Skype Disappears From the App Store – UPDATED

UPDATE FROM SKYPE: “Today, Skype just submitted a new version of its iOS4 build to Apple. In the process we encountered some difficulties. Skype will work quickly to get its current Skype for iPhone app back up as soon as possible.”

Looks like it was just an updating issue.

TechCrunch says that Skype has disappeared from the App Store.

No word yet on if this is a glitch, or if Apple has just removed it.

I can confirm that the Skype App doesn’t appear in the Canadian version of the store either. This leads me to believe that this isn’t just a glitch. UPDATE: Gone from the Japan and Australia stores too.

The Skype website still has an iPhone app page, but clicking on the link just gives you something like this:

Some posts on the Skype forums suggest that iOS 4.0.1 doesn’t work with Skype.

Why might this be? I can think of a couple of reasons (all purely conjecture at this point).

1. It’s a glitch, and it’ll be back up later. (with one app store maybe, but with both Canada AND the US?)
2. Skype is updating the app, and this is a temporary effect from removing the old version before the new one comes up.
3. Maybe AT&T is upset over the loss of long-distance minutes Skype users save on and have gotten Apple to pull the app because it “replicates functionality” of the iPhone.
4. Maybe Apple is upset over Skype getting cozier with Verizon and BlackBerry in their partnerships
5. Maybe Apple is upset that Skype hasn’t updated their app to include iOS4 features yet and are pushing them to release a new version
6. Aliens (it could be anything).

UPDATE 2: Seems some users are getting a pop-up message when logging into skype on their iPhones:

Free Skype trial

You’ve got until at least August 2010
to make and receive free Skype-to-
Skype calls over your mobile
network.

After that, you’ll need a mobile
subscription.

Is the Skype app about to become pay-per-use?

Thoughts? Comments?