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Photos: Inside Skype for iPhone

The free Skype for iPhone is here, and it's sporting some iPhone-only duds. Check out our screenshots of the popular VoIP applicaiton, Apple-style.

Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Jessica Dolcourt
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Welcome screen

Months after sharing its intentions to launch an iPhone-only version of Skype, Skype for iPhone is officially here--almost. The free, native VoIP client for iPhones and iPod Touches will be available in Apple's iTunes store sometime on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Signing in

Skype's sign-in screen looks similar to its desktop client and other mobile versions, but many of the similarities stop here.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Contacts

From this point on, the interface comes in one flavor: Apple. Skype's engineers opted for a theme consistent with Apple's now-signature look. In the Contacts screen, you can filter friends alphabetically or by seeing who's currently online.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Contact details

Skype for iPhone lets you drill down into a buddy's profile to read their status and initiate a call or chat. It also helpfully clues you in to their local time zone so you don't embarrassingly call them at 6:00 a.m. thinking it's actually 8:00 a.m.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Chats

The chatting screen also features filtering capabilities so you can view a history of chats or just focus on the new conversations coming in. A red notification badge alerts you to incoming chats when you're busy checking other screens.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Conversations

The conversation window is nothing short of intuitive, with the iPhone's keyboard predictably sliding up when you begin typing a message. Skype for iPhone also supports emoticons.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Incoming calls

When a buddy calls, their avatar image takes up the screen throughout the duration of the talk. Skype for iPhone will not currently accept more than one incoming call.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Call controls

Tapping the screen once during a call pulls up four options--mute the outbound audio on your end, engage speakerphone, pull up the dial pad, or put the call on hold--something you may do for a moment while checking in with another pal on a different screen.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Conference calling

While you won't be able to create a new group from Skype for iPhone or initiate a conference call, you will be able to accept conference calls with your buddies. We hope Skype lets you begin conference calls in the next version.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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History

Like all the mobile and desktop versions, Skype for iPhone displays your call and chat history for review.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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My Info

The My Info screen is Skype for iPhone's management hub, where you'll be able to set your status, change your avatar, edit your profile, and follow shortcut links that let you purchase Skype Out credit and access your Skype voic e-mail in Safari. Of course, the Sarafi links are better than nothing, but we'd like to see native support for Skype Credit and voice mail within the application.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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Avatar

One of the best features in Skype for iPhone triggers the iPhone's camera, so you can replace your avatar image with a new picture. Of course, iPod Touch owners won't be able to take a snapshot, since those devices lack built-in cameras.

Hands-on review: Skype for iPhone: It's official

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