Skype withdraws support for Windows Mobile

Skype has withdrawn its Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Mobile, blaming "issues" with the system for its decision.

The firm has not made an official announcement, but a forum discussion posted on the Wmpoweruser site has drawn a comment from Skype employee Peter Parkes.

The comment points to a new Skype FAQ on Windows Mobile which reads: "Unfortunately, Skype Lite, a version of Skype for your mobile phone, and Skype for Windows Mobile are no longer available for download from our site.

"We have chosen to withdraw Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Mobile because we want to offer our new customers an improved mobile experience, much like the version that has proved so popular on the iPhone, and which is now available on Symbian phones.

"Our focus is on providing a rich user experience that allows you to enjoy free Skype-to-Skype and low cost calls as easily on the move as you do at your desktop. We felt that Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Mobile were not offering the best possible Skype experience."

It has now been suggested that Skype is favouring Apple's iPhone, or Google's Android.

"It's been very difficult for us to make the experience consistent across a wide range of Windows devices," said Parkes.

"However, we have a partnership in place with China Unicom to deliver a new beta version to their WM handsets, where we can work with mobile operators and deliver a Skype experience on the current WM platform which lives up to expectations."

This has since been expanded in the official Skype blog, also by Parkes. "This isn't a decision we've taken lightly, but the reason is simple. Neither of these apps offered a great Skype experience," he wrote.

Parkes recommends that instead users try Skype on Symbian.