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Fring Calls Skype 'Cowards'; Skype Responds

Posted by kdawson on from the pot-comma-kettle dept.

An anonymous reader writes "It seems that Skype and Fring are not getting along so well today. First, Fring made a claim that Skype was blocking Fring and in a subsequent blog post, called Skype 'cowards': 'Now that Fring expanded capacity to support the huge demand for video calling for all users, Skype has blocked us from doing so. They are afraid of open mobile communication. Cowards.' Skype has responded, stating that Fring's misuse of Skype software was damaging their brand and reputation: 'There is no truth to Fring's claims that Skype has blocked it. Fring made the decision to remove Skype functionality on its own.'

3 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Facetious? by Arancaytar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "They deserved the block, and we didn't block them anyway" sounds like an odd denial.

    Mind you, I think Fring is going about it wrongly and nobody who seriously wants an open standard and a sensible platform should even glance at Skype. Work with XMPP or the Wave protocol or something.

  2. Re:I tend choose Skype side in this one by JohnFluxx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I believe Skype, but I don't side with them.

    Look at what skype said:

    "Fring was using Skype software in a way it wasn’t designed to be used – and in a way which is in breach of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement."

    Note that they don't say what, and given what other people have said here it would fit in perfectly that what is actually happening is:

    1) Skype are notoriously slow about adding new features to the official client
    2) Fring added the features themselves.
    3) Skype told Fring to stop adding features that they haven't added to the official client
    4) Fring did not want to remove the features that their users demanded and in frustration and to get attention they removed video support.
    5) Both sides feel that they are the victim.

    This seems to fit in with what the comments are saying. For example
    "People want to use Skype NOW!!!! Skype takes FOREVER to release updates for their iOS software!! You had a working demo of Skype on iOS 4.0 back when Apple first announced iOS 4.0 yet there STILL hasn't been a release months later. "
      and
    "And the whole issue with charging for Skype Over 3G? I already pay you for a monthly subscription, now I will have to pay extra to use it on my iPhone over 3G? "

  3. Re:I tend choose Skype side in this one by santax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We can continue in Dutch, German or French if you want? English isn't my first language. Thanks for the education though. You forgot to actually reply on my comment btw.