Sam Oliver
Microsoft on Thursday unleashed an all-new version of its popular Skype messaging application for iOS, bringing a visual overhaul that matches the app to its Windows Phone counterpart and a number of improvements to speed and stability.
The most noticeable difference in the user interface — aside from the larger, thinner typography — is the shift from traditional iOS-style tabbed navigation to the trademark swipe gesture used to move between views on Windows Phone. Skype's navigation bar now features just two buttons, allowing quick access to the dialer and chats.
Microsoft says that the new "remastered" version is more than 5 times faster than its predecessor, and the company also promises improvements for users who use Skype on multiple devices. Reading a message on one device will now mark it read on other devices, a welcome improvement.
Additionally, iPhone users can now initiate group chats and the app features in-app notifications to quickly move between conversations.
Initially scheduled to drop next week, Skype for iPhone version 5.0 has been appearing seemingly randomly in regional App Stores around the world throughout the day Thursday. The shaky rollout now seems to be complete, and users can get the app as a free, 44.7-megabyte download from the App Store.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Oliver Haslam
William Gallagher
34 Comments
It looks... kinda the same? Strange they would produce such a video for an update. But nice to see they're focusing on iPhone.
What does "5 times faster" mean for a communication app? Can I have a 5 minute phone all in 1 minute now? Frankly Apple can't complain much about a MS app not adhering to all the iOS style guidelines when iTunes didn't bend over backwards to be a "normal" Windows app.
I just tried to update and am getting "The item you tried to buy is no longer available"
Since I use Skype as my primary business line, perhaps I should hold off on trying the update again for a bit :)
Good. This is the roll I like for Microsoft. Just another struggling app developer. It presses them to do their best work. And, they're not Google, so yay for that.
Just tried to update and it says "The item you tried to buy is no longer available"
Did it get pulled already?
(and djames4242 beats me by 57 seconds...)