Remember when Skype for Windows Phone launched and we told you that the Lumia 610 wouldn’t be able to run it properly because it has just 256 MB of RAM? Hours after we said that, Nokia issued a statement that said we were wrong and that Skype has no problems running on “low-end” Windows Phones. Well guess what, Skype is no longer available for Lumia 610 owners in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Why? Here’s the official statement from Nokia Hong Kong:
“Nokia attaches great importance to the launch of products and services to bring the user experience, so even if the Skype Windows Phone version on the Nokia Lumia 610 does, but after intensive testing, we found the user experience does not guarantee to Nokia and Skype the expected level. Therefore, we do not recommend users to use Skype on the Nokia Lumia 610. Nokia Lumia 610 users in the Windows Phone Marketplace “will not be able to download Skype, Windows Phone version. Skype, Windows Phone version will continue to open to other users to download.”
Even if Skype did run well on the Lumia 610, it would be useless. Why? Because Windows Phone doesn’t support real multitasking, so the second you leave the Skype application … you’re basically signed out.
When will Microsoft release a version of Skype for Windows Phone that actually works? Rumor has it that Apollo, the next version of Windows Phone, due to be released in October, will have Skype built-in. How much will that piss off the operators? We don’t know yet, but we’ll find out soon enough.
Back to the Lumia 610, does this mean you shouldn’t buy it? Not at all. For 200 Euros it’s a fantastic device for first time smartphone owners. Imagine giving your mother a Samsung Galaxy Ace II, do you think she’ll have any idea how to use it? Nope. Give her a Windows Phone though, and it’s a totally different story.
[Via: The Verge]