If you found Skype shutting down on Windows Mobile disheartening, Dan Near, Skype’s VP of Asia Pacific, has recently stated that they’re “not developing software for the new Windows Mobile software due later this year”, which could deal a lethal blow to mobile voice over IP on Microsoft’s new Windows Phone platform. It should be noted that Skype has since backpedalled on the statement, saying that they “explore rigorously” new platforms and that nothing is yet set in stone. Even if it’s untrue that they aren’t working on something for Windows Phone, the lack of commitment goes to show developer confidence in the burgeoning platform.
In the past, the carrier tended to provide a substantial hurdle for mobile VoIP since it takes a bite out of their revenue, but Verizon and AT&T have already shown that they’re willing to play nice with Skype. The carriers are on board, so it’s just a matter of platform developers wooing the killer apps; if Skype has had a chance to play with the tools and quietly decided they’d like to spend their time elsewhere, maybe there’s something about Windows Phone that’s turning off developers. Is it worries about getting paid, or that device adoption will not be sufficient enough to generate app revenue? If anyone has had a chance to cook up a Windows Phone 7 app or two, we’d love to hear impressions in the comments.
[via TechRadar]
UPDATE: As it turns out, Windows Phone 7 is actually on the roadmap – it’s just Windows Mobile that’s dead.