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December 9, 2008 5:19 PM PST

Skype's latest beta: A worthy Windows Mobile update

by Jessica Dolcourt
Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 beta (Credit: Skype)

Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 beta, released on Tuesday, essentially brings changes made to Skype's desktop VoIP client (download|review) to Windows Smartphones and Windows Pocket PCs.

The application's display is compact, intuitive, and full-featured.

The mobile version places tabs for your various actions at the bottom of the app. By switching among them, you'll be able to change your online status and see missed calls and instant messages, initiate IMs, or place a call to your contact's Skype account, mobile number, or land line if you've purchased Skype Out. There's also a dialing pad to directly dial a call using an international format.

Like Skype's desktop beta, this Windows Mobile version highlights instant messages. It supports emoticons, but file transferring is what we'd really like to see, and what competitor Fring (downloads) already offers on Symbian phones.

The call quality is going to vary based on your phone model, your headphones, and how fast and stable your data connection is. Test calls were excellent on the Samsung Omnia. The app's biggest drawback--on the touch-screen Omnia at least--is that the tiny icons and links are difficult to accurately press.

As a whole, however, Skype's Windows Mobile beta is good enough to recommend to Windows Mobile users with overseas connections who may have been on the fence about opening a Skype account.

Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter.
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by yanchineseguy December 10, 2008 9:43 AM PST
According to the product description on the download.com page, this version of Skype for WM "offers several features, including SkypeOut calling from Skype to regular and mobile phones worldwide, free conference calling, and secure file transfer." So is file transfer supported or not? Thanks
Reply to this comment
by DADSGETNDOWN December 16, 2008 4:52 PM PST
The description is put there by the publisher/maker of the product.
No CNET review.
What I find odd, is, there does not seem to be anything logically wrong in the description that would make someone ask that question.
What it says to me in plain english, it even used commas, is. 3 (THREE) ) if it's several features are,

(1) SkypeOut calling from Skype to regular and mobile phones worldwide.
(2) free conference calling.
(3) and secure file transfer.

Meaning it does support file transfer. Infact "secure file transfer".
by DADSGETNDOWN December 16, 2008 4:54 PM PST
Note: Beta or prerelease software is not intended for inexperienced users, as the software may contain bugs or potentially damage your system. We strongly recommend that users exercise caution and save all mission-critical data before installing and/or using this software.
by popeye000 December 11, 2008 2:52 AM PST
I'm glad to see Skype on my Samsung Omnia i900 though I don't see the difference between having the program and connecting by wifi. . . . Unfortunately, this version It doesn't have "video chat" included in this release, which is an included feature on my phone. Maybe next time!
Reply to this comment
by sarah_oneill December 13, 2008 10:42 AM PST
I must have missed file transfer on the Skype WM page. There's more on the features at <a href="http://www.atelier-us.com/mobile-wireless/article/skype-updates-apps-for-windows-mobile-and-non-smartphones-not-apple">this interesting article</a>, too.
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by kosngok December 13, 2008 7:26 PM PST
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<p>Thanks</p>
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