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Skype App Updated, Allows 3G Calling On the iPhone

Posted by kdawson on from the free-for-now dept.

silverpig sends this excerpt from the Wifitalk.ca blog: "Skype has just announced that an updated version of its iPhone app has been released to the App Store and now allows calling over 3G. While this functionality has been available on the iPhone since a January update to the SDK, and while other apps such as Fring have enabled 3G VOIP calling through their apps, Skype has been noticeably absent from the VOIP-over-3G landscape. Until today." A reader adds: "Included in the app update are some UI tweaks and a call quality indicator to help you predict what your VOIP-over-3G call quality will be like. Most interesting in the announcement is the suggestion that while Skype-to-Skype over 3G will be free for 2010, Skype is investigating pricing options and may charge for it in 2011. This could lead to smartphones being sold with data only + Skype plans."

5 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I predict... by sssssss27 · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's actually one of the requirements for 4G, "An all IP, packet switched network." Wikipedia has a pretty good entry on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G

  2. Re:I predict... by NevDull · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Personally, I think Google is waiting for Skype to fight the data vs. telephone case and then follow the "open" path Skype has created to swoop in with Google Voice end-to-end VoIP apps and scale out like sand in a sandstorm.

  3. Re:Er, not to intrude on the soapbox by Weezul · · Score: 4, Informative

    All that shit "just works" on my N900, including Skype. Imho, the only mobile platform that doesn't "just work" is Window Mobile.

    --
    The Christian religion has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world. -- Bertrand Russell
  4. That's nice by Majix · · Score: 5, Informative

    Gee, thanks for "allowing" this, you're all too kind. Of course the Nokia N900 has had Skype over WiFi and 3G since last fall, and with the latest update does Skype-to-Skype video calls as wells (over whatever TCP/IP connection you have of course, including 3G)! But I'm sure it will be a great innovation and a lot of fuss about it when the iPhone 4G or whatever invents video calls later on.

  5. Just use the iPad plan by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Interesting

    1) Buy an iPad

    2) Use a MicroSim adaptor to use the iPad data only connection in your favorite mobile device.

    3) This step intentionally left blank.

    Although I can't find any reports of someone ACTUALLY doing this (just lots of reports of people using an iPhone SIM in the iPad3G) it seems like it should work.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley