New Skype 2.0 app for the iPhone allows voice calls over 3G
By Paul Miller 
posted May 29th 2010 5:35PM
posted May 29th 2010 5:35PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted May 29th 2010 5:35PM
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one word! Sweet
@satish
Hopefully when iPhone 4G comes out, they'll implement video conferencing with up to 2/3 people. Now that would be sweet!
@satish
If you have a touch tethered to a MiFi or a smartphone of whatever kind, it'll only recognise it as WiFi right, has no idea it's being created through 3G?
@satish Read the fine prints... skype to skype on 3G will incur monthly charges after August!
This may be beginning of the end of skype!
@satish Is this an AT&T/Apple fee or a Skype fee? The verizon version won't let you call regular phone numbers without docking you minutes so if this allows unlimited domestic calling it'd at least be somewhat better than the verizon version in that way.
Of course on certain other providers where everyone has virtually unlimited minutes anyway...
@FORDY I thought they already had this...They already made the current skype usable over 3G didn't they?
@tekdemon
Does it dock your Skype minutes, or does it dock your Verizon minutes though?
@zebrainez
Skype didn't but certain jailbreak apps allowed you to do so by fooling the app into thinking it's using wifi not 3G.
@satish This is exactly why we need to lose Skype and migrate to the SIP standard where all IP to IP calling is free. Why the hell should they charge for this? You are supplying the data pipe and they are supplying nothing but the software. Only idiots would pay for this...or people with a huge collection of Skype contacts who don't want to bother with the hassle of having the important one's move to SIP with them.
@Almo I could have sworn skype updated it's app a while back after Apple/ATT changed their minds and decided to let it work over 3G...
@zebrainez U r thinking of fring allowing 3g skype calls
@satish I don′t want to pay to use Skype over 3G :(
@Rajesh Exactly, the good thing about Skype is, or was, that it was free. Now they want you to [a] pay for service with Crap-T&T as well their service to make calls over 3G. Sorry mate, but I think I'll bay for call only once.
Is this 2010 or 2007?
Skype voice calls over 3G. Wow, what a super feature :)
It's about time US developed from mobile hicksville to where the rest of the world has been for the past years.
@malus Been waiting for this ever since the skype 5 debuted on desktop. http://bit.ly/best-voip-for-desktop -- One word sweet, I'm sure it will be enhanced soon.
@DoctarPeppar not appearing..
hopefully the next update will have video calling :)
@iName N900 already supports this.
http://techcraver.com/2010/05/25/skype-video-calling-on-the-n900-via-t-mobile-3g/
@suncho No one cares.
@suncho And Windows Mobile, but of course these are non-monetizing platforms for Skype.
Why do you need a subscription. What exactly is "unlimited data"? Why does every company want to charge you more on top of the unlimited charge?
@Edobe
Your "unlimited data" plan is for your cellular service, it is not in any part going to Skype or any other application developer. Companies that have to run servers and pay for hosting/bandwidth charges to those servers deserve to get some money for their effort and the service they provide.
Nothing is, nor should be completely free to the consumer at the expense of the developer. The service should be paid for by subscriptions paid by the consumer or ad supported by making the consumer have to sit through a momentary sponsored ad.
@dennisheadley I don't disagree with you. But, Verizon is advertising free skype calls without using your minutes on the Droid does comercials, and these same Skype calls are free on my computer. So why does it need a subscription on the iPhone. If it's all going to be subscription based then that makes sense but if not then wth,
@Edobe
This is super confusing indeed. I don't understand why on a computer (laptop running windows) you can call other skype users for free using your broadband internet connection that you already pay for. Skype only charges you money if you want to call someone who's not using Skype -- but now that it's being done from a phone, I have to pay a subscription fee -- even if I want to call someone who HAS skype? I don't understand this AT ALL.
@DoctarPeppar
Everyone wants to monetize the iPhone and its apps prob b/c of its huge earnings potential.
Skype-2-Skype mobile calls are free on all other platforms!
@Luxury Guy
That pretty much sums it up.
@Luxury Guy
Exactly! What's the point of using this app as opposed to, say, Fring which too lets you call Skype contacts without charging a "mobile subscription"? I don't get it...
@Luxury Guy somehow I doubt it.
Verizon and Skype has an exclusive deal on 3G skype calling.
Charging for all other carrier seems like the only way you'll be able to get voice skype call on skype's official app. It's still free on fing though.
I started updating but it asked for billing information so I think I'll pass
@mark29 Then you're doing something wrong as I just updated without any problems.
Subscription for something that literally costs them nothing over what they would be paying if you were using a computer tethered to a mobile broadband device? Great.
Thats bullshit....and internet connection is internet to require paying because its a phone and not a computer is shit
@mitchell556 Me fail English? That unpossible!
@mitchell556 we're not living in America na na na something something ( quoting a song) just glad I live in Europe where video calls are a thing of the past and voip calls are free since the first Nokia phone with voip calls shipped 4 years ago!
Mobile iPhone calls are free until August, after which you'll need a "mobile subscription."
engadget, care to elaborate on this strange sentence
If somebody were to call you, does the app need to be running to receive it? Multitasking sounds pretty important...
@HotCollegeTeen I believe this still needs push notifications for the chat too.
@HotCollegeTeen - Yes, under the current 3.1 OS you need to have the app running to receive calls. I don't believe Skype has made use of Apple's Push Notifications service.
Once OS 4 drops next month, you won't need the app running - it'll always run in the background.
Whoosh...there goes the true spirit of voip
Actually, it says you MIGHT need a subscription come may.
@hav Err, come august.
meh dont care, Jailbreak and do the same thing
@fivs my thoughts exactly. Why are all the apple fan boys squirting themselves over 4.0 when they could've already had all this (MMS, 3G enabler, Multitasking, Folders etc...) with installer, icy, cydia, rock - any jailbreak app installer really =)
I have a jailbroken phone and when I updated the Skype App, all it does is load on the "Signing In" page. It had an error messages stating it doesn't support modified iPhone OS's but even with My3G or 3GUnrestricter, the Skype Up doesn't fiunction properly. Damn skype and their money making ways lol
@DDRobert
because with all the love that you get from jailbreaking solutions, they're unstable and memory intensive. don't get me wrong, these guys have done a great job, but system level implementation will always be better.
@t2af now that's totally bullshit. there are only a few apps that are unstable and the ones that are unstable usually get fixed with an update. Memory intensive? do you even know what that means? All these bugs and your so called "memory intensive" is quite common even in appstore. Now you keep sucking on that big apple you got in your mouth and be satisfied with what little you got.
Are you sure? because for blackberry skype on verizon they neutered it. Example, if you make a call from skype, even if you have WIFI On, it still uses your minutes
Making it 100% useless , if I wanted to use my minutes I would just make the call directly. So verizon neutered skype
@Hydra Seriously? That sounds fucked up
@Hydra - I believe Skype/VZW stated that the WiFi calling using minutes is a bug.
@MRCUR What WIFI? The verizon version forces people to use 3G even if the phone has wifi...the app basically always uses 3G and thus always docks minutes. If it's a bug they sure don't care to fix it lol.