Skype for iOS updated: Bluetooth, image stabilization and adverts (yuck!)

Skype today updated the native iPad app as well as its iPhone/iPod touch counterpart. The Skype for iPad app now has support for Bluetooth headsets on iPad 2 and contains a “bugfix for security vulnerability”. Plus, the program supports both iPad and iPad 2. The Skype for iPhone/iPod touch also enables Bluetooth support on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and fourth-gen iPod touch.

Image stabilization and emoticons are now also part of the picture (no pun intended). It appears that image stabilization works only when using your rear camera. There has to be some trade-off, right? Adverts! According to release notes, “advertising will be shown to users that do not have Skype Credit, a calling subscription or premium subscription”. Skype is even making the case for their advertising platform, as they call it:

As with our recent Mac update, there will be an advertising platform introduced in this new release. Paying Skype consumers or users with Skype Credit will not see any display ads on their iPhones or iPads. The iPhone update also includes an important security fix.

As most people don’t use Skype Credit, we imagine rubbing their nose into the upgrade offering will be annoying, to say the least. Instead of up-selling us to a paid service, can we please get an elegant interface instead? Check out the image stabilization feature in Skype’s clip, embedded below. The official Skype blog has more information. Full changelog after the break.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLKE58eA-S8]

Skype for iPhone/iPod touch version 3.5.84

* Bluetooth support for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4th Generation, and iPad 2
* Incoming emoticons; outgoing emoticons displayed when entered in text form
* Enhanced video through image stabilization

Skype for iPad version 3.5.84

* Bluetooth support for iPad 2
* Advertising will be shown to users that do not have Skype Credit, a calling subscription or premium subscription.
* Bugfix for security vulnerability

Skype for iPhone and Skype for iPad have proven to be very popular. The Skype for iPhone app has been downloaded nearly 60 million times to date and was downloaded over a million times in the first 36 hours after its launch in March 2009. When we launched Skype for iPad in August, it was the #1 free iPad app in almost every local iTunes App Store worldwide during the week of its launch.