The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others - Nietzche
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Skype withdraws support for Windows Mobile
PROPRIETARY VOIP AND CHAT outfit Skype has withdrawn its Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Mobile, blaming issues with the Microsoft operating system for the move.
The firm has not made much of a splash about the decision, and there is no obvious announcement on the Skype and Skype Lite download pages. However, a forum discussion posted on the Wmpoweruser site drew a comment from a Skype marketing guy, Peter Parkes. Reading between the lines and looking at Statcounter's user figures, we can only conclude that Windows Mobile might as well have leprosy.
Skype seemed reluctant to even discuss the operating system. The missing download was first flagged on the user group in a post that published Skype's latest FAQ entry on Windows Mobile which says, "Unfortunately, Skype Lite - a version of Skype for your mobile phone - and Skype for Windows Mobile are no longer available for download from our site. Our focus is on providing a rich user experience that allows you to enjoy free Skype-to-Skype and low cost calls as easily on the move as you do at your desktop. We felt that Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Mobile were not offering the best possible Skype experience."
With little other information to go on from the firm this created a lot of speculation amongst forum users, many of whom suggested that the firm was favouring Apple's Iphone or Google's Android and would cross the road to avoid having anything to do with the Vole's phone operating system.
In the face of this and other criticism, Peter Parkes of Skype took it upon himself to comment on the user group where he explained that it was not game over for the OS. "It's been very difficult for us to make the experience consistent across a wide range of Windows devices," he said. "However, we have a partnership in place with China Unicom to deliver a new beta version to their WM handsets - where we can work with mobile operators, we'll be able to deliver a Skype experience on the current WM platform which lives up to expectations."
This has since been expanded upon in an official Skype blog, also by Parkes. In it he added, "This isn't a decision we've taken lightly, but the reason is simple. Neither of these apps offered a great Skype experience."
Parkes recommends that instead users try Skype on one of the other available mobile operating systems. Ouch. µ
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""It's been very difficult for us to make the experience consistent across a wide range of Windows devices."
As opposed to the lack of diversity of Windows PCs that they love to support?
So you have 20-30 WinMo devices compared to an infinite configuration base of Windows Computers. And the 20-30 devices is too confusing for them? Either they are not telling the truth or are horrible programmers.
They also don't say they aren't developing for WinMo, that they are going to deal with phone providers directly. This means they are still making a WinMo version, but distributing it through phone vendors or carriers apparently.
Sounds like someone is giving them a deal or they are working a deal.
I recently discovered that Skype was no longer available for download from the Skype website however my current version continues to work just fine on my WinMo 6.1 OS (for IM chat only). I have never used Skyype Mobile for phoning anyone but as an IM chat client it can't be beat by anything else in the market since it handles MPP (Multiple Points of Presence) perfectly. I hope the Skype developers reissue mobile skype as an IM Chat only client. That would be the smart think to do.
The whole world is jumping off the sinking ship that is Windows Mobile Phone.
This old OS is now dead. Microsoft will be moving to WP7S. Its only a matter of time before more major companies abandon Windows Mobile phones.
NewsFlash: Adobe ceases to develop Flash for WinMo.
The avalanche begins.
working on their own "skype", stealing as much as they can until then.
(Not a good partner)
I agree and WinMobile sucks anyway. Android is the way.