What's up with Skype on mobiles
We’ve seen reports of Skype for Mobile development being halted in light of too expensive data plans, so I checked with a few people and thought I’d put up an update on where we stand with this.
First, it’s of course true that people decide to use or not use Skype and other Internet applications on their mobiles based on their data plans. The industry continues to develop and we’ve seen various unlimited data plans spring up in different places. The first one was with German e-plus [already in November 2005](http://blogs.skype.com/sites/en/2005/11/skype_on_german_eplus_3g_netwo.html).
Second, I’ve always found “Skype for mobile” an obscure term. There is no single “mobile” platform and there is no single “Skype” that will work on all. So talking about “Skype for mobile” is like talking about “Skype for computer”. On desktops, we have Windows, Mac OS X and Linux versions. Similarly, on mobiles we have had Skype for Windows Mobile for almost two years now ([announced in April 2004](http://about.skype.com/2004/04/skype_launches_skype_for_pocke.html)), and it now also supports Smartphone devices. We also have a client that works within the [Three X-series](http://www.three.co.uk/xseries/features/skype/index.omp). Similarly, we will have future versions on current and future platforms, working in different thin- and fat-client configurations. For example, Mac OS X has just entered the mobile scene with Apple’s latest product announcement, and while it remains to be seen how open the platform will be to external software developers, in principle and in the long run there’s no reason why you couldn’t see Skype running on that thing one day.
Data plans in Canada are about $100 for 200MB of activity/mth. Not an option for me.
So the next best option is wifi.
I’ve been waiting for some time to buy a non-windows phone with wifi. Symbian is probably my best option, but there isn’t a client available for download. Once Skype has one available, I’ll buy the phone and use Skype much more frequently.
Of course, an iphone version of Skype would be even better… if Apple lets you into that world anyway.
What about nokias and the symbian platform? I find it strange that you write a post regarding skype on mobiles yet make no mention of these devices. I have a nokia e61 with inbuilt wifi which would be perfect as a skype phone.
I do have Nokia n80 with wifi and just waiting to get Skype on my device.
I have an unlimited data plan with Cingular in the US and it costs about $30 a month. I just downloaded this for my new phone so Im hoping to see it reduce the number of minutes I use.
what Im really hoping is that there is a way to have Skype on my mobile phone access my mobile phones contact list! I dont see a way to do that!
Personally I really think you should let the consumer decide if they want to put Skype on their phone or not. More and more poeple have wi-fi in their mobile. I have a Nokia N80 and would love to have skype – especially for when I am at home on my home wi-fi network or even a wi-fi hotspot.
Also – I’m not sure you have really set out where Skype stands on this as was your intention in your post. There are many many of us who simply want to know – when are we going to get Skype for Symbian? Lack of demand is surely not the reason.
Is that really such a big ask?
Hello!
SkypeOut is a great thing for us and for you too..
Well, my problem is: I know many people that own MORE than one telephone number, why do I have to create many SkypeOut contacts when it’s only one person? Shouldn’t it be one contact, many numbers?
An import of the contacts from Windows’ and MacOsX’s Address Book applications would be nice too.
Cheers!
I got a Nokia N80ie for the holidays. Seeing gizmo project’s nokia/symbian SIP phone client over wifi leaves me baffled as to why skype wouldnt work. Is Skype really ignoring symbian users? What happend to the client that was in development?
Jaanus mentions the iphone but lets face the facts, Apple has a death grip on the application development for the iphone and Cingular/ATT will almost certainly tell apple NO Voip over wifi. Not to mention the iphone wont be out till JUNE, while the rest of us Symbian users have been teased for at least 2-5 years.
(remember those pictures of 6680 running skype? or comments by Zennström?)
At home I use the SMC Skype WLAN phone, but when I go on the road and still want to be able to make cheap calls I need to take this phone as well as my mobile with me. How much more convenient would it be if my Symbian based mobile could run a Skype client which uses the WLAN functionality built in to the mobile… I understand the politics of operators not wanting this, because it is one more threat to their bottom line, WLAN usage bringing in less revenue than GSM/UMTS data usage, but as a consumer this is what I want. Skype client availability on a mobile handset may even influence my next handset purchase…
Well, I use Mac, and I agree with other MAC users. The Skype MAC software is very limited on function compare to the one for Windows. On the other hand if Apple Iphone will allow user to download skype into it, that maybe one of the many reason I will change my Motorola Q, and Verizon to got in Cingular with the Apple Phone. One last think is the (Sony Milo) which is very similar to a Sidekick but it comes with skype already. Cons: it will be an extra device for many of us, and an extra $350.00 exp. Bottom line, I will like to be skype at least running on the apple cell phone.
i finally got skype to work on my mobile using wi-fi
but I am not able to use the internet because it the moble want to use GPRS although the wi-fi and blue tooth are active…is there a way to switch over completely to Wi-fi for all internet?
i finally got skype to work on my mobile using wi-fi
but I am not able to use the internet because the moble wants to use GPRS mode although the wi-fi and blue tooth are active…is there a way to switch over completely to Wi-fi for all internet use?
Any one see an option or future option to utilize Skype with a Nokia N80IE?
My wife and I both have Nokia N91 with Symbian software. I asked Skype a long time ago if a symbian version was going to be available and was told that work was underway. Still no release, so either 1) it is more difficult than expected 2) Resources to develop the software have been pulled or are not adequate 3) The big phone companies realise what a threat this would be as they may lose a lot of business via WiFi and so have placed pressure on Skype to stop development – pressure £$??? etc. Am i synical?? No just a pragmatist. Big business has a way of stopping what it doesn’t want. I hope Skype isn’t going to betray its loyal customers any longer. We want Skype for Symbian NOW.
Greetings all. I too have a Nokia N80ie and am very happy using it for VoIP with GIZMO but would rather be using Skype for pervasiveness. Data plans are not an issue for me as I primarily use this in WiFi locations. Cheers and bring on that convergence!
Hi there,
I am waiting for the sonyericsson P1, which uses Symbian as an OS, but not being able to use it as a skype phone could be a show stopper. Is anyone aware of a version of skype for symbian coming up (even in beta)?
Thanks
Al
We did some testing for right mobile solution to use Skype for our needs and decided to use Mobivox – and as a separate solution to use Jajah.
You can read about the whole process in my blog at: http://4startups.blogspot.com/
Add one more to the tally of customers requiring a Symbian compatible version (UIQ to be specific)…
I kept hoping it was right around the corner, but perhaps the level of demand for this product hasn’t been clearly portrayed (or understood).
Any updates on Symbian software as of 8th Aug 2008. Been waiting a long time.
why does it cost more to call an international cell phone then it does an international landline?
email with the answer
thanks
carol
cnj54@aol.com
I have sony ericsson G 900, symbian OS UIQ (WiFi), and waiting compatible version Skype
Hi I have a E.com TC-300 overdose dual phone. Both GSM and Wifi works well. Could somebody help with configuring Skype on this please.
I have samsung corby.
Is there any skype software which can be downloaded on that phone ? .
It supports wi-fi
I have a corby to and would like to use skype but tried downloading it a couple of time but no luck. please let me know if i am doing anything wrong. this is such a handy thing to have on ur phone and would like to hear some news soon thanks