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Skype Functionality Lands On Vita Today

It's time for the PlayStation Vita to receive another upgrade.

Today, it has been announced that the Skype Video and Voice calling app will be officially available on Sony's new portable later today. This marks the first time ever that the Skype service has landed on a mobile gaming device.

The app will be available on both the Wi-Fi-only and 3G models and includes free Skype-to-Skype voice calling, along with "high-quality video calling that utilizes the PS Vita's front and rear cameras." The app will run in "background mode," too, which lets users pause a game, conduct a call, and then go back to playing. You know, I just have to say it- Back in the day, the whole idea of talking to someone far away while actually seeing them was all sorts of futuristic. Now, that technology is on our handheld gaming unit...? Geez, things are moving fast.

Anyway, if you're a proud Vita owner, don't forget to grab Skype functionality today; you can get it on the PlayStation Store. If you like, feel free to check out an introductory video by legendary gamer Fatal1ty over at the Skype website.

Tags: vita, playstation vita, skype, vita skype

4/24/2012 9:21:42 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (17 posts)

Qubex
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 9:28:07 AM
Reply

I must say, that is a nice feature to have on the Vita now!

Admittedly though, over the years I have felt Skype has become bloated. The Android version is not particularly good. It seems to be resource heavy and sluggish. It may behave better on iOS devices...

Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how it performs on the Vita.

Anyone who installs it please report back on its performance, especially the face time on it when making video calls...

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 4/24/2012 9:28:50 AM

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Beamboom
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 9:59:11 AM

I agree, Skype has become bloatware.
"Viber" is the thing in IP phoning on mobiles nowadays.

It's on both iOs and Android. It's got amazingly good audio, neatly integrated with your contact list so that you see who of your contacts who also use Viber, and can then use Viber to call each other instead (ergo free calls), send messages, pictures, and so forth.

It really is a very good solution, free, and much better than the Skype service.

Last edited by Beamboom on 4/24/2012 10:01:15 AM

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Qubex
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 11:42:56 AM

Thanks Beamboom... I will check "Viber" out... "Whatsapp" is also quite good apparently!

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

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Beamboom
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 9:53:24 AM
Reply

"This marks the first time ever that the Skype service has landed on a mobile gaming device" - wtf? Skype was on the PSP too?

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Doppel
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 10:05:24 AM

Yeah, I thought of that too. I use Skype on my PSP to avoid clearing my PC's running programs just to answer a call.

Also, no Text Chat?

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Highlander
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 10:44:47 AM

PSP lacked 3G, it was a portable gaming device, not a mobile one.

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Beamboom
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 10:53:01 AM

Oh dzeeezus what nitpicking. And smart phones and tablets are not gaming devices cause they can be used for other stuff too? And a mobile phone without 3G were just a portable phone then? lol

God how I hate marketing babble.

Last edited by Beamboom on 4/24/2012 10:57:40 AM

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Beamboom
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 11:22:43 AM

... Or how about Nokia N-Gage or SE Play then? They are most definitely "mobile" gaming devices too, and you get Skype for both so this marketing claim is wrong unless they say "the first time ever Skype has landed on a 3G Sony mobile gaming device except Sony Ericsson Play". But really, to differentiate between "mobile" and "portable" is laughable, if that really is the reasoning behind this marketing speech.

Last edited by Beamboom on 4/24/2012 11:23:18 AM

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Highlander
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 12:37:14 PM

Wasn't NGage a phone as well?

Hey, I don't disagree with you, I was just pointing out that in marketing terms, PSP lacked 3G and therefore was portable, not mobile. Tablets and smartphones are multi-function devices who's primary purpose is not gaming. Nit picking though it may be, it's more or less true.

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Beamboom
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 2:02:31 PM

Yes there was a phone implemented in the N-Gage, but still, it was most definitely a gaming device first and foremost. That Vita doesn't have phone capabilities doesn't make it more of a gaming device, just less of a phone.

I just hate pompous marketing speech! Especially when they try to make a big deal out of *nothing*. And this is really nothing.

I mean, great, they add other apps than pure gaming apps to their device, it's all cool. All Vita owners, rejoice!
But this really is not a "first" of anything. Had it at least been the first time a SONY portable gaming device featured a Skype client. But it's not even that!

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DjEezzy
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 10:05:14 AM
Reply

sweet. i'll be picking this up later today. And so the cool stuff starts to flow in... Can't wait to see whats in store for the vita in the future!!!

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CrusaderForever
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 11:06:06 AM
Reply

Definitely a good sign. Sony needs to speed things up here. My guess is that Sony is spooked about the security on the Vita. If it wasn't for those backdoor ways to access the Vita via Arctic Edge we'd see a ton of compatibility perks like ps1/more psp. Hopefully they get all that ironed out and the Vita literally explodes with content.

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Kiryu
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 1:08:02 PM
Reply

oh my god video chat and camera choosing.awesome!

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daus26
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 2:56:22 PM
Reply

If Sony wants to appeal to more consumers with the Vita, this is stepping in the right direction, although minor. The Vita's gonna need a lot more mobile features (including gaming-related ones), not just games, if it wants maximum success. It's too bad there's no Android market on this thing!

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Bloodysilence19
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 5:24:29 PM
Reply

Finally Skype comes to Vita, to bad they didn't add IM feat cause it would having Skype on Vita even better. Now all Vita needs is update towards the internet browser and add youtube app or full support of html 5.

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___________
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 5:01:50 AM
Reply

meh.
call me when they add features customers actually want like ps1 support!

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Neo_Aeon666
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 10:32:31 AM

Yeah I really hope they make all their marketing Vita selling points come true faster than that. I still can't play my PS3 games remotely Sony T-T They put such a big emphasis on that and they don't even support it yet.

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