad screen is perfect for bringing Skype video calls to life, in either landscape or portrait view, and because it is on the iPad, Skype video calls can be made at the beach, in a car or even lying on a couch.”

For a list of known issues with the Skype for iPad app check out this article.

A video presentation of the app is available below.






Tags: Skype, Apple, iPad, App Store, Skype for iPad

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