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New version of Skype for Pocket PC coming + Skype to release version for other mobile platforms too September 30, 2005 [Pocket PC] | By Edward J. R. The latest version of Skype for Pocket PC is 1.2 beta - it adds voice mail support for example. However still it is not enough and it is missing out on new features of Skype like call forwarding. So new version of Skype for Pocket PC clearly is coming and it has been confirmed by Saul Klein (a Vice President of Skype). Moreover he said that Skype client for other mobile platforms is coming too! In other words: the competitive advantage that Windows Mobile has - being the only mobile platform with Skype client available - will be removed! More info about this interview: RS: What is your general strategy for making Skype more accessible to mobile users? SK: A big thing for us is to move beyond the desktop to add to mobility of the Skype experience. Call forwarding is a move forward toward that added mobility. As cost-effective Wi-Fi, our Skype Zones partnership with Boingo is part of that. There is a version of Skype available for the Pocket PC platform, and we will be making upgrades to that software. We expect to support other platforms as well. RS: As you enhance your mobile Skype offerings, do you see a natural competition emerging with cellphone providers who might feel competitively threatened by your lower calling rates? SK: In terms of working with cellphone operators, we already work with Hutchison Telecom in Hong Kong, and we have announced a relationship with ePlus. To read the interview click here. Conclusion: for a long time fans of Windows Mobile phones and PDAs were priding themselves on being the only mobile platform for which Skype is available. Soon it will end. So maybe some other competitive advantage of Windows Mobile over Symbian should be invented? In any case: Skype for Pocket PC is widely used and works fine. However still the latest features of Skype (available in desktop version of Skype) are not supported in it, so it's by no means perfect.
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