IPhone users will be able to make free phone calls from today as Skype becomes available for the first time on the popular Apple gadget.
Skype, the internet telephone unit of eBay, has more than 450 million registered users. It has been pushing to make its service available on “smart-phones” – such as the iPhone – rather than only desktop computers. As with the Skype service on PCs, phone calls will be free between Skype users and calls to other landlines and mobiles will cost less than normal network rates.
Scott Durchslag, Skype’s chief operating officer, said: “There’s a pent-up demand. Skype software for the iPhone has been the No 1 request among our users.”
Skype also said that its service would be available on millions of BlackBerry phones in May. It has already announced Skype for Nokia phones, as well as handsets that run on Google’s “Android” software for mobiles such as the T-Mobile G1, and Windows Mobile phones.
Telephone companies continue their death spiral. They deserve it.
And so approaches the day I may actually buy a cell phone. I refuse to join in until the telcos stop gouging.
When are we going to see Skype for the Apple iPod Touch? Forget about jailbreaking an iPhone; in fact, forget about paying the telcos entirely.
Right, mac the first on everything. macfans are such sore losers. You could use Skype on any pocketpc (smartphone or otherwise) years ago.
@bb=#2, It’s for the iPhone AND the iPod touch…without jailbreaking. But the iPod touch doesn’t have a mic, so you have to use plug-in headphones with a built-in mic in order to use Skype for calls.
I don’t have an iPhone. Does this use the iPhone’s camera for video chat?
And if so, isn’t the camera on the backside, which would prevent you from watching video and recording video at the same time?
Does the iTouch have a camera?
#3 – market share still pisses you off, eh?
Does this work when wifi-connected only, or also on the AT&T 3G? Would be amazed if the high-walled AT&T 3G garden permitted bypassing their steeply priced cellular minutes.
Fring has been supporting Skype on iphone for ages. Both are great for calls in but cannot receive calls unless the app is open so its kinda useless really …. apparently there in the future this will work, but for now it doesn’t (unless you jailbreak and x, y, z but I’ve tried three times doing fancy stuff with jailbroken phones and each time I’ve ended up having to wipe everything out and rebuild the phone so I can’t really be bothered ….
This article is total BS! You can’t make free calls over skype on any of these devices (I testesd it on Android).
The way it works is described on this page: http://skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/mobile/
Instead of getting to talk directly over your WiFi or 3G internet connection, when you choose to talk with another skype user it dials a local telephone number and charges you for a local call. This way the telcos only loose on international charges, but still get a piece of the action.
#6 No, outright stupidity does.
Don’t everybody get too excited yet. Skype on the iPhone only works with a wi-fi connection, not over 3G.
Why do you guys support outsourcing your phone service? Why are you so unpatriotic, taking money away from American companies and American workers for some suits in Luxembourg?
“Telephone companies continue their death spiral. They deserve it.”
Hum. Big words. I want to see this Skype app and this iPhone gadget push telephone companies down their “death spiral” without the telephone companies’ infrastructure.
# 9 danijel said …
This article is total BS! You can’t make free calls over skype on any of these devices (I testesd it on Android).
Umm… nope …
Try …
http://skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/iphone/
” * Free Skype-to-Skype calls from any WiFi zone.
* Call phones and mobiles from your iPhone contacts at great rates¹.
* See who’s online and send and receive instant messages on the move.
Free Skype-to-Skype calls
Sign into Skype from any WiFi zone and reach friends and family free with Skype-to-Skype calls”
#11′s right though … only Wi-Fi , no 3G.
Cheers,
/T.
#12 You forgot Estonians.
I must apologize to macfans for my previous rant. I keep forgetting that true sheeple wait until their beloved leader thinks is good for them to know and do what other people have been knowing and doing for ages, like waiting until version 3 of the software to do copy and paste.
At least they were lucky that winmobile skype is only on version 2.5, whereas they had to wait until winmobile was in version 7 (time when oy!phone ver 3 came out) to be able to do what it has been available there since the first wince alpha. Let us know when you can talk and run a program at the same time, I’ll give you a “dunce” hat when that happens.
Obviously, it’s not kosher to betray Steve and go download the app directly from Skype. Your beloved leader only allows you to download Skype from the mac store…sheeple.
#6 Market Share ? How about Q4 2008 Worldwide Sales:
Symbian OS:47.1%
Blackberry:19.5%
Windows Mobile:12.4%
iPhone OS:10.7%
Linux:8.4%
San Fransisco may love the iPhone but the world isn’t really bothered.
It only works if the app is open, close the app to do anything else and you are off the network. If you use the iPhone as intended, this skype app is useless.
The iPhone needs a multitasking OS, but that would kill the pathetic battery.
My N810 does skype calls. And plays Flash. And has cut-and-paste.
#18 Which any run-of-the-mill winmobile phone does. Pathetic macfans.