Skype is happy to announce that the Skype Video and Voice calling app for PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) will be available for free from the “Media & AppsSocial” category of the PlayStation Store from 25 April.
From then, you can enjoy Skype calls on PS Vita. Now you can keep in touch with gamers around the globe while you’re on-the-go as Skype video calling is available for both the 3G and Wi-Fi models.
The Skype app includes free Skype-to-Skype voice calling, as well as high quality video calling that utilizes PS Vita’s front and rear cameras. The Skype app for PS Vita also features a “background mode,” which allows you to run Skype while you are playing a game or using other apps, so you never miss a call.* Plus, with a little Skype credit you can make low-cost calls to landlines and mobile directly from your PS Vita.
Additionally, PS Vita is equipped with a 5″ OLED touchscreen, dual analog sticks, precise rear multi-touch screen, two cameras and a built-in microphone that can be used with any Skype-certified headset.
Want to learn more? Check out what our friend, fellow game enthusiast, Fatal1ty thinks about the new Skype app.
Please visit eu.playstation.com for more information on Skype features for PlayStation Vita. For feedback or questions please visit Skype Support. Happy Gaming!
*Certain games will shut off network connectivity during use, which will stop incoming Skype calls. Voice and video calls will require a Wi-Fi connection in some countries.
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54 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:07 pm by JIM-N-A
Awesome news,I take it this will still work on games like uncharted that turn off network features?Doubt it but il chuck it out there.
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:52 pm by James Gallagher
Uncharted Golden Abyss is one of the games that disables network features so you will not be able to run Skype in the background in this instance, I’m afraid.
2
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:10 pm by gofreak-eu
If your vita is on standby, will it listen for calls?
3
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:13 pm by Arion87
Any chance of Skype coming to PS3?
4
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:14 pm by thefont
Awesome news, great job!!
5
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:20 pm by chrisandsheva
This is a good bit of news, also considering it’s only 2 months into it’s launch date i am now feeling more hopefull for further apps.. esp netflix seeing as US allready have it, in theory we shouldn’t have to wait much longer.
But about skype, i haven’t used it b4 but will certainly take advantage of it now, Unless i need to buy some kind of skype headset, as i was a tad concerned with the posts ‘small’ mention of that detail.. So it Will still work Without the headset ?… only ask as i’d of got the camera for my (smart) tv.. But really expensive.. ie bout £100… Why not be able to use normal webcam i no clue..
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:53 pm by James Gallagher
There’s no need to buy a separated headset to use Skype on PS Vita – it uses the built-in cameras and microphone. Enjoy!
6
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:23 pm by ABTR
Awesome Skype is always a good app and very useful and the best think is, with Vita you can have it active when play games, something the ps3 can’t do it
!
7
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:26 pm by adumr82
Good new feature, now not to sound ungrateful but how about netflix? I want the vita to rival android and iPhone for apps as I’m sure everyone does.
8
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:28 pm by jonny_hart_digit
I have UK vita and have netflix.
9
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:35 pm by alx242
Will I be able to send SMS? http://www.skype.com/intl/en/features/allfeatures/sms/
Will I be able to receive calls when then phone is in sleep mode?
Basically, can the skype app be enough to replace my regular mobile phone?
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 9:28 am by James Gallagher
The PS Vita app. doesn’t support SMS but it will work and alert you of incoming calls while the PS Vita is in sleep mode, providing you still have the app. running in the background.
10
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:37 pm by Omikaru
Shame we won’t be able to chat WHILST playing a game. We’ll have to pause the game and load up Skype, then when we’ve finished chatting return to the game.
What would be cool is if it worked just like Party Chat, and used all the same hooks. Then I could chat to everyone on every platform that uses Skype without having to pause my games.
As it is, I probably won’t leave it active on account of Skype calls being a nuisance when I’m trying to play.
11
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:37 pm by killah_fury
I’d like to see Skype come to PS3 too!
12
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:39 pm by Andrefpvs
Thank you, I was waiting for this!
Please answer some of the questions the members above have posted. Thanks!
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:54 pm by James Gallagher
I’ll try and answer as many as I can, I’m just waiting for someone to get back to me with some of the answers.
13
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:39 pm by Kajax
Skype for PS3 please
14
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:40 pm by GothPunk
Any idea if the app will support the text chat features of Skype? My Android phone supports text chat so I had hoped the Vita version would too. Very cool that it supports the front and rear cameras of the Vita ^^.
15
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:51 pm by MWorldII
It will available since the Store will update ?
16
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:52 pm by Montpelier
Without wanting to come across as Internet Angry, what exactly is going on here?
Can anyone explain why a way over the hill, PC-centric ‘FPS gaming celebrity’ is endorsing Skype for a platform that doesn’t have a single competitive multiplayer shooter released for it, in a video that has a glaring spelling error in the first five seconds.
Get it together please. This kind of aimless pandering is the kind of thing that cost Sony their premium brand image over the last few years, and if the Vita tanks it’ll have nothing to do with a brilliantly designed console and everything to do with embarrassing nonsense like this.
17
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 2:55 pm by SHAFTRULES
great news!any idea when the netflix app will be coming to the uk.& any news on a youtube app?
18
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:06 pm by mattledger
Video calling and background operation on day one, very impressed! Good work.
19
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:10 pm by Codey47
“Can anyone explain why a way over the hill, PC-centric ‘FPS gaming celebrity’ is endorsing Skype”
Pretty much what I thought
http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/PS-Vita-General-Discussion/Skype-coming-to-the-PlayStation-Vita-Wednesday-25th-April/m-p/15856421#M23920
20
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:22 pm by Artemisthemp
Now I just wait for Google+ app
21
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:30 pm by Carl-G
I deleted Skype on my Computer when Micro$oft bought Skype
(i know my hate for M$ is very strong) 
22
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:40 pm by mrsbunty
great news but will we ever get atobe flash?
23
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:56 pm by ninja_tom
FINALLY!!! My PSP phone dreams have come true, the fact it runs in the background is even better!
24
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 3:59 pm by ninja_tom
(Having read the comments fully now, letting it wake the Vita out of sleep would be great too
)
25
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 4:04 pm by mikkelito
would pref to be able to play ps one games on my vita like i could on my psp…
26
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 4:26 pm by European_Gamer
In which countries will you require a Wi-Fi connection?
27
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 4:56 pm by Hans_92
Is it possible to call over 3G network but not WiFi only?
28
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 5:25 pm by VitalogyPJ
This is the second add sony makes with this guy no wonder he got a new place -_- instead of spend thousands on ads like these, this guy being a pro game surely isn’t a low cost guy for ads, why not spend it improving the Vita and the PS3? I’m referring to firmware. I think it’s not asking too much.
29
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 6:12 pm by stefanv27
How about Skype on PS3 ? Any change to get it there ?
30
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 6:31 pm by matthewkh
Great news. Looking forward to chatting so some friends who live abroad.
+ 1 for Skype on PS3 too.
Why has this never appeared?!
Seems an obvious thing to do to me.
While you are at it, open up the chat system to be compatible with other popular chat programs.
MSN AOL Skype ICQ Facebook chat Google+ hangouts etc. Make the PS Vita and PS3 a really universal communication device.
I cant see what the problem is, apart from corporate politics.
31
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 6:47 pm by Titchy_Penguin
Give us an option to play games like uncharted while chatting!
32
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 8:25 pm by Karoa_a17
I thought it was out today, because it says its already out on the skype website but at least its not sometime like next week!
33
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 8:54 pm by JOHNY--BRAVO
so let me get this right the ps vita is getting skype so you can stay connected to your friends and communicate but it doesn’t work while playing some games because the games disable your network features, is this a major flaw that management didn’t take into consideration when developing the ps vita and its online features?your expected to not play games and leave the device on just incase you recieve a call or determine a pre defined time to communicate with each other in advance?
34
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 9:05 pm by Wraith_Bringer
Hi James,
Let me understand this, so we’re getting Skype when you have a party system to perform cross game chat and stuff.
Plus isn’t Skype now a Microsoft owned property?
Please get back to me as I’m really confused.
Daniel.
35
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 9:38 pm by Bumblebee
Why are people MOANING about not being able to Skype while gaming?
Why the hell would you want to be distracted chatting to some [DELETED] while you’re playing Uncharted? Surely this will detract from the enjoyment of the game, and/or you won’t be properly listening to whoever it is you’re chatting to?
Focus on ONE THING AT A TIME, people. You’ll enjoy both more then. And perhaps you won’t crash your bicycle.
36
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 10:04 pm by Skydancerx
@34: Yes Vita has a Party System but without Video.
@James: Finally its there! 2 Months after release….
Now a PS3 Version please!
Don´t forget PSOne Compatibility!
37
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 10:13 pm by jam1138
I want Sony to fix the existing problems before adding more
38
Posted on 24 April, 2012 at 10:16 pm by jam1138
Sony fix what you have first
39
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 8:41 am by GaykMosaic
Was it a joke?
There’s no Skype in Russian store yet…
40
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 11:26 am by DanteDMCLady
SKYPE is still not available in store Netherlands?
It’s very confusing… all websites: “SKYPE is available”
…it is misleading yes? ….and HTML5 support plz
41
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 11:34 am by kutay_gnal
Same here, Turkey…
42
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 12:48 pm by Gooders_Go
skype will be released later this afternoon.
43
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 1:34 pm by PUDZIAN123
no skype in uk!!!!!
44
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 1:35 pm by PUDZIAN123
no skype in uk
45
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 3:39 pm by KnightTemplar_D
Will later versions of Skype support text chat?
46
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 3:48 pm by Optimistic2099
What about Germany?
47
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 4:20 pm by DanteDMCLady
I just got SKYPE on my PSVITA…. looking nice, works fine… BUT
….where’s the chat-function? seriously add chat fast !?
48
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 4:24 pm by DanteDMCLady
PLEASE ADD CHAT FUNCTION !? IS MORE EFFICIENT?
49
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 4:32 pm by PUDZIAN123
please add chat!!!!!!
50
Posted on 25 April, 2012 at 4:37 pm by KnightTemplar_D
Some problems which require solution:
0. No text chat.
1. After pressing PS Button call is not continued.
2. While talking, user have no access to the contact list, profile and so on.
3. Contact list doesn’t show contacts in order of their status, all of the contacts are in the chaotic list.
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