http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/ Engadget Comments for 3 UK promises free mobile Skype calls until the end of time http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 7:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 7:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
In the UK all our towers and handsets use the compatible bands, which means if our carrier dicks us around we take our handset and jump to another carrier. Your number can be ported in 24-48 hours some times.

I expect VoIP will open up on other networks now. As soon as the public at large start to use it.. If one company is doing something that attracts customers, the other will also offer it. ]]>Apr 25th 2009 8:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
Hopefully the launch of LTE changes that somewhat when AT&T, Verizon and eventually Tmobile will all be on the same system. Sprint will either die or end up converting their CDMA towers into LTE and either dumping Wimax or keeping it on the side.]]>Apr 25th 2009 8:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 4:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 7:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
Still it's good news. I hope O2 follow it up soon and it's enabled on an iPhone update.]]>Apr 25th 2009 9:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 7:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
http://www.targetmarketnews.com/verizon_logo.jpg]]>Apr 25th 2009 8:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
It is about time! I'm honestly looking forward to a world without paying for minutes at all. Data and VoIP are all I need...........PLZ Verizon put everyone else out of business in the US and do this]]>Apr 25th 2009 8:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 8:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
Wait........................now Im confused. Just Skype-to-Skype? So no Skype to Cell phones for those of us that pay for that service from skype?]]>Apr 25th 2009 8:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 10:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 10:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
http://www.three.co.uk/Internet_Services/Call_chat/Call_chat_service

Not sure where you were searching, or how common your sense was Tom ;)]]>Apr 25th 2009 10:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
If you're with 3 Australia then it shouldn't cost you any more to call home when travelling in countries that have a 3 network because 3 don't charge global roaming rates if you are on their network. For instance, I was in Rome recently and was able to call home, send text messages and access the internet and all the costs came off my contract and didn't cost me any more than if I was at home. The same applied when I was in Melbourne a couple of years ago.]]>Apr 26th 2009 3:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
Hear that mobile providers? It's the future calling, and resistance is futile.]]>Apr 25th 2009 8:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 8:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 25th 2009 10:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/So, the UK will probably just make it unlimited...]]>Apr 26th 2009 2:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
Also, their Irish 3G coverage is great, up to 95% + of the country is covered as they share the Vodafone 3G network. Their speeds however are not great if you use the 3G modems, although that's more a limitation of the technology and how much they've oversold mobile broadband.]]>Apr 26th 2009 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://three.ie/priceplans/3pay.htm) so far i haven't used the skype feature as most of my friends are on msn and none are on skype, and none are on 3 so free skype to skype would be pretty useless unless i convince all my friends to get a skype account and a 3 phone.

@Spoon! i think that refers to 95% of the population, not the geographical area of ireland. It'd be nice if it was the latter though (i visit the remote countryside once a year if i can, sadly no 3G coverage :`( )]]>Apr 26th 2009 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
It would really be a saving if it can call to overseas landlines/mobiles and receive calls over skype.]]>Apr 25th 2009 10:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
They should have at least specified a minimum top up like £10 every 6 months.]]>Apr 26th 2009 1:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
You can call phone numbers simply enough, just need to add credit on the website.

If anything helps expand the number of people I can call on skype though, would be nice.

Worth mentioning Skype sound quality is noticeable lower than standard phone though, so generally because of that I opt for the standard credit first. Also 3 customer support is via india in the UK and as terrible as you would expect.]]>Apr 26th 2009 3:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
- Skype from 3 can also call landline and cell numbers, but it's not free; your Skype account gets charged (as it would when calling from your PC).

- 3s' Skype is NOT VoIP. It uses the 3G network to connect the to skype service, but uses normal cell network voice from your phone to the server. From there on the the service becomes VoIP.

- 3s' 3G connectivity isn't all that great, even in London, and it seems that Skype takes forever to connect, so it's fairly useless if you want to make a quick call. Unless you keep Skype connected all day long.]]>Apr 26th 2009 4:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
Interesting.

So that's kind of an "assisted" Skype...

But it's still possible to use Skype on a mobile phone in the SAME way as using Skype on a PC, right?. Aka: you just pay for the bandwidth/data that you use. Or am I missing something here?

How can a provider stop you from doing that? You could still scramble/mask the data if they wanted to filter it out, just like for p2p programs...]]>Apr 26th 2009 6:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 6:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 6:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 7:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 6:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 9:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 9:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
I had a Skypephone for a few months and was very disappointed, a lot of the time I could not log into Skype and calls were dropped all the time.

This may well be one of those instances where "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is" applies.]]>Apr 26th 2009 3:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 26th 2009 11:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 27th 2009 5:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
No it doesn't. It has partial SkypeOut support for _overseas_ calls, but you can't use SkypeOut to call numbers in the same country. Since SkypeOut allows you to call any country including your own (with the appropriate subscription, or Skype credit) it therefore doesn't have SkypeOut.]]>Apr 27th 2009 5:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
As others have said, it uses the cell network to connect you to the server, which means you can also use it in places where there isn't 3G coverage. 3's 3G coverage actually seems pretty good to me though, even in my small town of Barnstaple.

You have unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls, and you can also call NON-UK landlines and cell phones. This is great - I can call people all over the world using my Skype credit, and 3 don't charge me a thing. The rule is that you can't use Skype to call phones in the same county that you're in.

It's been mentioned that Skype also don't charge you for roaming on their network, so I can be in Italy, Austria, Hong Kong etc, and use my minutes, texts, data etc as I can at home with no additional charges. I can also use Skype to call the UK from roaming countries, since I'm then not calling the same country that I'm calling from. So Skype-to-Skype and International Skype calls are all unlimited - fantastic! For UK calls all 3 customers get unlimited 3 to 3 calls anyway, and I've got tonnes of minutes to use for other UK calls. Unlimited data is included in my contract too, so I never pay more than the £20 of my contract. And the phone's free too. Moving from Orange a few months ago was a very good move!]]>Apr 26th 2009 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/
I'm very very wary of 3 after the terrible year I spent using their service in Ireland. The call quality, data speed, coverage and cost were all acceptable, but their customer service is beyond horrible. They cut me off three times in my first six months of service after repeatedly taking my bank account details incorrectly (once at a storefront and twice over the phone). They refused to accept payment with Visa and Mastercard credit cards from non-Irish banks when I called to reconnect (I hadn't gotten around to changing from US cards at that time). It took them 3 months to properly provision my data services so that ports other than 80 were open, despite charging me for "full internet" the entire time. Their technical support staff were utterly untrained and unable to provide any kind of assistance and they were frequently rude on the phone. When I finally discontinued service and they sent me a bill that I paid by posting a cheque immediately, they called me every single day for the 8 days it took for the cheque to reach them and be processed by their billing system to ask me if I would pay by direct debit.

Cool logo and sweet sounding offers aside, 3 suck more than I could possibly have imagined. Just sayin']]>Apr 26th 2009 12:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 27th 2009 2:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Apr 27th 2009 7:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/25/3-uk-promises-free-mobile-skype-calls-until-the-end-of-time/Bueno.com the best]]>May 15th 2009 6:16PM