mocoNews - Skype Updates Mobile Apps; Users Scoff At Lack Of New iPhone Features

This week Skype released two updates, one for Windows Mobile and another for the iPhone. With the new Windows version, the application comes out of beta and includes two new features: SMS and file transfer. But it was Skype’s iPhone app that got all the attention on the company’s blog today for not adding push notifications, which would allow users to know when they are receiving an SMS or call when not in the application.

The omission was not overlooked by consumers, who were quick to show their frustration. “Caught the news about the new release, my first thought? ‘Yay, push notifications for Skype!’ How could you guys not have anticipated that people would want and expect this feature more than anything else?,” one customer wrote. Another said: “Where are the Push Notifications? 3.0 is here. I’m frustrated that you guys aren’t ready for it.” A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on future plans because eBay (NSDQ: EBAY), which owns Skype, is currently in its quiet period.

In April, when Skype launched the iPhone app, it became the No. 1 most downloaded application and instantly garnered criticism from the carriers. They worried that the service would eat into their already declining voice revenues. In the U.S., AT&T (NYSE: T) restricted its use over Wi-Fi while in Germany, the gadget?s exclusive carrier partner banned it out right.

Instead of push notifications, the new version will support more than a dozen new languages, voicemail and SMS. It’s possible Skype didn’t have the time to thoroughly test push and wanted to get the applications into more hands before rolling it out. But there’s also a small chance that Skype may be trying to play nice with the carriers. A partnership may be uncharacteristic of Skype, but would be crucial it wanted to move beyond offering services over Wi-Fi (or not at all in some countries). Since debuting at No. 1, the app has fallen to the 39th most popular download on the App Store.

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