Hi
I've downloaded skype for the ipod touch and thanks to the mic and headphones in the box I feel almost like an iPhone owner!

but.....
the other day I logged into skype via the app
then clicked the home button (did not log out) and carried on with my business
someone tried calling me later but said I was not online
does skype have to be open to receive calls?
I was hoping it would be active in the background in the sense that I can log in at the start of the day and be online to receive calls even when the app is not expressly open.
thanks!

I don't know if you mean't if you are are online, "not Online" if you were not online via Wifi then no the ipod touch can not connect.

About Multitasking, the iphone only multitasks for push notifications and applications made by Apple: ipod, phone, safari...ect..

the wifi connection is constant

by online i meant logged into skype - so my contacts can see me as online and initiate a call
ie as long as I am connected to the net, can I receive skype calls whilst listening to music, surfing the net, playing a game etc or do I HAVE to be in the skype app to be viewed as 'online' by skype contacts and to be contactable?
thanks!

The short answer is yes.

You must have the Skype application open on your iPhone to receive calls. The iPhone doesn't support multitasking (yet). So when you close the Skype app to go into your music library, read email or play games, you are closing down the application and all incoming calls will go into your voicemail.

With AT&T recent announcement to support VOIP on their data network, I'm anxious to see what new developments this will bring to Skype for iPhone.

i believe this is your solution : http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-keep-skyp...ound-on-iphone/