Skype on the Iphone:VoIP but not quite Vo3G
There’s been a lot of excitement amongst iphone and skype fans alike about the just-released Skype Iphone App. By all accounts it is a very user friendly application that keeps a good balance between the Apple Iphone’s app format and Skype’s familiar branding. By and large the user interface is widely heralded as the most user friendly of any mobile VoIP client for the Iphone.
The only drawback is the limitation of the Skype app as a wifi only VoIP service. The reasons behind this are obvious, since carrier fees would be drastically reduced if IPhone users could make VoIP calls over the 3G network. How long can carriers maintain this kind of control though? With 3G data capabilities, it seems like enabling these kinds of devices is the logical next step and clinging to minute usage fees for voice calls is an antiquated and out dated system that is unfairly leveraging the consumer.
Here’s what others are saying on the matter:
From Gadget Loop in Australia:
Not sure if it’s a limitation with my carrier (Telstra) or a general iPhone Skype restriction but I could not make or receive calls via my 3G connection. Either way, this puts a damper on the whole app release and I especially feel for those customers who have all-you-can-eat data plans who can’t take advantage of potentially cheaper calls via Skype.
From VoIPSupply:
I’m sure that Skype would love for users to have the ability to place calls over 3G and send and recieve text messages. Unfortunately that would come at the expense of the wireless carriers existing revenues.
Either way, it seems that Skype has nailed the app for the most part, and the next step is for carriers to get with the times.
Uncategorized | fbnewman | 
April 3, 2009 2:46 pm
Subscribe
