Skype for iPhone goes live in Japan

When they said "Tuesday," they meant it. Not long ago, the clock struck midnight in the Land of the Rising Sun, and sure enough, the bona fide Skype application (v1.0.0.63) for Apple's iPhone has gone live. It's absolutely free to download, and early reports from Japan have been pretty stellar in regard to sound quality. We're fully expecting it to roll out elsewhere as Tuesday (March 31st) arrives in various time zones, so make sure you (and at least one Skype buddy) stay up late to try 'er out. [Warning: iTunes read link may not work for all time zones yet.]

[Via Engadget Japanese]

Gallery: Skype for iPhone goes live in Japan

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[PuBeLeSs @ Mar 30th 2009 12:35PM]

cant wait to jump on this later

[Paul A. Chapel @ Mar 30th 2009 1:01PM]

I'm this close to buying the iPod touch and putting this on our Wi-Fi network at work. My only question is whether it'll get through all the firewall layers with good reception.

[C @ Mar 30th 2009 1:03PM]

I can't wait to get this either. But is there a way to import your existing iPhone contacts' landline/mobile number?

[Konstantin @ Mar 30th 2009 1:46PM]

I'm totally exciting about this. Makes life so much easier!

[ChuckGee @ Mar 30th 2009 4:59PM]

No need to wait, buddies. Just do this:

1. Go to the Japan iTunes Store.
2. Create a new account without a credit card and enter any Japan address information (I entered the US embassy).
3. Confirm your account via email and voila!
4. Download Skype 7+ hours before everyone else in the US does.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 30th 2009 7:34PM]

If your at job, why dont you use your computer for skype??

[dirtysocks85 @ Mar 30th 2009 9:57PM]

Thanks ChuckGee, worked like a charm!

[Jeffro @ Mar 30th 2009 12:37PM]

Does this work on the iPod Touch? It should but...

[kangbp.nyc @ Mar 30th 2009 12:55PM]

err.. why do people need skype for theuir iphone? iphone itself is a phone... maybe i'm missing the point here

if this doesnt work for ipod touch, i think skype is useless

[CraigJ @ Mar 30th 2009 1:00PM]

yep. you're missing the point.

I'll give you a hint: skype cost a whole lot less than minutes from a carrier.

[kangbp.nyc @ Mar 30th 2009 1:07PM]

skype is cheaper??? no shit, with all the iphone contract makes you pay for? if u have iphone contract, might as well as put it to a good use and use up those minutes and texts. besides, u can use aim to chat over 3g, which i bet is even cheaper than skype

besides, skype is cheap only if u have wifi (in office/home) which means u already have a phone free of additional charge. but if u r on the road, calling over 3g??? (considering how u have to pay for internet at starbucks, and myriad of other cafes and restaurants)

this is more useful on an ipod touch, not the phone

[oghowie @ Mar 30th 2009 1:22PM]

Because you can call internationally for A LOT cheaper and your cell phone is almost always with you, unlike a laptop.

[CraigJ @ Mar 30th 2009 1:39PM]

uh, calm down there, cowboy.

this will allow people to get the MINIMUM number of minutes and the talk as much as they want. Get it? Lat time I checked you HAVE to use Wi-Fi with VOIP apps on the iPhone.

This means that I can call friends and clients from the local coffee shop (not starbucks), for example and not use minutes on my account.

It also means that when I'm home, I don't need a land line, I don't need to sit in from of my computer to make calls, and I don't need to use minutes on my AT&T account

And no, this won't work on the Touch, since it has no microphone.

[Laron @ Mar 30th 2009 3:30PM]

If you look at pic in the gallery, it says iPod Touch as supported hardware. Although, this is most likely a lesser version with chat functionality only?

[Kizorblade @ Mar 30th 2009 3:32PM]

@CragJ

The 2nd gen iPod touch does support microphones :) Not the first one, sadly

[CraigJ @ Mar 30th 2009 7:17PM]

Huh, that's cool. You learn something new every day.

[Templarian @ Mar 30th 2009 12:36PM]

Nice to hear its working good (minus the developers with their fancy 3.0). Hope we get to see a native app for the Pre also.

[stylemo @ Mar 30th 2009 12:36PM]

Like someone has an iPhone in Japan. Duh.

[Ken @ Mar 30th 2009 1:28PM]

Several hundred thousand of us do. Your point?

[Ming @ Mar 30th 2009 3:38PM]

Did you not see the lines of people at the Japanese launch?

[jcaiazzo @ Mar 30th 2009 8:05PM]

There's a lot of iPhone's in Japan, however, public wifi access is very scarce, given that almost everybody has a 3G phone with a good data plan already, too bad voice isn't allowed over 3G.

[kylehase @ Mar 31st 2009 12:21AM]

@jcaiazzo Japanese iPhone provider, Softbank, says you can't use VoIP over 3G but according to the Japanese Engadget site, a user has reported that he/she was able to make a Skype call over 3G.

http://japanese.engadget.com/2009/03/30/iphone-skype/

[Bill @ Mar 30th 2009 6:42PM]

Why is this so great fo rthe iphone when it doesn't have a forward facing camera for video calls? I would think the LG's, HTC's and X1's would be better equiped for this app? Are calls for FREE with this? I didn't think so.....

[electronymous @ Mar 30th 2009 12:45PM]

Can't wait!

[Jash Sayani @ Mar 30th 2009 2:09PM]

Yeah, I am waiting too !!! Hope it works over 3G !

[KarlW @ Mar 30th 2009 2:46PM]

They aren't allowed to work over 3G or EDGE. Apple's App Store policy (at the request of AT&T) forbids VOIP applications over anything but WiFi.

That said, if you jailbreak, you can trick the phone in to thinking it's on WiFi all the time, even when it's on EDGE/3G.

[Josh Bradshaw @ Mar 30th 2009 5:57PM]

Ummm well NIMBUZZ works over 3G and thats VOIP, I used skype account to call family OS and you can get that from the app store.... sooooooooooo ummmmmmmm wrong?

[DirtyVegas @ Mar 30th 2009 12:47PM]

Soon to come

First impressions on skype for iphone
Review on skype for iphone
What would you change in skype for iphone?

[Finnschi @ Mar 30th 2009 12:49PM]

hahahahahahahaha


it HAS to happen.

maybe " Skypee KIRF"

[Patriks7 @ Mar 30th 2009 1:13PM]

Wait though. First they have to make a post for each of the timezones it's released in. (Not like I complain. Like every other spammer should, I skip over the posts I don't want to read.)

[oghowie @ Mar 30th 2009 12:48PM]

The apps just keep getting better. Hopefully it isn't too buggy.

[Finnschi @ Mar 30th 2009 12:48PM]

good thing i am using a German iTunes account, So i'll be able to dowload this earlier! (sweeet)


although, i am using 3.0 (dammit) .. lets see how this works with a bluetooth headset... :S

[Nelagster @ Mar 30th 2009 12:49PM]

why is engadget still talking about this? they act like this is the best thing since sliced bread.

[Hamidxa @ Mar 30th 2009 12:50PM]

It feels like 2006 all over again.
Oh, no wait, that just the iPhone late to the ball...

[Kizorblade @ Mar 30th 2009 3:34PM]

Yeah. Because Apple owns Skype, and therefore has to write it..

Right?

Right?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Mar 30th 2009 12:50PM]

So, works great except for the phone's built-in mic and speaker? Sounds perfect!

In all seriousness, who is this dude who tests a new app on a prerelease (probably hacked) phone OS? Is he related to Mr. Blurrycam? Can't we get someone with a proper OS version to test Skype for those who are interested?

[Solci @ Mar 30th 2009 12:52PM]

Anyone know if there's a bonafide Skype app in the works for the G1? I've tried iSkoot, but it's not great...

[Yankees368 @ Mar 30th 2009 12:57PM]

You really don't need at least one other friend with spyke. How about using skype out? Call any landline/cellphone

[peestandingup @ Mar 30th 2009 12:56PM]

Its cool, but I dont see the point with using it with the iPhone/AT&T combo unless its just for cheaper International calling. Isnt the point of Skype to use data for calling instead of traditional cell?? From what I understand, they've "fixed" it so that it only works on WiFi. But even if it worked with 3G data (which they would never allow it anyway), you wouldnt be saving any money because you're required to have a voice plan with the iPhone. So you'd be paying for voice with AT&T plus paying Skype.

Maybe if AT&T had a data only iPhone plan with zero minutes with the option to use your cell for something like $0.20 a minute (like T-Mobile's "Total Internet" $40 internet-only plan) & you could use Skype on both 3G + WiFi, it would be totally worth it to a lot of people to just go without a bucket of minutes from their provider. But of course, it'll be a cold day in hell before they let that happen.

The cell companies want you suckling on their voice teet for as long as possible. Even though voice, data, sms, etc is basically all data anyways.

[Hamidxa @ Mar 30th 2009 1:19PM]

Im using a Touch Pro here (WinMo) on Sprint with the SERO plan.

EVDO-Rev A (think of it as 3G+ in terms of quality/consistency/coverage --also piggy back for free off of Verizon)

For $49/month, I get all of my ridiculously awesome SERO plan features (1250 anytime, unlimited data, tether via cooked ROM, unlimited N/W starting at 5PM, free m2m, unlimited MMS/SMS, etc etc) but for only $30/year, I also get unlimited Skype for mobile to mobile or mobile to landline or skype to skype (default).

I say for $30 a year, it's worth it.
I do come on occassions close to going over my 1250 anytime mins (despite the 5pm n/w via SERO), and that's when my unlimited EVDO-RevA data plan kicks in and when I resort to Skype for a mere $2.50/month.

[Hamidxa @ Mar 30th 2009 1:44PM]

But yeah, it does suck for you iPhone folks.

Why would they limit it to Wi-Fi?

I mean, is this Apple's doing or AT&T's? Because Skype works just fine on my Touch Pro using my EVDO-Rev A data plan.
That seems very restrictive and locked-down...almost pointless to even use since most of the time people will be without a Wi-Fi connection but will almost always have data connection capabilities.

Really stupid...

[Kizorblade @ Mar 30th 2009 3:36PM]

You think Apple actually gives a shit about how much bandwidth you use for Skype? Hell no. If anything, limiting it to WiFi only hurts them. So it's obviously AT&T

[ashan @ Mar 30th 2009 5:58PM]

@Hamidxa: The only reason why you can do that is because you're in a small minority. If everyone were to jump on your bandwagon, Verizon would lock that down quicker than liquid lightning.

BTW, EVDO-A is a 3g standard. If you want to compare different radio technologies within the 3g spec, you should compare EVDO - A to HSDPA or EDGE or whatever. EVDO-A is not "3g+" as it does not exceed 14.4Mbps.

[Christopher @ Mar 30th 2009 6:49PM]

My gawd, is it really that hard to figure out? So if you're home, or at any wifi hotspot, you can use the iphone as a skype phone, without using your computer. Really, is it that hard?

[upsidedown @ Mar 30th 2009 1:23PM]

Using this app with an Ipod Touch once they role out the new OS 3.0 with bluetooth should be pretty sweet. I am going overseas this summer so this is a perfect solution.

[josephmohmed @ Mar 30th 2009 1:24PM]

what just happened?

[JCShroyer @ Mar 30th 2009 1:30PM]

I dunno, but I like it.

[Agent .25i @ Mar 30th 2009 1:32PM]

LMAO you apple fanbois get wet in the pants over the dumbest of shit.
If this is on a touch, neato. If some douchebag uses this on his iphone, lmao for you're as dumb as fuck.

[CraigJ @ Mar 30th 2009 1:43PM]

are you really that stupid? (rhetorical question, by the way)

So, if I use this from home on my iPhone to make calls instead of using my minutes I'm dumb as fuck? Cool - dumb as fuck is pretty hip then.

[Spencer @ Mar 30th 2009 1:47PM]

My girlfriend will love this, even on an iPhone. She's from California and uses SkypeOut all the time at home but she's always tied to her computer on it. Now she'll be able to walk around the house and do what she likes.

Sounds minor, but it'll make a difference for her. Difference for me, though, is it'll be my iPhone so I won't be able to dick around on Rolando while she's walking around the place talking!