Skype: New iPad App Being Adopted Faster Than iPhone App

Skype’s iPad application has only been out for about a week but the Internet communications provider says the app is enjoying greater popularity than its iPhone app did. “We’re seeing faster adoption with the iPad,” confirmed Neil Stevens, Skype’s vice president and general manager of products and marketing, in an interview. “It’s an even bigger success than the iPhone app.”

Marketing-speak aside, beating its iPhone benchmark is impressive given that Skype’s iPhone app is currently in use on one in five iPhones. Stevens says the video-enabled version of Skype’s iPhone app has been downloaded more than 50 million times since its late December 2010 release.

Skype’s iPad app, which was officially launched on August 2, is moving even more swiftly so far. It is currently the most-downloaded iPad app in Apple’s App Store in the U.S. and, according to Stevens, a number of European countries.

Stevens attributes the app’s popularity in part to pent-up demand for a “great video app from Skype” for tablets. Indeed, the world had been awaiting the release of Skype’s iPad app since the iPad 2, which has a front-facing camera, went on sale in March. In late June, after a video demo of its iPad app was leaked online, Skype was forced to confirm the app’s existence. The wait was long enough that many people considered the app late and delayed when it was finally introduced.

Another possible reason for the iPad app's high demand: video calls are nicer on tablets than phones due to the tablets' larger screens and faster, more capable processors.

The smooth ascent of Skype's iPad app contrasts with its launch which was somewhat chaotic. The app went live in the App Store on August 1, was quickly pulled and then re-appeared the following day. Stevens says the mix-up was unintentional. “It was a communication and timing thing,” he said. “The app was released before we realized and we had some things we wanted to get right.” After making what Stevens characterizes as “one quick change,” Skype made the app publicly available again.

That quick turnaround is indicative of Skype’s new focus on shipping products as fast as possible. The company used to require up to 18 months to finish products, says Stevens. New software clients which took six to 12 months to develop are now finished in 90 days, he says. Skype would like to compress that period even further, to about 60 days for its Windows, Mac and iPhone software. “I think we’ve shipped more in the last six months than in the previous two years, and across a lot more platforms,” says Stevens.

Next, Skype plans to update the app used on Android tablets. Last week, it announced a 2.1 version of its Android app which is compatible with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and HTC’s Flyer tablet along with a number of Android smartphones. A more refined, 3.0 version of that Android app will come next, says Stevens.

There is also a webOS version of Skype on HP’s TouchPad tablet that HP built with Skype’s developer tools. Stevens says other tablet makers have approached Skype but future tablet integrations may have to wait. “We don’t want to rush too quickly to build too many versions of Skype for tablets,” he says. “We want to make sure the experience is right before we throw a lot of investment at tablets.”

Skype’s iPad app is representative of one other change at Skype: the desire to simplify its user experience. Though some reviewers have critiqued the app for being overly basic, Stevens notes that the majority of users have rated the app five out of five stars on the App Store. Future Skype releases will take a similarly streamlined approach. “This is the direction we want to take all our [software] clients,” says Stevens.

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Apple's iPad being used in new high-tech homes

 in the Overlook in Lone Tree is equipped with two built- in iPads that can control all of the electronic systems. (Heritagehillscolorado.com )

Apple's iPad revived the long-struggling tablet-computer market.

Now it's invading the custom-home industry.

A model home in the Overlook neighborhood in Lone Tree's Heritage Hills is equipped with two built- in iPads that can control all of the electronic systems in the home, including lights, motorized shades, music and television systems, baby monitors and closed-circuit cameras.

The iPads, featuring 10-inch screens, are designed to remain docked in the wall but can be removed.

The dual iPad control system costs roughly $5,000, said Travis Deatherage, a partner with Denver-based Solstice Multimedia, the company that built the system. Audio, video, security and other equipment takes the overall cost to about $60,000.

"The iPad has brought the entry-level price point down significantly, because an 8-inch in-wall touch screen before cost upwards of $3,000 or more," Deatherage said. "Now we can get a $500 iPad and still provide most of the functionality that an in-wall touch panel can give."

The brain of the system is built into the home's mechanical room and communicates with the iPads via Wi-Fi.

The system can be controlled by a third, mobile iPad or via an iPhone or iPod Touch using an application designed for the devices' smaller screens.

"It can run everything in your house, including your thermostat and your swimming pool," said Dan Verdoorn, co-owner of Celebrity Custom Homes, the home's builder. "It's a totally integrated and flexible system."

The base price on the 3,400-square- foot model home featuring the built- in iPad technology is $718,000.

Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209, avuong@denverpost.com or twitter.com/andyvuong

 

iPad 2s Are Being Held Back at Best Buy for a Promotion

Best Buy is acknowledging reports that its employees are holding back inventories of Apple's fast-selling iPad 2. But the electronics retail chain said it was doing so for an upcoming promotion, and insists its relationship with Apple is fine.

A series of published reports citing Best Buy employees said Apple was upset that customers were being turned away from the stores that are famous for their oversized yellow price-tag signs.

The Richfield, Minn.-based chain has about 1,150 stores and has managed to weather the recession, unlike competitors like Circuit City, which closed its stores, in 2009 but still sells online.

CrunchGear said employees at some Best Buys were keeping sales quotas and telling customers the iPad 2, which went on sale last month, was sold out when those quotas were reached. As a result, the report said, Apple is holding off on shipping more of the devices to Best Buy.

Best Buy didn't respond to our requests for comment by phone and e-mail as of publication on Friday, and Apple didn't respond to e-mails seeking comment.

'Great Partnership'

But BoyGenius Report on Friday published a statement from the retail chain saying, "Best Buy continues to receive iPad 2 inventory from Apple on a regular basis. As we've said previously, we are fulfilling customer reservations first. Our stores have been asked to temporarily hold non-reserved iPad 2 inventory for an upcoming promotion ... Best Buy enjoys a great partnership with Apple and we're delighted by customer response to iPad 2."

The blog said it independently confirmed that employees at two outlets were told to sell no iPads other than pre-orders, and it published what it said was an internal communication about the hold saying, "Can't tell customers we're holding them, either."

Last month it was reported that Apple told employees at its own retail stores to hold arriving inventory for sale the following day in an effort to better control supply and prevent hoarding by resellers.

Going Fast

Early reports suggest the iPad 2 may be a bigger hit than its predecessor. Taiwan-based manufacturing journal DigiTimes estimates 2.6 million of the tablets were sold in March. Apple sold about one million original iPads in the first month, beginning last April.

Retailers like Best Buy are an important component of the sales channel, said Susan Kevorkian, who tracks the mobile connected-devices market for IDC Research.

"Apple also needs to have a broad-based distribution strategy," Kevorkian said. "Traditional retail accounts for somewhat over half of units shipped into the channel. So although Apple's own stores and online stores are important components, especially because they are a beautiful showcase for the products, retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart are expected to be more important this year."

Best Buy's statement offered no details about its upcoming promotion. Apple sets limits on the price point for its products, but some stores offer incentives such as in-store gift cards or free accessories.

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