Charges for Skype 2.0 calling on iPhone put off until 2011
By Tim Stevens 
posted June 1st 2010 8:27AM
posted June 1st 2010 8:27AM
posted June 1st 2010 8:27AM
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Why are they still unironically considering to charge for this EVER?
@Leindurstit I guess because they need/want money?
You know, to pay their employes and such...
@Leindurstit
Heaven forbid a business actually aims at making money, eh? I'm sure after years of being free and becoming mainstream, they're going to start charging for all devices slowly bit by bit. No chance Skype will remain free forever.
...... It's still a lame decision. I think skype can be supported by other methods.
@SolidSnake
Perhaps they can't! They are maybe predicting a large influx of people using this, and their systems would not be able to handle this with their current budget.
But isn't it a viscious cycle? Keep in mind that nothing is ever free, so:
Free skype means fewer people paying large monthly tariffs to the networks for lots of minutes
Networks then have 1 of 2 options: Stop subsidising handsets, or charge massively for data.
WE the consumer never win. It is only ever a competition between companies.
@mattpez +5 you couldn't be more correct on that
Why the delay? To increase their installed base before instituting the subscription fee. It's a whole lot easier to encourage someone to subscribe if they've been using the services versus never having installed the app in the first place.
I wonder if this part of skype going subscription on everything
The real question is: Why do they have to charge for Skype calls in the first place? Ever!? It costs Skype nothing for me to make a Skype call! And I pay for skype credit every so often to make regular long distance calls and send SMS. Why the greed!? And the new version is now plagued with ads. I have been a heavy Skype user for years, but I am incresingly looking at alternatives these days!
@Marko
They don't really have an excuse. It costs them nothing to send or receive the signals. It does cost them for the equipment, people, and upkeep but that's what the monthly service charge is for. I'd be interested to see them answer that question.
@admlshake I think they only have a very limited server/bandwith load when you log in to find who is online. And even that it now mostly handled by superpeers (i.e. you become a superpeer after a certain amount of time, and your computer starts acting as a skype server). So it is mostly greed, really! MUST MAKE MORE PROFIT! MORE MORE MORE!
@Marko
A) You don't know what it costs them, don't claim it costs nothing to provide their service.
B) They are a commercial business and have every right to maximise profits.
C) You always have a choice of not using their service and going for alternatives, being IM chat clients or otherwise.
@Almo Wow do you work for Skype? All your comments makes it seem you are some Skype employee scouring the web defending its policy.
@Almo Skype's costs are minimal. Basically all costs are borne by users by using their own bandwidth in a peer-to-peer grid. Calls do not go through Skype servers (which would be very expensive for Skype). So any charges for Skype on the iPhone via wifi are pure profit for Skype.
It does seem ungenerous to users (remember "Skype to Skype calls are always free!), and there may be a backlash -- not just from cheapskates like many Engadget readers, but also from regular people who resent Skype charging them for something that costs them almost nothing.
@RDGB2
I was not aware that the calls are not routed through Skype servers and in fact p2p-based. In that case, how difficult would it be for other startups to offer alternative software that does the same for free instead?
How kind of them.
/s
bye bye Skype
@malus
HAHAHAHA... this is an Engadget commenter's reaction to the notion of paying for something. F--king brilliant.
@Wesscoast I suppose you're okay with paying for sending and recieving email too then. Or browsing the net.
Oh wait, you do all that on the connection you've already paid for once already?
So it will be free for long enough so that people get used to it (and hooked), then jack up the price. Classy.
@d0mth0ma5
If they make people aware of the upcoming price change, surely its not like its a trick or anything? Its the same as free trial software or samples of perfume in a shop. You try before you buy (or subscribe in this case).
Its not a drug, lets not get carried away :p
Reminds me of H.264 being royalty free for web use until 2015. Only free til people start using it heavily.
Is it just me or am I the only one thinking jailbreak and 3g unrestrictor? $3 app but might be worth it to trick skype into thinking your on wifi when its really over 3g.
@asanford89
Yes, from what I have heard people who upgrade to this latest Skype Version are unable to access the app if they are jailbroken.
So I'm guessing most will be staying at the old version and using 3g unrestricteor or VOIPover3g.
@saftwear I'd guess that they would stop supporting the software to connect to the network, they did that with the PC version, I assume it as feasible and that they have a real financial incentive to do so.
@saftwear
Jailbroken iPhone 3.1.2 - Skype works!
Jailbroken iPhone 3.1.3 - Skype works!
Jailbroken iPad 3.2 - Skype works!
The first time you run it, you get a warning popup that "Skype is only supporting on unmodified v3.0.." etc... Simply click OK and app loads normally.
@Almo
Thanks for this info.
So upgrade and then voipover3g for me
What surprised me is that people like myself who already have Skype subscriptions (e.g. Unlimited North American Calling) will now also get charged to use Skype on their iPhones. Is this correct?
What happened to "Remember, Skype-to-Skype calls are ALWAYS free"?
@darex Except on certain US carriers who will nickel and dime you for everything. It's amazing how people will put up with it.
"Why the delay, and what will you be paying for the privilege when the new decade really starts rolling? That we just don't know."
I know. Nothing :P
I wonder if this will affect Fring's iPhone Skype plugin at all?
This way everybody makes money, network operators and skype. I
mean I thought skype was on our side giving it easier access to free calls. Who cares my jailbroken device allowed me to make calls over 3g connection for months now by using 3g unrestricter
$kype.
Whats wrong with free skype-to-skype calls, and paid skype-to-phone calls? I'm sure I'm not the only person buying skype credit, it's not like they're not making money.
Oh cry cry cry internet. Cry your hearts out that a bunch of programmers and engineers want to make a few more dollars.
Look - even if they charge 2.99/month for this service....how much could you potentially save? A LOT! You know it, I know it, we all know it. Especially if they somehow incorporated more international value into the price.
All this crying that they might charge you....grab your parents/guardians and blow your noses in their clothing like you did when you were younger. It's hilariously disgusting. Life ain't free! This isn't even mandatory - you can choose another service like some have mentioned they might do. Just beware though....these other services will do the same to you when they reach the point where they may barely be breaking even/slightly underneath.
In fact, how about you people (I'm talking to YOU, iPhone user!) even has the potential for this to be free calls over 3G for right now! DROID USERS CAN'T SAY THAT!!! I'm looking at my phone right now going "Foiled again by Verizon...."
No free 3G calls, no wifi calling....what's the point for it? And you guys have options...and yet whining. And you wonder why people dislike the arrogance of the iPhone user...
My opinion is that data, is data regardless of whether you are on a standard WAN connection or a Cellular WAN connection. Subscribers pay carriers for that data, and having VoIP applications like Skype being technologically censored for the longest time baffled me. Carriers of course are extremely discontent with the fact that the general public can circumvent their calling charges by using VoIP and they want a cut. Cellular plans are ridiculously expensive without term contracts, and most carriers put you in a term so they can continously milk your bank account. This is all about money folks.
I have no proof of my claim of course, but this is soley my opinion, and I feel that many people share this opinion.
(Btw I have a skype subscription, but I don't see why I have to pay another one just because I'm on a different network type...data is data).
Yay, go skype!
When will people learn that there are plenty of ways to aviod this crap and use the real, free, desktop skype on their phone: Fring, Nimbuz, etc...
When will Skype learn that if they don't give us real Skype on our phones we'll eventually migrate to another product?
My comment mirrors some of the above. I have no problem with a business charging for a service, so if Skype decided tomorrow to start charging a $1 a minute for skype to skype calls I have zero problem with that (I might not use them, but again no problem).
My issue is that they are charging for skype to skype calls made over 3G, but not over WiFi. Why is Skype doing this? Where is the additional cost to them if I make a call over 3G instead of WiFi? I don't see one. To me this wreaks of carrier interference. I'm sure that some if not all of that "mobile subscription" is going to the carrier.
If that is the case, that is something I don't agree with. I am truly tired of carries offering "unlimited" data packages, only because we all know they are not in fact unlimited. Carries should be selling data packages based on two things, capacity and bandwidth. What I (as a consumer) do with my the bandwidth that I purchased is my business (as long as I'm not affecting the network, or other users).
This is no different then if Comcast, who sells internet and home phone service, worked a deal with Skype so that skype to skype calls would require a special "Comcast subscription".
Data is Data. If Cell companies need to start charging more for data packages, I am again fine with that, but lets be up front and do it. I don't want to move to a model of an additional mobile subscription for Skype, and an mobile subscription for You Tube, and an mobile subscription for Netflix, etc....