Skype for iPad, Google+ for iPhone: Is there a competitor logjam?

9to5 Staff | Jul 18 2011 - 8:49 am PT

You must be quite puzzled with the no-show for native Skype and Facebook apps, in addition to Google+ for iPhone. Indeed, Google as long as three weeks ago said a native Google+ app had been sent to Apple for review. Skype created a confusion by posting a teaser video some 25 days ago, soon removed by the company and re-uploaded by RazorianFly. The clip demonstrates what appears to be Skype video calling running natively on an iPad. As of today, neither program is to be found on the App Store, creating valid suspicious that Apple has been intentionally delaying those particular submissions for competitive reasons – and we know from Steve Jobs public remarks that Apple approves 95 percent of the apps within seven days. Skype is in the process of being acquired by Microsoft and they recently announced video calling integration with Facebook.

9to5Mac reached out to Google seeking clarification about Google+ for iPhone. A spokesperson responded that the search giant has “nothing further to add on our end about the Google+ iPhone app”. The spokesperson added the software is “still coming soon”. Asked if Skype for iPad was still in the process of being reviewed by Apple and whether the company anticipated a launch soon, a Skype representative would only say that “the current version of Skype for iPhone works on the iPad”. They also removed the broken link, telling 9to5Mac it led to the existing Skype for iPhone app even though the URL had the “ipad-for-skype” part in it. Also, as you can see in the above screenshot, the Skype homepage lists “iPad” as one of the platform choices under the Get Skype link. Apple did not respond to our email inquiries about the state of Skype for iPad and Google+ for iPhone apps.

And what about the native Facebook for iPad app? Even though Facebook was thought to be launching a native iPad app real soon, the software remained absent in Facebook’s Skype announcement. Though, to be fair, Zuckerberg re-iterated on several occasions they consider iPad to be a computer, thus best served with a web app. Google, of course, is a fierce rival so Apple could be delaying the Google+ for iOS app. In addition, it’s not entirely out of question that Google’s social thing could have inadvertently brought the iPhone maker and Facebook closer together. If this is a competitor logjam, Apple is sending the wrong message.

The company stands nothing to gain given folks clearly want to enjoy an iPad-optimized Skype calling experience and many people are eager to share Google+ images and posts on the go from their iPhones. Let’s hope this isn’t another case of the approval process gone wrong. Remember the official Google Voice app? It reached the App Store eventually, but only after having spent more than a year in review and following FCC scrutiny into Apple’s approval process practices.

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