Skype Now Available for Android (With a Couple Asterisks)

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Popular VoIP service, Skype, is now available for Android handsets. The app allows you to call and instant message other Skype users for free, and there are low-cost monthly plans for calling out to regular phone numbers and receiving calls to your own Skype-provided telephone number.

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The app is free and works with handsets sporting Android version 2.1 and higher. While most international markets will be able to make and receive Skype calls over both Wi-Fi and 3G networks, the US version can only handle calls when connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Skype’s blog post also indicates that the app is having trouble on Samsung’s recently released line of Galaxy S Android phones, saying, "We’re aware of some problems with the Samsung Galaxy S, and we’re looking to address these in the future."

Also noticeably missing from the app is Skype’s video calling feature. The desktop version of the software handles video conferencing quite nicely, so hopefully it’ll eventually make its way into the mobile app as well. Until then, a similar app called Fring facilitates video calls between Android devices.

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