Lies, damn lies and Skype – Skype Beta for Android pulled too

Skype has recently claimed they have withdrawn their Windows Mobile software as they “want to offer our new customers an improved mobile experience”.  In our comment they claimed: “It’s been very difficult for us to make the experience consistent across a wide range of Windows devices.”

The news that Skype Beta has also disappeared from the Android Market makes the above excuses ring pretty hollow, and the news that Skype intends to continue delivering their software on Windows Mobile and other platforms if they have deals with carriers such as on China Unicom and Verizon reveals the truth rather clearly.

It appears Skype has given up on trying to be an end-run around the carriers, and will now focus on making individual deals to drive the uptake of carrier data plans by end users. These users will find Skype customized and locked to their handsets, only working when they have an expensive data plan.  Users on carriers without these deals will find themselves denied the ability to use Skype on their phones, data plan or not.

In effect Skype has sold out their user base to the highest bidder, and has not even had the shame to be honest about it.

Funny how greed and lies often go together.