Skype removes new iPad app, blames premature launch

Hours after launching its much-anticipated video chat application optimized for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad tablet, Internet telephony services provider Skype removed the client from the App Store.

Skype pulled its iPad app from the App Store citing a premature launch.

"To ensure your best Skype experience, we've temporarily removed Skype for iPad which went live prematurely today," Skype explained on its official Twitter feed, adding "We know you've been eagerly awaiting Skype for iPad and apologize for the inconvenience."

Skype for iPad was expected to go live more than a month ago--in late June, a promotional video spotlighting the app briefly appeared on the company's YouTube channel. In addition to video chat capabilities, Skype for iPad supports standard phone dialing and integrated text-chat. Unlike Apple's own FaceTime video chat service, which is presently limited to Wi-Fi, Skype for iPad also supports 3G networks.

Skype touts 170 million connected users and served 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) agreed to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash in May, promising increased accessibility of real-time video and voice communications across platforms including Windows Phone, Xbox and Kinect. A month later, the proposed deal earned Federal Trade Commission approval.

For more:
- read this CNet article

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