Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
Reports have surfaced that Skype and Verizon Wireless have cemented a 2-3 year exclusive deal to develop and run Skype applications on Verizon smartphones. iPhone owners have been waiting for a 3G-enabled version of the Skype app for some time.
Now that AT&T and Apple have lifted the Wi-Fi only restrictions on applications like SlingPlayer, Skype users naturally expected they would be the next to benefit from this change. In fact, Skype already has a 3G-ready app but the company has delayed its release due to concerns over AT&T's network.
Now for the million-dollar question: with the Verizon deal in place, what is the fate of 3G Skype on the iPhone? Some have speculated that Verizon is secretly pressuring Skype to shelve the product so they can claim Skype exclusivity on their smartphones. Other reports have suggested that the Verizon version of Skype will be unique and use calling minutes instead of data to connect.
Skype still insists that the 3G iPhone update is coming soon. The company announced that a new version of Skype was in the works at the beginning of this month.
Fring and iCall have already released 3G-enabled versions of their VoIP applications. Skype has released a mobile application for several other platforms, including Android, Symbian and Blackberry.
Comments
Jim replied on Permalink
Please help bring the iPhone to Verizon. Sign this petition and spread the link by posting it on facebook, myspace, twitter, blogs, etc. Get the word out. Spread the link.
Thanks
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/verizoniphone/
Antonio Carvalho replied on Permalink
I'm terribly disappointed at Skype for this. 3G support was something they always said could be done instantly (and Fring did!), and now that Apple managed to lift the 3G restrictions for iPhone they are holding the update (it's been like a month or so).
I'm a Skype user and I pay to place the calls, it's not something surviving on ads or things like that so I believe they could take a better care of us customers instead of cheap tricks and deceiving statements.
At the same time, AT&T is still making loads of money on standard voice calls, and no iPhone user will give up his phone for anything Verizon has to offer, but they sure are willing to try new VoIP apps (I'm trying some myself).
So in the end, everyone is losing with this.
mattdlong replied on Permalink
The comment above is dead right, I also pay for skype being an Australian expat living in the US it's how I stay in touch with my family and friends back home. I was waiting patiently for Skype to enable 3G, but apon hearing this I have installed iCall which has 3g enabled and similar calling charges to what skype offer.
I can't help but feel they're missing the boat on this one.