Skype for iPad gets automatic call reconnecting, in-app money adding, and a recent conversations sidebar

Microsoft on Monday updated its native Skype app for the iPad with a slew of new features including better connectivity, adding money from within the app, and a new sidebar for recent conversations. You can download the new app now directly from the Apple App Store.

The first addition is of course the most noteworthy. Skype will now automatically reconnect whenever your call drops when you’re in an area with poor reception, whether that’s over Wi-Fi or your mobile network.

Next up, you can now add money to your Skype account from within the iPad app. This is particularly useful for those users who never access the app on any other device, but unfortunately the feature is currently only limited to five countries: Estonia, France, Sweden, the UK, and the US.

Last but not least, there’s a new recent conversations sidebar. To open it, just swipe from the left of he screen.

The full Skype for iPad version 4.5 changelog is as follows:

• Skype automatically reconnects a dropped call when your wifi or mobile network reception is poor.
• Add money to your Skype account directly from the app to send SMS or call mobiles and landlines worldwide. Currently available in United States, United Kingdom, France, Sweden and Estonia.
• A simple swipe from the left of the screen opens your recent conversations in a new sidebar.
• General fixes: One-to-one chats now appear in the correct order.

The last point is actually worth noting even though it looks like it’s a minor bug fix. Skype often has problems with displaying conversations in the right order, a bug that seems to pop up here and there (not just on the iPad).

For those wondering, no, Skype for iPhone and iPod touch as well as Skype for Android have not been updated. The latest versions for those apps were released in December and January, respectively.

See also – Microsoft confirms Messenger will be retired and users migrated to Skype on March 15 and Skype for Android gets portrait calling support on tablets, new languages, and performance tweaks

Image credit: Michaela Kobyakov

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