Skype Mobile for Verizon on Android hands-on (with WiFi off)
By Tim Stevens 
posted March 25th 2010 8:14AM
posted March 25th 2010 8:14AM
So, yes indeed, this app only works via 3G. In fact you can't even launch the app with WiFi enabled; you have to turn it off. That's a little bit odd and, for those who were hoping Skype and WiFi would help fill some coverage gaps, frustrating, but there's a somewhat reasonable explanation: domestic Skype calls are simply made over Verizon's voice network. In other words, you can't make Skype calls to anyone within the country -- unless they too are a Skype user, of course.
Making a call to any other Skype user is handled purely through data, but a call through Skype to a domestic number will suck down your minutes just like any other call. It's only when dialing internationally that you can hit a real phone number through VoIP, and here the app will automatically jump in and offer to save you some cash. That is, of course, assuming you have some credit in your Skype account. If you don't there's no way to purchase it through the app. It simply redirects you to www.skype.com, which is not particularly friendly to mobile browsers. (In fact, when we opened it up in the recently released Opera Mini it loaded in Norwegian. Seriously.)
So, free calls to other Skype users; calls to domestic numbers still use your minutes; international calls at heavily discounted rates; you can't even IM when WiFi is on. A perfect release? Hardly, but if you're a Skype user with other, similarly inclined friends and associates, or if you spend a pretty penny on international calls, this should make life a bit easier for you -- assuming you have a solid 3G connection.
[Thanks, Andrew]
Nice. Droid.
Driod doesn't :-S
iPhone does LOL
@Nblufire12 Hey Engadget, where is the love for Skype for Symbian?
It got Skype way before Android and nothing here?
@Mr w00t
+1. I've been using Skype on Symbian for a month now and it's great. Missed the engadget walkthrough though - funny that.
@FCUK YOUR COLORING BOOK skype change the game on the iPhone a year ago and doest't turn off your wifi. btw it uses the same amount of data for voip - 0.
skype on droid and bberry calls a local phone and doesn't use data
Been using Skype on my N97 for some time and love it! But what is this? Are we back in the age of Skype mobile which only works with phone calls instead of data connections? Skype proves it is possible to do all this on a modern smartphone by finally delivering Skype on N97, which was supposed to be supported in fall last year. And now they want to conquer the Android world with this? I'm really disappointed!
@Nblufire12
I think people are missing the point on why this Skype Mobile app is different. From what I read elsewhere, outgoing calls are placed through Verizon's voice network, NOT through the 3G data connection, which is also why WiFi is not supported. Now, I can see why this scuttles any plans to continue using your phone overseas, but this should make the audio quality of any calls MUCH better than using fring (which is terribly laggy) or your typical VOIP client (in theory).
Maybe in future versions, they'll allow the option to use VOIP over data (3G or wifi) to flesh it out some more. People need to relax, this is only the first version.
Can't even fire up the app with wifi on, that doesn't make any sense :D
@mikachu
I think they want to track the usage of Skype. Over wifi Verizon will have no way of knowing how much money they are losing.
@mikachu
That's the same with Sprint TV. You can't even open the app with Wifi on. At least it offers to turn it off for you.
@mikachu Yup, makes no sense. One of the most important uses I have for Skype is using it over Wifi in foreign countries to talk to people back home. This kills that.
VZ and Skype are doing a great job of displaying stupidity at its finest.
I am immeasurably disappointed; I can't believe you can't use it with wi-fi!?!? What's the point, you still have to use a BB or WinMo 6.5 if you want to travel overseas...Way to drop the ball Verizon.
@jamo If it allows international calls over data, wouldn't it let you call back to your home country when you aren't in it over data? I don't know but may not be as bad as you think.
Verizon is clearly protecting their primary source of revenue, which is to be expected, whether good or bad.
@rolanddd
I'm definitely not going to risk turning my data on while I'm overseas, and risk incurring giant roaming charges...and further adding to my carrier's "primary source of revenue." I already pay them enough, imho. I'm just going to start looking at other carriers' offering of global phones.
@rolanddd
No it cripples the entire point of using Skype abroad.. free calls at WiFi hotspots, hotels, businesses, and homes of friends/family.
I was just getting used to the idea of being able to get a SIM-less VZ phone b/c normally I just use Skype when abroad, and I only buy a pre-paid SIM in the country for the very infrequent local call. Well this totally kills that, and would leave any VZ customer with a non-working CDMA phone abroad, and no Skype abroad.
Bold and very nice move.
I look forward to this + N1 and we are all set.
cooperate strategy
1. Announce a great product on paper.
2. Cripple on release.
3. ?????
4. Profit.
well they ever learn?
@johnnyLong
This is Verizon we're talking about here, best network but one of the worst carriers for crippling. I'm really not surprised they made it so you still waste your minutes for domestic calls.
@AltairDusk verizon comes up to bat and... bunts?
@Prestidigitator
With their face.
@MacBandit
+1 vote for you
@johnnyLong
You did mean "Corporate", not cooperate, right?
When the going is good, Go! ;)
Can't see the third pic's thumbnail
This is lame. Where is the non crippled Skype app for ALL android phones???
No wifi is completely ridiculous. Wake me up when Skype puts the crack pipe down....
@kraemervision It can't be Skype's doing - if it was up to them you'd have Skype on every device with any form of Internet connection. It's the carriers clinging on to their old business model. If it allowed you to communicate over WiFi, the carrier would lose their call revenue.
@RincewindWiz
It IS skypes doing. They accepted corporate sponsorship from Verizon to do this. Verizon didn't get Skype source code and write it themselves. Skype could put this on Android marketplace without any artificial barriers and Verizon cannot stop them.
@RincewindWiz How is this the carrier's fault? Skype could make a nice android app for every phone. This has nothing to do with the carrier. Take skype on iPhone for example.
@RincewindWiz Not "all" but yes, they would have a business model that is in jeopardy. I see this as, trying to fool a consumer into thinking voice is still relevant so they aren't tempted to try a data only plan with either a start-up or something like a mi-fi/overdrive (not that the devices are ideal). Still +1.
Seriously, imagine $30 mobile phone bills for 3G, $40 for unlimited 4G.
@kraemervision Then you're right - it makes no sense.
@victorstuber The only other possibility (that I see) is that skype is trying to get money or other support (financial, developmental) from carriers. I don't see that as likely, though it is possible.
@kraemervision Are you saying carriers can't block voip calls? I think part of me assumed they can, but that might be incorrect. If they can though, then that would explain why they are trying to get carrier support. I can see skype getting a couple bucks for this, it makes verizon look good, but it does it really add that much to their bottom line and customer subscriptions? I guess one or more of my assumptions were also wrong.
@juanvaldez Eric Zeman from Information Week
"Verizon's control-freak ways, however, reach too far in its latest strong-arming agreement with Skype...Getting back to Verizon, however, I see this as a sign of over-extending its influence on its business partners -- at the expense of customer choice."
@juanvaldez Or the $55 a month data and texting only plan from verizon for smartphone. Seriously, this is insanely awful. Why are people ranting about it not working over wifi, who cares about that, when you have wifi you often have your laptop. The horrible, terrible, awful, f*cking disgusting thing is that it uses your voice minutes when you try to call someone who's not on skype(and come on, who's on skype when you want to call them?).
Hasn't that always been Verizon's MO, though? I mean, how long have we been bitching about smartphones with no wi-fi on Verizon. This really should come as no surprise.
In this case, it looks like Droid doesn't. What a waste this app is. Not all that it was hyped up to be, which should surprise no one!
Neato!
Seems lame to me...
@TheLondonExchange
Indeed, much better on iPhone, though I wish they would implement push notifications so I don't have to leave it running in the background all the time, eating battery.
Theoretically Skype could develop a VOIP through WiFi and Verizon would have nothing to do with that unless you claim that they own your phone so anything you do with the phone is their problem.
@onu But then they would lose the corporate partner they have.
@juanvaldez Yeah but that could be a general app available on market not necessarily on verizon
How does this work on other carriers/phones. For example the new Evo has a front camera, will you be able to use skype (or a program similar) with it on sprint?
@Lord Xlar I use Fring on Nokia 5800 with front facing camera for video call to call home when I'm away, via free WiFi at your lacal hotspot, i don't have a data plan cause most places i go to offer me wifi for free
@SymbianSimain AND because Nokia lets you download the mapss to our SD card on the phone, no need for a data connection when you use turn by turn navigation worldwide (yes, I like Nokia better)
@SymbianSimain OK, thanks :)
Can anyone tell me who uses Skype in their computers?
It's cool, I agree...
But I never really found it to be something i would have to have in my computer or cell phone...
maybe its just me since i don't have anyone i know that uses Skype.. =/
@jahkamren So, once it reaches critical mass (in your world) then you might want it. It's like any social networking service from IM, to email, to facebook. If it has critical mass, it attracts much easier. Most people rely on personal critical mass, you just have to wait for that, or you can be the trend-setter in your group and tell your friends/family to get on.
@jahkamren
As a college student, skype is practically the one app I KNOW is installed on everybodys computer. They only use it to videochat with their parents and significant others if its long distance, but they have it.
I'm sure the usage stats drop off significantly with people a little older though. Odds are, if you graduated college before skype came out, you never really saw a need for it.
@jahkamren You must not have any family or friends in other countries, or the incredible value of Skype would already be obvious to you.
Secondly, the video chat features (domestically or internationally) are worth having it for.