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Skype has finally brought its full-fat VoIP goodness to Android. The popular service has officially launched an app for phones running Android 2.1 and higher, including the HTC Desire — but it doesn’t work on the Samsung Galaxy S.
Skype details appear in your contacts book so you can see whether your friends are available and call them right from your address book. Calls can be made for free to other Skype users on their phones or computers via Wi-Fi or 3G, although 3G calls will eat into your mobile data. US users can only use Wi-Fi. Skype instant messaging is also included.
Android’s multitasking abilities mean you’ll be able to keep Skype running all the time, unlike the iOS 4 version of the app for the iPhone. The iPhone does offer video calling with Apple’s own FaceTime feature, which the Android Skype app doesn’t include.
Skype is free, but you’ll need an account to use it. You can call normal numbers if you’ve bought some Skype credit. Head over to the Android Market and fire up the app today on your HTC Legend, Google Nexus One, Motorola Milestone or Milestone XT720, or other Android 2.1 and 2.2 phones.
Not all handsets are supported, however: the screen on the HTC Wildfire is too small, and Skype is “aware of some problems with the Samsung Galaxy S”. We found you can install the app on the Galaxy S, but not log in or actually use it. Let us know in the comments how you get on.
Other VoIP apps for Android phones include Truphone and our favourite, Vopium. Click right here for our best Android apps.
