Make and receive calls over 3G with our new iPhone app
We’ve updated our iPhone app – you can now make video calls.
Update: We’ve released a new version of the app, and no longer have plans to charge a supplement for calling over 3G.
The wait is over. You can now make and receive calls with Skype for iPhone using your 3G connection. We’re very excited about this, as we know that
being able to use Skype when you’re away from your home or office is
important to you. We’re also bringing to you improved sound quality, giving you near CD-quality sound for Skype-to-Skype calls on your iPhone 3GS or 2nd generation iPod touch and onwards.
Over the coming months we’ll be working out what pricing options might be – and don’t forget that Skype is all about great value. Calling over 3G will be no exception. In the meantime, Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G will be free until the end of 2010, so download and enjoy*. Skype-to-Skype calls over WiFi will remain free – and you can make calls to landlines and mobiles around the world at our incredibly low rates.
The new version features an enhanced call quality indicator, which will help you choose the best moment to call. We’ve made the app speedier to start up, and given you rapid access to the dial pad from the home screen – all in all, making it quicker for you to get from click to chatter.
The updated app is available now in the App Store – download it now.
* Operator data charges may still apply.
What about Android devices outside USA?
the wait is still on for Android users (or at least the majority of them!) to get at least some sort of a skype app
that is great improvement! I tried immediately, but sorry to say, the quality was really unsatisfied at least till now………I’m looking forward to better quality in the near future!!!!
Just tried this and it works great! Pity I am going to have to pay for Skype to Skype calls over 3G
What about Push notifications (for instance for text messages or voicemails?). This was supposed to come out ages ago. Have you given up on it?
About the pricing: I currently pay for the unlimited US and Canada plan which I use on my PC. Will my existing subscription continue to work with Skype on the iPhone, or will I have to purchase a separate Skype over 3G plan?
Its great for Skype to (finally) have 3G calling, but it sucks to pay. Fring had free 3G calling over Skype network several months ago. 3G calling shoulda been free, we’re already paying data plan charges!
Still no Android app
This is a very bad development – paying for skype to skype calls is a no go, even though it is only for 3G connections -at the moment-. A really stupid move. I will be switching to somesort of SIP-based solution in the future.
Will this punishment fee come to other mobile users as well or is this only a ripoff for iPhone users?
Skype’s supposed promise to us:
ALL Skype-to-Skype calls are free, forever.
I think users should be outraged at the fact that you will be paying to use Skype over 3G OVER AND ABOVE your payment for the 3G connection itself.
This is very scary.
!!hola quiero comprar un plan para llamadas ilimitadas pero no se como hacerlo en colombia…y pagar en pesos…si es confiable pagar online con tu tarjeta….gracias
How about an Android App!!! Before you determine charge for Skype calls, here is a questions.
1. What happens to customers subscribed to unlimited calls in US and Canada?
2. If Skype-to-Skype will be charged over 3G, why not the desktop?
Hello,
Great news! but the bad new is that skype for iPhone is not usable anymore for VoiceOver users. VoiceOver is the taling screen reader built-in the 3gs. The feature allowing VoiceOver users to flick right and left to select a control is not functionnal anymore since this new update! Please, could you re-implement this feature? It’s necessary for VoiceOver users.
TIA for your support!
And where is the Andriod app?
I don’t understand the fee for calling over 3g?
Why not charge us for the ability to do so- flat charge for a Skype+3G app or in app purchase for Skype.
I’d be happy to pay once for this feature, but I can say I’d never go for the monthly fee. I imagine this is the case for more of your iphone users than not.
Keep in mind, this is exclusively for use with people who are paying for their service, its not like ipod touch users are going to be using it.
If it’s costing you guys to allow us calls over 3g you should say so, and you’d probably get less heat from your users. If its not… maybe the monthly charge isn’t a great idea… again- consider the one time fee if thats the case. Most people are willing to pay for conveniences, but usually not more than once for the same convenience.
Skype, I can’t believe you are going to nickle and dime us with that 3G fee in September. The reason people love Skype (right now) is because it’s free, and we can then pay for extra services like calling a land line or cell phone. Our choice. But charging people a fee for using Skype over 3G? Com’on! Skype is not the 3G service provider!!!! why charge for something that is being provided by another company? This is going to cost Skype in the long run. You’ll see….
Someone needs to explain why iPhone users are getting hit with this fee. Verizon customers don’t pay an extra fee for Skype to Skype calls over 3G. To this point I was very impressed with Skype and I have always recomended it to family and friends, but I’m disappointed that this where the company is headed. If memory serves “Skype to Skype calls will always be free” unless over an iPhone with AT&T 3G. I will say that I most likely won’t use Skype over 3G much, but the fee has me worried that this is a start of something bigger. Basically I have my finger on the delete button and I’m waiting to see how this is going to play out.
If you think you’re going to start charging for Skype-to-Skype calls over 3G – something that is and always has been free on every other Skype client – then you’re sorely mistaken. This is despicable to the highest degree. Will you be charging other 3G Skype users for Skype-to-Skype calls – Verizon users? Blackberry users? Android users? Mac & PC users? If not, then what is your justification for this unjustifiable iPhone tax? And that’s exactly what this is, a tax.
I will not put up with it. If you proceed to unfairly tax your iPhone users then I will no longer use Skype in the future and I will find and promote alternatives to Skype. I will recommend to all that I can to stop using Skype and to use another service that doesn’t treat their users like piggy banks that they can impose ridiculous fees on whenever they want.
You are not paying for my 3G data connection and as such you have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to charge me a fee to use the data connection that I am paying for. I don’t know what insane justifications you have for this but if you’re trying to recover costs associated with iPhone development then I’d recommend that you either make Skype for iPhone a paid app or you add a one-time-only in-app purchase for Skype-to-Skype calling over 3G. In my opinion this would still be ridiculous but at least it wouldn’t be as insulting and despicable as trying to charge a monthly fee for using the 3G connection THAT I’M ALREADY PAYING FOR.
Lastly I’ll say that you sure do know how to tick off your customers and you are trying your very best to make your once loyal and happy customers your former, disgruntled customers. Good luck with your continuing quest to alienate all of your customers.
Cheers
Hello! Are you also going to charge for 3g usage the owners of other devices such as the n900 and Symbian?
Is skype on iPhone and other mobile devices as safe and secure as the skype for mac or windows? Please do not refer me to the security overview section, as it only talks about skype in general not mobile devices such as iPhone.
rana
i am glad the i can make call Skype on iphone via 3g but also sad because after August 2010 Skype will charge on mobile .it should not be happen .please donot do it
thanks
To charge for skype to skype calls over 3G when wifi calls are free is ridiculous and outrageous. It’s like websites charging us a fee when visiting their pages over 3G compared to regular internet. Data is Data regardless of how u are accessing it and we are already paying the data provider for it. This is called discrimination against 3G users.
How bizarre! We’re allready paying for a 3G connection! I guess very soon there will be other software then Skype that doesn’t charge there customers. I think a Skype boycot should be something to consider. This SURE is called discrimination against 3G users!
Hoezo bizar! Eerst betalen voor een 3G verbinding! Skype slaat hier de plank goed mis, ik ga er vanuit dat er spoedig een derde partij is die in dit gat zal springen. Het is enkel nog wachten op het moment dat 3G voldoende ‘bandbreedte’ heeft. Windows Live zou bijv. een goed alternatief zijn en wordt al veel als mobile software aangeboden. Een skype boycot van de 3G users is beslist de moeite van overwegen waard.
Charging for Skype to Skype calls through 3G on the iPhone, eh?
Will you charge for Skype to Skype calls on other phones as well? Why not?
Will you charge for Skype to Skype calls on PC clients that surf through 3G connections as well, be they tethered to a phone or using a USB modem/internal 3G modem?
Just where do you think this’ll all end up?
You’re not mentioning any motives and you expect people to toss their money at ya like it’s ? Nice try. Get real already. Us users are already paying for the data traffic.
Wether you’re being pressured by the phone companies or not is irrelevant. You used to stick it to The Man. Look at you now. You’re a disgraceful lot.
Also; you have some nerve to give your users “CD quality sound” that has 4~6 seconds of latency between two users sitting next to each other, Skype to Skype calling through 3G, not too far away from a cell tower… and then being audacious enough to say “hey, enjoy this torment while it lasts. Youze gonna have to pay for it, starting next yea.. .. no.. in fact; strike that! Starting this august! Yaaaaah!! Hahaahahah! *counts nickels*”.
Know this; you just opened a can of worms, half-wits. Just keep shooting yourselves in the foot.
How about roaming costs?
I am a lot in Italy and make lots of calls to the netherlands and germany.
Am i still have to pay fee for roaming?
2 questions:
1) sound quality over 3G – I called cell phone using my Skype out and although the sound quality on my end was excellent, my friend complained that every few seconds, he would loose few words, so the conversation was basically garbled. It seems that it’s switching like it’s in one way calls. Saying over does not really cut it with cell phone.
2) I will NEVER EVER pay extra to Skype or anyone else, since I am already paying to my provider and I have 6 gb of data/month and never use it all up and I pay to Skype every month for Skype Out. Furthermore, nobody can call me on Skype from another phone no, since I can’t get Skype incoming number in Canada. Plus, the iphone does not support multitasking yet, not till OS 4. So the value of the 3G calling with Skype is very limited. If Skype institutes anymore fees, I will simply cancel my Skype out and stop using Skype altogether. There are alternatives.
Dear Skype,
I would first like to say that for years, I have been a big fan of your company and your products. I also feel that your contributions to VOIP has gotten the average person interested in the technology and to help those who are separated by far distances connect just by using a webcam connected to a computer with a broadband internet connection. I was also a big fan with the vision you had as a company to extend the Skype application beyond your PC, to internet connected mobile devices and even to your internet connected television set. Unfortunately, I can not say that now and if anything, I want to express my disappointment and even anger towards your company in respect of how you have treated your iphone users and customers over the past five months.
Based on what I know, When Steve Jobs announced the SDK to develop apps for the iPhone as well as the app store to distribute them, he had rules on what applications can and can’t be made for the iphone. One of those rules was that no application was to be made that had any VOIP features over a cellular network. Based on what I know, Your company was a big advocate for that rule to be changed. Well Fortunately, Steve Jobs came out last January and said that developers can now make apps with VOIP functionality. Since then, your company was promising that very soon, you would release an update to your Skype Application for the iPhone to allow Skype calls over the cellular network.
I started to sense something being fishy as the weeks passed and no update was to be found on the App store on iTunes for the Skype Application. Once you said you where working on the call quality to improve, I had some sort of assurance that the application would then be released within the next few weeks or the next month.
I think the issue I have with your company the most is how you acted towards your customers and users between that period of time, to the announcement of the partnership between your company and Verizon, to this current day. Since the partnership announcement, everyone including my self on the Skype forums became suspicious with the sudden halt of communication over the status of the iPhone application. We at the forums kept asking for an honest answer as to the status of the iphone Application. We asked if the Verizon deal played any roll to the status of the iPhone app. Instead, Your mod’s on the forums just deleted are posts and avoided are questions all together.
I think the thing that makes me the most upset enough to contact you directly to express my anger and disappointment is the update to the Skype Application for the iphone over the weekend. Yes, while it finally has the ability to place Skype to Skype calls over a cellular network, the little message that pops up when you use the application; “You’ve got until at least August 2010 to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls over your mobile network. After that, you’ll need a mobile subscription.”
To me, I feel like your company has gotten to the point where you get big enough, you just stop caring for your customers and you now just spit on them! This iphone application to me feels like a spit to the face! To even suspect that loyal fans, users and customers like my self is more than happy to pay whatever fee you introduce past august, well thats just complete nonsense and arrogance and who ever thought of that and approved it should be dismissed from the company! No one will pay for this! We will just move on to other alternatives like Google’s Gizmo5 or even Fring.
So what is up with this supposed monthly fee past August to make Skype to Skype calls over the cellular network on your iPhone? Whats the justification to this cost? I pay my cell phone provider $30 a month for 6GB of data. 6GB to consume it anyway I want so long as I don’t abuse the network. If I go over my 6GB data plan, Well thats my problem and should pay any over charges for it. Skype is a P2P based VOIP protocol. The calls don’t pass through any server, they just pass through nodes. I don’t quite understand the associated cost to this. Why do I have to pay this fee on top of my monthly data fee from my cellular provider? Could you please explain the justification to this cost?
Also, Why do Verizon customers who get a smartphone with Skype in it and they do not have to pay for this fee?
For my last question, I would like to ask this. Skype, Can you please explain to me the difference between using this updated iPhone application that does VOIP over the cellular network and paying the unknown small fee past August to make Skype to Skype calls, compared to taking my notebook PC, tethering it to my iPhone to receive internet via cellular network and using the Skype application on the PC to make Skype to Skype calls past August?
If anything, I ask that your company review this decision. Go on the Skype forums to see all your users who are Angry over this. That not enough? Go on to iTunes and read the reviews. It has already been up for a few days and already people are giving negative reviews over the fact that you plan to charge to use the cellular call feature. If you did not even think of adding a charge to the application, I am sure all the reviews for the application would be high praise. It’s actually a good update! Just the idea to charge for it foreshadows its usefulness.
Lastly, I ask once again to please review this decision. I want to be a continuing fan of Skype and its products! I want to continue to encourage other people to use Skype. But continuing to make these bad decisions, I am sorry but I would have to move on.
Perhaps you’d like to explain
- How it costs Skype any more money to provide their service, just because my IP happens to be from a mobile carrier over 3G
- What the difference is, to Skype, between making
a) Making a Skype call over my iPhone
b) Making a Skype call over my laptop, using my iPhone as a modem (free to tether on my carrier, free for Skype, AND I can use more bandwidth if I make a videocall)
c) Making a Skype call over my laptop, using a USB HSDPA modem, using my iPhone’s SIM card
- Why I can call, Skype-to-Skype over 3G, on my old Nokia (provided by 3 Australia) for free, and have been able to do so since 2006?
- Whether this charge applies solely to iPhones as it appears to? Why am I paying an iPhone tax?
- Whether it has anything to do with your Verizon deal in the US…believe it or not, a great deal of us live in other countries and have unlocked phones and don’t really care about US telco politics.
- How it’s fair that those of us overseas often have download limits on our 3G plans, who are essentially already paying for X amount of MB
- What you meant by your previous claim “Skype-to-Skype calls are free, forever.”
Now if my telco wants to charge more for tethering, or Skype, or whatever, that is certainly their prerogative. It’s not yours.
An IP address is an IP address. You’re not providing my internet service. You don’t magically incur more costs because I’m on 3G.
Now excuse me while I go jailbreak my phone…
Seriously…you want me to pay on top of my monthly fee to my cell company? I’m happy to pay for calls to landlines etc, but Skype to Skype…not going to happen. Maybe you want me to move to Fring or Google Voice?
You can download fring at the app store, not only can you make calls over 3g for free you can also see the person on your handset if they are on a computer so one way video call.You would think sykpe knows about this.
Guys, what are the Skype alternatives?? As far as I can tell, there seems to be NONE. Tried SIP over wifi/3G. Nope. Quality sucks. Skype sounds better because it is p2p, rather than server-client (SIP technology)… I hope alternatives come soon!
What amazes me the most is not the fee per se but the inability for a communication (!?) company to properly articulate and convey a message to its customer base without upsetting it. Is there anybody – with some common sense (if not professionalism) – in charge of marketing and PR?
Charging for skype to skype over 3g. Thought skype to skype was always meant to be free. Oh well. And so another company gets greedy.
Hoping to address most of the questions raised below – please let me know if I’ve missed yours!
@scott.crotty @martinokp @davecrowman thanks for your inputs – we haven’t made any decisions about pricing yet, so watch this space for more details.
@dkazibutowski @uglierwan we believe that calling over 3G is something which people will find very valuable, and which they’ll be willing to pay for. Why not give it a try (free!) until the end of the year and see what you think?
@jallbritton we have a great relationship with Verizon Wireless which allows us to make Skype-to-Skype calls completely free per minute on their network – much like we do with 3 in the UK.
@cutterpillow @elkhawand.dominic @mjebijma there’s a distinction here, and best explained in terms of a metaphor. We strongly believe that network operators shouldn’t be allowed to charge extra for apps like Skype. That’d be like your water company forcing you to pay extra because you wanted to make coffee with the water. What we’re charging you for is a better coffee machine.
@cristianogp We haven’t made decisions about other platforms at the moment – and on the security question, is there anything specific you’d like to know?
@atom-x our iPhone team are aware of a couple of reported VoiceOver problems, including this one. Thanks for flagging to us – I hope we’ll be able to fix them in a future version.
@r.brinkhuis roaming charges are set by your network operator – ask them
@james-steeves thanks for your feedback – I appreciate the comprehensive critique. I disagree on one point, though, and that’s on the question of value which I’ve addressed above. We believe that this is something people will be willing to pay for – otherwise we wouldn’t even be contemplating charging for it in the first place. It’s a question of value, not of cost, and my recommendation is to try it and see. If, at the end of 2010, you don’t find it valuable (or even before then) then please, please let us know.
@grug2k see my reply to James immediately above which addresses the question of cost vs. value, and to @cutterpillow on the topic of data charging.
@gd-jac we expected this announcement to cause plenty of discussion, and we’re more than happy to answer peoples’ questions. Fire away
Peter Parkes
Considering the considerable delay in coming up with this version (which caused a lot of upset) and beside the annoying message that keeps popping up to remind us that at the end of August it is not any-longer free, you would have been better served by releasing this app with the pricing structure and not with a statement that keep people guessing.
I am however also surprised by the frankness of your statement of yours “It’s a question of value, not of cost” – ipso facto what the market can or is willing to afford (e.g. the same product X is more expensive in Dublin than Prague due to market condition)
This said I keep being amazed at people who continue to believe that these services/products (and I am not taking only for Skype) will continue to be free. As every business model this one needs to make money and when critical mass will be reached every company will start charging, but frankly it all depends how, how much and with what Service Quality Level (which is the crux of the matter)
wheres the PROPER iPad app?
@gd-jac we haven’t yet determined the exact pricing structure, and so given that the app was ready, we felt it was important to get it out to the world (but with a clear proviso that the trial would last until the end of the year). We’re absolutely committed to being frank about our pricing approach – but it’s certainly not about gouging customers for whatever we can get away with; that’s no way to build a company and brand which people respect.
Instead, I think you hit the nail on the head with your final paragraph. To provide a great quality experience requires substantial investment on our part – an investment in engineering, R&D and design which we can’t make for free.
@thomascoleman we’re working on it!
Peter, I’d like you to tell us which of the following is the case (in the US, at least):
1) Apple and/or AT&T is charging you a fee (or making you compensate them in some way) for the ability to provide Skype calls over 3G on the iPhone, and you are planning to pass this fee (in whole or in part) on to your users
2) Neither Apple nor AT&T charges you (or demands compensation) for the ability to provide Skype calls over 3G on the iPhone, but you have decided for the first time ever to introduce charges for Skype-to-Skype calls
3) You are legally prohibited from answering this question
4) You choose not to answer this question
@surlyhacker option 2.
Thanks for the quick response
PAY THE CALL Skype-to-Skype is a shame! Never mind that you will pay in 2011, is a matter of principle! Google Voice devour you if you continue with these choices … this would be a sad thing.
@Peter Parkes – thanks for your replies. I agree with you that the people providing me with water should not have a say on what I use the water for. However, I think that the people I buy the coffee machine from should not have a say over which water source I use to feed the coffee machine.
Skype customers who are rejoicing about using Skype over 3G are strong believers that a data connection should be used for anything they want. Equally, these same customers strongly believe that an online service (including Skype) should be free regardless of which data connection you are using.
I agree with jallbritton that it is incoherent for you to start charging skype-to-skype calls (over 3G) when you broadly advertise that “Skype-to-Skype calls will always be free” pretty much everywhere on your website.
I’m pleased that Peter Parkes has been able to answer many of the questions posted so far but I still don’t understand:
• Why is it that only iPhone 3G users appear to be facing charges for Skype-to-Skype calls from 2011; what about 3G users on other mobile platforms?
• Peter states “we have a great relationship with Verizon Wireless which allows us to make Skype-to-Skype calls completely free per minute on their network – much like we do with 3 in the UK”. Does this mean that as a 3 UK customer with a 3G iPhone, I will not pay from 2011?
* Will users who tether their 3G iPhone to their laptop and use Skype incur the additional charge?
• Skype as a company have been remarkably successful in introducing VOIP to the average user with its freemium model. Do Skype think that the model they have used to date is now broken from a business perspective?
@Peter Parkes. Thank you for the clarification. However I have 2 comments:
1- It’s a matter of principle: skype to skype calls are always free according to the original skype company’s vision and promise. 3G skype to skype calls are by definition included.
2- If you give me the option of buying a new coffee maker to make better coffee, u can’t tell me that I would have to pay for it if I use bottled water, or use it for free if I use city water. You can make me pay for it alright but that would be a one time fee not a fee according to usage and I can use it with any water source I want.
@Skype, I certainly hope you don’t make those who have a unlimited subscription pay more to use Skype on their mobile phone.
I also agree that Skype to Skype should be free no matter what even if you are on a 3G network. That’s been the basis for Skype over the years and it would be a better idea to keep it that way.
Peter Parkes you say to @james-steeves thanks for your feedback – I appreciate the comprehensive critique. I disagree on one point, though, and that’s on the question of value which I’ve addressed above. We believe that this is something people will be willing to pay for – otherwise we wouldn’t even be contemplating charging for it in the first place. It’s a question of value, not of cost, and my recommendation is to try it and see. If, at the end of 2010, you don’t find it valuable (or even before then) then please, please let us know.
Dear Petar,
Do you know what racketeering is?
P.S.
You just lost me and another few millions as a clients!
Greedy thieves. Are you guys not making enough money as it is already in subscriptions by millions of users? Is it really all worth it to start charging in this aspect to call on 3g again? I’m usually not as blunt in my comments, but this move is completely ridiculous and unnecessary as others have pointed out the fees aren’t actually being utilised for anything other than just fat profits in the pockets. If this fee was perhaps say used to upkeep a service to provide 3g calls then they may be acceptable but so far you haven’t explained why this charge is needed.
Thanks for the update to the application, seems terrific!
Some feature requests for future versions:
1. Bluetooth headset support
2. Running in the background and able to receive calls with new iPhone OS 4.0 which presumably supports multi-tasking.
Thanks!
How on EARTH does it work? I downloaded the new version, and I’ve been trying and trying – I can’t figure out how to do it. I can use Skype over WiFi (which sucks on the iPhone), but I can’t do it over 3G. Are there instructions anywhere?
Firstly I would imagine that there are some backstage dealings between Skype and telco providers. The implementation of VOIP over 3G and OS4 could potentially ruin carriers. I have taken to VOIP and my bill has gone from $75 to $16. This is a business decision with that in mind. The increased revenue of Skype out over 3G would cover the R&D of the iPhone app so it seems odd to start charging for use. All VOIP providers offer free in network calling, some at a third of the cost of Skype. Vote with your feet.