Skype 1.0 for Windows Phone arrives

The full gold version of Skype for Windows Phone handsets has been posted to Microsoft's mobile app store, with new features and more languages than in the beta edition.

The free app, released on the Windows Marketplace on Sunday, allows people to make and receive Skype-based video and audio calls using a handset running Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) and higher. While those calls are free, there is a fee for calling landlines or mobile phones, Skype said in a blog post.

People can also use the app to hold group and one-to-one chats, including during an existing call.

"This is the first of many releases to come for Windows Phone, so stay tuned for even more capabilities in the future," said Skype, which already provides apps for Android, iPhone and Symbian handsets. "We believe in the great potential of the Windows Phone platform and will continue to invest over time."

Skype 1.0 for Windows Phone brings features not seen in the beta version, which was released in February. These include the ability to add, block and unblock contacts; the ability to join audio conference calls; and notifications of calls in progress.

In addition, it now comes in 18 languages: English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish and Traditional Chinese.

The internet-calling company noted that it has fixed a number of bugs in the beta for the full release, and that it has certified Skype 1.0 for Windows Phone on these handsets:

-- Nokia Lumia 710, 800 and 900 -- HTC Titan and Radar -- Samsung Focus S and Focus Flash