New Skype 2.0 app for the iPhone allows voice calls over 3G

Plenty of other VoIP apps have managed to work in this functionality since Apple / AT&T started allowing it last year, but the official Skype app has been a notable holdout. Now, two months after Skype started doing 3G calls on Android with Verizon, there's a 2.0 version of the app for iPhone that brings voice calls over 3G at last. Mobile iPhone calls are free until August, after which you'll need a "mobile subscription." We're testing out the app as we write this and it seems to work about as well any other 3G VoIP app we've tried: passable, not revolutionary.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Shigawire Posted May 30th 2010 2:54PM]

@wraith404
It gives a warning screen, but still works fine for me. Did you try it or just assume that it doesn't work? The warning doesn't say it doesn't work, it says it's not "supported."

[Woogman Posted May 29th 2010 9:11PM]

So late in the game skype they've allowed this since late last year. What's this mobile subscription I already pay $48 a year to skype so that I can have an unlimited business line on my jailbroken iPhone & all my friends family use skype so I call them free & have the least Amount of At&t min plan cuz I barely use them. 

I may have to try out  another voip app I heard of lot cheaper if skype goes up a lot more...

[wraith404 Posted May 29th 2010 9:46PM]

@Almo
But its not even the 4th generation. 2 of the prior are essentially the same. Apple is so full of it their eyes are going brown.

[Kelly S Posted May 29th 2010 9:47PM]

Over 3G? People still use 3G? Sorry, but with my Evo, I thought everyone was up to 2010 technology.

I'll tell you what though...the iPhone is still cute.

[Woogman Posted May 29th 2010 10:19PM]

@Kelly S yeah the EVO is a hot phone I would switch to it from the iPhone except no 4G here until late 2010 maybe 2011 if it is delayed so not even sprint is up to par on 2010 technology...beside Sprint's current 4G speeds are equal to that of 3.5G aka HSPA, my friend has had 4G in Baltimore for over a year & on most days my speeds is like 1-1.5mbps lower then what he gets on his supposed 4G, Plus an extra $10 a month cuz they expect u to use more data odds are your gonna bounce between 3G/4G so often that most of the time you will be on 3G but yet you will be paying that extra $10 bucks a month just cuz the phone is named EVO 4G

[NuShrike Posted May 30th 2010 7:49AM]

@Kelly S T-Mobile's 3G HSPA+ < 21Mbps is actually faster than ClearWire's WiMAX '4G' < 10Mbps.

In areas of proper coverage, people will be shocked the '4G' is slower than 3.95G, lol. Welcome to 2010 bro.

[steveymacjr Posted May 29th 2010 9:54PM]

This article isn't accurate..
Skype on Verizon does NOT use the VZW Data network, it makes circuit switched voice calls to a gateway... see this PCMag.com article for how it works: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361725,00.asp
in the mean time this post should be updated to note that Skype for Verizon does NOT use the 3G network as it states!
Credit to www.twitter.com/saschasegan for pointing this out.

[MJ Posted May 29th 2010 10:51PM]

@steveymacjr
Actually it does use 3G/1X data network that is the Login/IM'ing function. Voice calls yes do go over a voice channel 404 area code #.

If they did not use 3G/1X data then WiFi could be turned on with no issues what so ever.


P.S. anyone ever think maybe it was not a coincidence they chose area code 404 (not found) maybe that's why sometimes I can't receive calls from Skype users!

[LikeAThief Posted May 29th 2010 10:59PM]

The unjailbroken 3GS is just now getting to be as functional as my 4 year old HTC Kaiser (Tilt) was. So lame.

[t2af Posted May 30th 2010 5:19AM]

@LikeAThief
so why aren't you using that if it's so great ?

[Plazmic Flame Posted May 29th 2010 11:36PM]

Oh Skype, keep digging that grave bud.

[Jawali Posted May 30th 2010 12:47AM]

I broke this news hours ago: http://www.nithin.net/skype-for-iphone-finally-gets-calls-over-3g-b

Nimbuzz FTW!!

[daewootech Posted May 30th 2010 3:35AM]

on startup i got this message
"Warning:
This version of Skype is only supported on unmodified iPhone OS 3.0x, 3.1x, and 3.2.x.

[udvarhelyibalint Posted May 30th 2010 7:24AM]

so I still need to jailbreak my iPhone - this time to avoid the monthly fee on 3G

[korlieposha Posted May 30th 2010 7:58AM]

depends now

[fredphoesh Posted May 30th 2010 8:07AM]

Keh?
here in the UK, people with android and windows mobile have been doing this for over a year.
what interests me is the video conferencing, though 3G will be a bit too slow.

[shambla Posted May 30th 2010 9:45AM]

Ok so a few people have asked whether the new monthly subscription for Skype calls over 3G will apply just to iPhone or to all mobile platforms. I was wondering the same thing since I currently use Skype constantly on my N900, so I asked Skype customer services and got this response:

"Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Service. We understand your concern about this. Unfortunately we can't disclose any further information regarding 3G calling subscriptions at this time and we kindly ask you to stand-by. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Not exactly sure what to make of this, but they certainly aren't ruling it out. What a bunch of assholes

[sl86 Posted May 30th 2010 10:51AM]

What a disgrace, I wish there was a viable alternative to skype, so that I could stop using it altogether. I feel like writing an email to skype to warn them that if they do they are going to screw up their whole business. I think I'll stick to fring.

[Almo Posted May 30th 2010 3:24PM]

Whichever way you want to spin it, yes it is the 4th Generation.

1st Gen: iPhone 2G.
2nd Gen: iPhone 3G
3rd Gen: iPhone 3GS
4th Gen: iPhone XXXX (TBA June 7th)

[talonz Posted May 31st 2010 8:27PM]

Skype for Nokia's N900 is still king,

- perfect intergration
- perfect voice calls
- awesome video calls :D ty pr 1.2
- and the big one ... its free !

it's a shame apple can only ever seem to do half a job ...