14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced the official debut of Skype 5.0 for iPhone, the latest version of the company’s IM and video chatting client app for Apple customers. This is the biggest update ever released for the Skype mobile app.
After pulling Skype from the App Store, Microsoft today returned with the updated binary featuring overall performance improvements, faster start up and fluid animations, a new hub-centric design that puts recent conversations frontmost, the ability to just swipe to see your favorite people, and more.
“We’re excited for you to see how the new app has been redesigned to put your conversations first, providing you with a smoother, leaner and more integrated experience. Skype for iPhone is up to five times faster and it is also more stable and more reliable,” says Microsoft.
Skype 5.0 offers richer and more reliable messaging with the ability to create groups, share photos (even to offline contacts) and video messages, while in-app notifications enable quick conversation switching. Users also get to manage notifications with in-app controls.
“Navigating through the new UI is easier and more fluid. Whether it’s creating a group chat, sending a photo or starting a video call, the new Skype for iPhone has been rethought to be simple and intuitive,” adds Microsoft.
The update further offers simplified voice and video calling tools, and the client supports English, Bokmål, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, and Traditional Chinese.
Users can immediately download Skype 5.0 for iPhone from the iTunes App Store on any model that supports iOS 7. That includes iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c.
“Skype 5.0 for iPhone is just the beginning of a new Skype experience on iPhone. [...] We’re hard at work on a new version for iPad users, too,” the creators say.
To download Skype on iOS 6, version 4.17 is still available in the App Store, as per Apple’s strict guidelines making sure no one is left out in the cold.
In addition to free calls and messaging, Skype offers the ability to make low-cost calls to mobiles and landlines with Skype credit.
A recent addition, video messaging is also possible now, allowing you to “record life’s everyday moments and share them with the people who matter most, with free and unlimited video messaging over Skype,” according to the app’s description.
The App Store is also home to Skype WiFi and GroupMe, two apps that go hand in hand with Skype’s offerings.