Skype iPhone App Gets Video Calling Over WiFi, 3G

SAN FRANCISCO — A new version of the free iPhone app for Skype SA will let users make and receive video calls.

Users of the Internet calling and messaging service will be able to use both Wi-Fi and AT&T Inc.'s 3G cellular network. FaceTime software, which comes with iPhones, works only with Wi-Fi.

The app, which is being released Thursday through Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store, will let iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS users make free video calls to other Skype users who are using the app or have access to the feature using Skype on their computer or other video phone.

Those with the latest iPod Touch will be able to make video calls over Wi-Fi. The app allows the iPad and previous-generation iPod Touch to receive video calls, too, Skype said.

Skype's software offers free services such as voice or video calls to other Skype users.

Users pay to do things such as make calls from a PC to a landline or cell phone.

In the first half of 2010, video calls made up 40 percent of all minutes spent using Skype's free calling services, the company said.

The iPhone 4, which was released in June, was the first iPhone to include a front-facing camera for video chat. It includes FaceTime, which enables users to make video calls to others who have the iPhone 4, the latest iPod Touch or a Mac computer. So far, however, FaceTime doesn't work over the cellular network and doesn't allow calls to Windows-based computers.

Skype, which is based in Luxembourg, is not the first third-party app for the iPhone to allow free video calling over AT&T's cellular network. Apps such as Fring and Tango offer the capability as well, although neither has as many users as Skype.

The updated app comes about a week after Skype suffered a major service outage that lasted 24 hours and cut off service for millions of users. On average, 124 million people use Skype each month, though the total number of registered users is more than four times that.

In a Wednesday post on the company's blog, Skype's chief information officer, Lars Rabbe, said the problem was caused by a bug in a version of Skype's software for computers running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system.

Comments

[khalil11]

04:23 PM on 12/31/2010

The Skype thing could replace the cellphone industry itself because u dont have to pay for extra texting and everything just basic 3g

[briarus42]

04:45 PM on 12/31/2010

it will not happen with Skype it is little more than techno ponzi scheme of which there seems to be more everyday!

[briarus42]

05:36 PM on 01/02/2011

no way voip cell phones will be all the rage when available. Skype is not capable of handling a lot of traffic and is in no way a real utilities player. They are still very outlaw and infested with hackers scammers neer do wells and just plain old criminals . They changed countries twice in the west and then changed hemispheres. Apparently the posters on this site think that they are like Amazon Netflix or Google you could not be more WRONG!

[jsntrenkler]

11:40 AM on 12/31/2010

About time!

[Greg Forest]

09:24 AM on 12/31/2010

Must have missed something in my experience with Skype. My local telco was charging me $35 a month for basic phone service. After I got a Skype number, my cost went down to about $5 per month and Skype threw in the "extra" services like voicemail, 3 way calling, call forwarding, caller ID, etc. When I am out of town, I forward my Skype line to my cell. I haven't noticed anything "shady" about their services in almost five years of using the service. Only the limitations of bandwidth seems to be the downside. I don't know of ANY phone company who will let me video conference with my partner in Greece for FREE.

p.s. This is the 21st century folks and anyone paying for cell phone minutes is getting screwed. I am paying $55 a month for all I can eat voice, text and data. Free nationwide roaming. Not going to mention the company but there are a few out there.

[briarus42]

10:04 AM on 12/31/2010

nothing is free skype is only free to other skype users you WILL get burned with them.

[fla kracker]

10:26 AM on 12/31/2010

Yeah that 1.5 cents a minute from the Bahamas to the states is just burning me up

[Tsalco]

11:15 AM on 12/31/2010

Been using almost all of Skype's services for over 5 years with very few glitches. I call out to phones all the time and have a phone number for people to call me. It only costs a few dollars a month.

[briarus42]

04:56 PM on 12/31/2010

no doubt cell phones are a rip off,there are some newer systems coming out that will feature wireless routers that operate within a 6 mile perimeter of your home. The costs will be less than $8 per month . This will not help if you travel much though .

[briarus42]

08:46 AM on 12/31/2010

Everyone listen to THIS ! Skype does not have any business offices in the United States? Radio Shack Tandy who owns this "company" in this store will tell you we sell this product but are NOT
responsible for whether or not it works? NOT regulated by the FTC?

[Kreskytim]

09:11 AM on 12/31/2010

Are you asking questions or telling us the facts?

[briarus42]

10:22 AM on 12/31/2010

sorry Kres relating exactly what happened and the facts. Once their application is in your computer guys good luck getting it out? Good luck with skype?

[ahornick]

09:26 AM on 12/31/2010

Maybe you overlooked the part that their domestic video product is free. At least for that service, there is nothing for the FTC (did you mean FCC?) to regulate.

So what if they have no business offices in the US. Do you have a made in America TV in your home? Get use to being a member of the international community.

[briarus42]

10:11 AM on 12/31/2010

no wrong! Free only with other skype users? no I mean tHe FTC they are the ones you have to go to when money is exchanged? The FCC regulates only American broadcasts.
They have no offices that can be reached anywhere? They change nationalities to avoid interpol? Things got sticky in Luxembourg and they fled to Taiwan? Give them a chat?

[b1986]

08:17 AM on 12/31/2010

Downloaded it last night and tried it with my cousin who lives across town. It worked very well and the picture quality was very clear. Great feature to have. I can't believe it's free.

[briarus42]

08:08 AM on 12/31/2010

Skype is the worst they sold me phone number for 30 Eu a year and it turned out to be the former number of an identity thief? Got calls from interpol irate customers and FBI . Consumers beware
if you try to get in touch with "skype" you will find that it is a dead end road? They only do business in counties like Luxembourg and Taiwan who are notorious for harboring phonies and scammers? Their companies " inventor" is one such person in the extreme? he is a shining example of all that is wrong with international trade and online phone and telecommunications services?

[briarus42]

08:12 AM on 12/31/2010

that is countries and the "creator" of skype is A a euro shady named Peter Zennstrom Buyer beware anything with his name on it?

[ahornick]

09:29 AM on 12/31/2010

My phone number from Comcast was apparently "owned" by half a dozen people before I got it. This seems to be an on-going problem with many service providers.

[briarus42]

10:01 AM on 12/31/2010

at least comast is regulated by local utilities when you get skype you are own your own?

[TechieFreak]

05:43 AM on 12/31/2010

on my Galaxy S Android 'push email' is default. Gmail but you can add other email accounts.

Everything goes thru Google with Android.

[WebCommoner]

04:55 AM on 12/31/2010

Looking forward to the day when some universal WI-FI company comes along and really sticks it to the cell phone carriers.

[zelduh]

04:58 AM on 12/31/2010

I SOOOO agree!

[FreeHat]

08:17 AM on 12/31/2010

Your statement is so paradoxical it needs no further comment.

[TechieFreak]

03:52 AM on 12/31/2010

I have Skype for Android on my Galaxy S. love it.

I have unlimited 3G for 8 euros a month with Vodafone Netherlands.

Its made calling my friends in Australia cheap and in some cases FREE.

[zelduh]

04:48 AM on 12/31/2010

Neat!

I wish it would work on my old G1.

[SteveHansen]

01:32 AM on 12/31/2010

Phoning-while-driving has been a huge problem here for years already. Just talking on a phone while driving is about as dangerous as drunk driving. I recall a study last year that texting-while-driving is something like 25 times more dangers than drunk driving, because it takes the eyes off the road for a few seconds at a time. Video phones will take the eyes off the road continuously.

[zelduh]

04:48 AM on 12/31/2010

(You're not supposed to use it while driving.)

[Greg Forest]

09:16 AM on 12/31/2010

How do you get wifi while driving? You must have awesome coverage in your area.

[DavidBlackburn]

01:13 AM on 12/31/2010

Skype is lousy on the iPhone because they don't have push. Plus, I'm ticked off at them. If you buy their credits and don't use them within 180 days, they eliminate the credit!

[directfitz]

01:59 AM on 12/31/2010

Wrong. I've kept SKYPE credits for over a year. I've never had them taken away.

[zelduh]

04:49 AM on 12/31/2010

Me2

[trubluelefty]

07:27 AM on 12/31/2010

My skype credits seem to last forever...........

[GreenCajun]

08:16 AM on 12/31/2010

Skype credits used to expire after 6 months, but not any more. There was a class action suit and they dropped the expiration as part of the settlement. Now credits become "inactive" after 6 months if not used, but with one click they can be reactivated.

[briarus42]

04:48 PM on 12/31/2010

if it works?

[EquinsuOcha]

11:35 PM on 12/30/2010

I'd love to, except it's not worth it to go back to AT&T, especially now that they've gotten rid of their unlimited data plans. Worst customer service company on the planet.

[zelduh]

04:58 AM on 12/31/2010

We switched to T-Mobile. My hubby "jailbroke" his iPhone and it works fine on T-Mobile. He no longer has dropped calls. He is very pleased with T-Mobile and the "family plan."

[EquinsuOcha]

08:22 AM on 12/31/2010

I've done the exact same thing and pay nearly half as much for the same service, minus the 3G internet speeds, which is somewhat annoying (T-Mobile's 3G network is not on the same frequencies as AT&T's). Still, great customer service, simple and inexpensive billing, and I'm not stuck in a contract for life. I'd love to see an iPhone that can do 4G on T-Mobile - I might actually sign up, rather than month to month.

[lelabet]

03:20 PM on 12/31/2010

Good info. I would be an iPhone owner if not for AT&T.

[briarus42]

08:22 AM on 12/31/2010

They are at the bottom of consumer reports services ratings?

[Beauteparisan]

11:11 PM on 12/30/2010

Awesome! I have skype on my laptop and it would be great to have it on my iphone. Sounds like a win/win to me.

[emicscram]

12:05 AM on 12/31/2010

It has already been available for iPhone for quite a while but before it only worked if you had a Wi-Fi connection. What I wonder is what impact using 3G for Skype might have with regard to data plan usage/cost if one doesn't have an old unlimited data plan that came before the new two tiered plans that are offered now.

[briarus42]

08:26 AM on 12/31/2010

caveat emptor parisan be careful of what you put into your computer Skype is unregulated and
answers to no one? Not known for customer service or even HAVING customer service? For real?

[jerrypl]

10:43 PM on 12/30/2010

I imagine that is Skype were to launch a satellite to handle Internet connections, providers, such as ATandT, Verizon, etc, would become obsolete.

[MRb1000]

05:43 AM on 12/31/2010

the airways are not free! think again

[briarus42]

08:30 AM on 12/31/2010

no way skype is a turkey it has been sold at a loss several times? It is more of a flimflam operation than a real company ? They have moved overnight literally from one questionable
residence Luxembourg to another Taiwan in a day or two? Exercise caution when putting them on any of your computers?

[fla kracker]

10:38 AM on 12/31/2010

You need to take your meds dude We all get the point you hate Skype but a whole lot of us have used it for years . Myself I've used it for 10 years since they bought Dialpad and have not had ONE bad experience

[Devon Chambers]

10:20 PM on 12/30/2010

Skype video calling over 3G is a nightmare, especially if you're one of the unlucky ones without an unlimited data plan -- it uses 3 - 4MB's a minute, a thirty minute video call and most would have used up most of their data plan. Wifi isn't much better, this application needs more work and 3G video calling is pointless.

[emicscram]

12:17 AM on 12/31/2010

I was wondering about this with regard to the data plan usage. Fortunately for me, I have an unlimited data plan.