Microsoft talk about Skype for Windows Phone 8

When I first setup my new Windows Phone 8 device one of the first things I did was try to install Skype, Microsoft have been talking about Skype for Windows Phone 8 for a while so I assumed it would be there but it’s not. Microsoft haven’t released it yet but in a post on MSDN they have detailed some of the features.

Skype for Windows Phone 8 is a complete redesign of the app taking advantage of the new platform features of Windows Phone 8 with things like background notifications so you will be able to receive calls and notifications from Skype while the app is running in the background. With Microsoft moving Windows Live Messenger users to Skype having a rich Skype app for Windows Phone 8 is critical. Microsoft say Skype for Windows Phone 8 will be in the Windows Store “soon”.

Checkout the post for all the details:

Skype for Windows Phone 8 isn’t just about the design – we’ve built a completely new app from the ground up to be an important part of the Windows Phone experience. Here’s a preview of some of the exciting capabilities coming with Skype for Windows Phone 8:

Always Reachable

Just like on Windows 8, Skype for Windows Phone 8 enables you to receive chats and notifications for voice and video calls even if you’ve navigated away to another app or have your phone on lock, so you can stay connected with your contacts whatever you’re doing. Best of all, this all happens with limited battery drain.

For the first time, incoming Skype calls arrive using the familiar incoming call screen from Windows Phone. We have also included useful new features such as call waiting, so switching between a Skype call and a regular mobile call is fast and easy.