14 DAY TRIAL // Undoubtedly, Skype was one of the most anticipated applications for the Windows Phone devices, with all of its VoIP and video calling capabilities.
Today, the application is available for download in beta, but it is expected to become available in gold sometime in April.
Those who would like to test drive Skype for Windows Phone can now head over to the Windows Phone Marketplace (Zune link), or to this page on Softpedia to download the beta release.
“Skype for Windows Phone Beta supports the most important Skype features you've come to know and love,” Skype’s Rick Osterloh notes in a blog post.
“And you will be especially thrilled by the clean and simple Skype experience that the Metro user interface delivers on your Windows Phone. It has never before been so easy to connect with the people you care about most.”
The Skype for Windows Phone Beta provides users with the possibility to make free audio and video calls to any Skype contact over 3G and 4G or WiFi.
The app also offers users the possibility to “make affordable calls to landlines and mobiles using Skype Credit, create and hold one-to-one and group chats, and update your profile and account information, among others features.”
Skype recommends the use of WiFi connections to ensure that the quality of the call is high. Skype-to-Skype calling on Windows Phone is compatible with Skype for Windows 4.2 and above, Skype for Mac OS X 2.8 and above, Skype for Linux, Skype for iOS 3.0 and above, Skype for Android 2.0 and above, and Skype running on TVs.
According to Microsoft, Skype for Windows Phone will soon get a taste of other enhancements as well. “We see incredible potential to include Skype capabilities in Windows Phone in order to enable a great experience for you,” the said blog post explains.
The application is compatible with all smartphones running Windows Phone 7.5. Microsoft notes that it can deliver great performance capabilities on Nokia Lumia 710, Nokia Lumia 800, HTC Titan, HTC Radar, Samsung Focus S and Samsung Focus Flash.
