Skype landing on iPhones this Tuesday - confirmed
That great disturbance in the Force is a million network providers suddenly crying out in terror
Last week, the internet was buzzing with the rumour of an official Skype client heading to the iTunes App store. Now it’s official: Skype for iPhone and iPod Touch will be launching tomorrow for the highly reasonable cost of... nothing.
The free iPhone App packs almost all of the VoIP / IM client’s main features and throws in a couple of extras for the Apple platform. You can make voice calls to your contacts, naturally, and you can also send IMs to your Skype friends.
In addition, you'll be able to set new profile pictures using your iPhone camera or by uploading images from your camera roll.
iPod Touch users will also need to invest in a set of headphones with integrated mic unless they’ve got one of the more recent models that incorporates its own microphone.
The interface itself is decidedly more Apple-centric than Skype’s traditional design, but that’s probably a good thing. For one, it should get on better with the iPhone interface and the way people are used to using their handsets. For example, you can sort your contacts alphabetically or by who’s online.
There are a few caveats though. You can’t make VoIP calls using the handset’s data connection. No surprise there as enabling that kind of functionality would probably result in mobile networks dropping the iPhone quicker than a red hot hand grenade.
That means you’re limited to WiFi when making voice calls. The quality of the network and your signal strength will therefore have a knock on effect on the call quality, although Skype reckons that its direct connection will offer better call quality than current third party rivals like Fring.
You will be able to have IM conversations using the data connection.
If you’re not on the iPhone bandwagon, don’t worry – Skype isn’t leaving you out in the cold. It has also been confirmed that a similar app is heading to BlackBerry users in May. WinMo users can also check out the latest Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows Mobile, which goes one up on the iTunes version by allowing you to send SMS text messages and transfer files.
Skype hopes to add a similar feature set to the iPhone and iPod Touch at some point later. Video calling is being worked on.
Skype for iPhone will be available to download from tomorrow, 31st March
That great disturbance in the Force is a million network providers suddenly crying out in terror
Last week, the internet was buzzing with the rumour of an official Skype client heading to the iTunes App store. Now it’s official: Skype for iPhone and iPod Touch will be launching tomorrow for the highly reasonable cost of... nothing.
The free iPhone App packs almost all of the VoIP / IM client’s main features and throws in a couple of extras for the Apple platform. You can make voice calls to your contacts, naturally, and you can also send IMs to your Skype friends.
In addition, you'll be able to set new profile pictures using your iPhone camera or by uploading images from your camera roll.
iPod Touch users will also need to invest in a set of headphones with integrated mic unless they’ve got one of the more recent models that incorporates its own microphone.
The interface itself is decidedly more Apple-centric than Skype’s traditional design, but that’s probably a good thing. For one, it should get on better with the iPhone interface and the way people are used to using their handsets. For example, you can sort your contacts alphabetically or by who’s online.
There are a few caveats though. You can’t make VoIP calls using the handset’s data connection. No surprise there as enabling that kind of functionality would probably result in mobile networks dropping the iPhone quicker than a red hot hand grenade.
That means you’re limited to WiFi when making voice calls. The quality of the network and your signal strength will therefore have a knock on effect on the call quality, although Skype reckons that its direct connection will offer better call quality than current third party rivals like Fring.
You will be able to have IM conversations using the data connection.
If you’re not on the iPhone bandwagon, don’t worry – Skype isn’t leaving you out in the cold. It has also been confirmed that a similar app is heading to BlackBerry users in May. WinMo users can also check out the latest Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows Mobile, which goes one up on the iTunes version by allowing you to send SMS text messages and transfer files.
Skype hopes to add a similar feature set to the iPhone and iPod Touch at some point later. Video calling is being worked on.
Skype for iPhone will be available to download from tomorrow, 31st March
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