Skype v1.0 arrives for Windows Phone

Following the recent availability of the Skype for Windows Phone Beta app announced at Mobile World Congress, Skype has released an official version of the app to the Windows Phone Marketplace. Users can download the app directly from their Windows Phone device.

With Skype for Windows Phone, users can join the thriving community of 200 million people using Skype every month across almost any screen: smartphones and tablets (running Android, iOS, Symbian), computers and laptops (Mac, Windows) and connected TVs.

Check out the video below to see how the app works:

Available for use on 4G, 3G and Wi-Fi networks, Skype for Windows Phone helps users connect with friends and family instantly with free voice and video calls (chargeable data connection) everywhere they go. They can also make affordable calls to landlines and mobiles using Skype Credit, create and hold one-to-one and group chats (even while in the middle of a call), and update their profile and account information, among other features.

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Since releasing the initial beta app in February, the company has received very positive and helpful feedback that has allowed them to improve the app. Additionally, they have added some new features including video calling in portrait mode and friend management capabilities including invite, accept invitations, block, and unblock contacts.

Skype for Windows Phone is also now available in 18 languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, and Traditional Chinese. You can download Skype for Windows Phone free of charge (based on your download charges) directly from your Windows Phone. You will need to have a smartphone running Windows Phone 7.5 (“Mango”) or above. You can check what version of Windows Phone your phone is running from Settings > About.

The company has also tested and certified the following Windows Phone to help ensure the best performance:

• Nokia Lumia 710
• Nokia Lumia 800
• Nokia Lumia 900
• HTC Titan
• HTC Radar
• Samsung Focus S 
• Samsung Focus Flash

According to their official blog, this is the first of many releases to come for Windows Phone and they will continue to invest over time to enable experiences unmatched by any other app in the market. The Skype app can be downloaded from this link.