Fring’s mis-use of Skype software was damaging to our brand and reputation
An hour or so ago, Fring reported on their blog that we had blocked their access to Skype. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: this is untrue.
Fring was using Skype software in a way it wasn’t designed to be used – and in a way which is in breach of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement. We’ve been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably.
However, over time, Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers. On Friday, for example, Fring withdrew support for video calls over Skype on iOS 4 without warning, again damaging our brand and disappointing our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.
We actively encourage developers to build products that work with Skype, acting, of course in accordance with our various API licences. At the same time, Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.
In this case, however, there is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype has blocked it. Fring made the decision to remove Skype functionality on its own.
You are stupid or something… You support nothing… we are still waiting for an android app, AND a decent linux app. The only thing you do is licking steve’s balls. Wake up, it is stupid that another company made a decent app for your network and you can’t do the same thing. Pay some good programmers and do it. I suppose there are others who can take your place in the market too, i’ve tried a couple of those and they are good.. actually they have better quality in calls. Why should we stay in skype then? Give us apps for all the platforms, with video calls, with calls over 3G and thing are gonna be ok for both of us, Don’t do it, and you will start loosing clients…
Having just got an Android I was completely excited about the chance to use Skype on my phone. First came here and realized that you didn’t have a version for it yet, dug around and found out about Fling, literally just got done downloading and installing only to find out that it’s recently been disabled.
What a disappointment. Though I do appreciate your position it seems to me that in good faith Skype would have at least allowed the functionality until it had its own working application. I do not think it was wise on any level to take these measures without offering a suitable replacement and I am sad that you do not see the value in this.
- Ray
So now after doing some more digging is it true that Skype has an exclusive deal with Verizon? As a Sprint user with an Evo, and might I add a paying customer of yours, I cannot fathom how (if true) you might believe that the vast amount of non-Verizon users would be willing to tolerate this.
I am more than willing to give up Skype and cancel my subscription if this proves to be true. Beyond that I would also be encouraging all those that I Skype with to do the same.
- Ray
Still no official response for skype on android….can you say PR disaster.
Keep in mind they are a corporation and do not care about the customer. People may read this and think the comment is narrow minded. Is it? I think they get so caught up on the business side of maximising profit and going through the motions of understanding the customer that they miss it completely. The auto industry is a prime example. You have to think, what motivates their descisions? What the customer wants? What will best line my pockets with bonuses, that is the question!! It is all about self interest and it is more so today than 30 years ago. Understand the “y” generation. Through taking many classes at the university, it is obvious people just want to fill in blanks instead of understanding the real issues and it leads back to how can I make a buck. My bigger picture on the issues anyway. Fring worked great for skype!! I was in a bad signal area, my evo 4G, on 3G signal. My mom called me via skype and video/audio was outstanding!!!! Skype’s downside!!! It was free.
The only thing stopping me from getting a data plan is not being able to use it for skype (and hence still have to pay high calling rates). In NZ, the telcos charge exorbent amounts of money (~60c US per minute to a landline), and skype offered me a way out, though now I find I can’t even use it on my phone…
Though, the part that bothers me the most, is we get hardly any comments from Skype, no PR releases, no blog updates, no tweets, nothing. They are just gonna keep us all in the cold, for all we know, they may have not even started the android project yet.
I don´t know about the brand and all of that, I just know when I was using fring I was able to use skype and call my family and friends….now, I downloaded the original “skype” for smart phones and it just sucks! it never works…I really hope fring can find another way but fring works a lot better than skype
you people of skype are just too jelous coz fring was being so much used coz of the video call … everybody knew that skype inside fring like everyother program wasnt built completely from the original authors so whats the point of going away from fring because u would loose your reputation? you are just too fuc*ing cowards and jelous of fring popularity growing…. fuc* skype
It seems that skype only cares about its Verizon customers and only supports them…it seems that they are telling the rest of us to buzz off…..time to start shopping for a service that does not discriminate….if anyone has any suggestions please post
I can’t understand what’s happening with skype, I paid a couple year subscriptions for skype out and online numbers, first, I can’t use anymore skype for windows mobile because it was removed, the only option was fring, now, I can’t use skype in my devices with windows mobile and android, please think!, thousands of persons like me hate iphones!, really all the skype users in iphones pays skype services like me?, you never listen to your customers, NEVER!, I want to use all my skype services in WM and Android!, I’m a skype costumer!, I pay for all skype services! … then … I pay your salary! …. Is time to raise the voice!, LISTEN US!!!!!!!!!
I do not think that the blame is on fring but anyway aren’t you going to make skype for android after all that??? I think that most of the users (like me) will be very disappointed from you if you don’t release the app soon.
Anyone know any more about this?
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/voip/google-tests-new-version-of-google-voice-682154
You guys are forgetting that Skype is no longer owned by Ebay so they have to make money like everybody else That was probably the reason for the Verizon connection. I am afraid that Skype will fall by the wayside now that they don’t have the large Ebay wallet to run their operation. I don’t know who owns Fring but they sound like they will take over Skype soon.
Please also count me on Fring’s side. I would like to share the following again quoting from stu_nz:
Really disappointed in skype.. not fring.
I am on android not iphone for a start but yet its all gone from Fring.
The only ones damaging your reputation are yourselves, everyone knows its all about $$ and that they did a better job that you did.
I am now looking for alternatives to skype like many others I know..
Hope you reconsider
To be frank with You ;…….we……….Really disappointed……we are now in a Dilemma! what to do………? As a matte of fact…we extremity looking for a solutions from “Skype”.
At the same time ; i requesting from my companion who are suffering with the same problem….kindly let me have a another full soft ware which can us by every mobile phone…….please make me a link if you found that” thusitharaj ” in skype
I am sorry to see that skype is dumping an innovative company like fring , I won’t buy skype credit anymore and I won’t use skype as well.
Fring on Skype was the only way that I could talk to my family in US while I was on business travel to Europe. Without Fring, skype is useless. I uninstalled skype and that’s that.
Skype team, you should realize the deal you made w/ Verizon will be your downfall. Those smart marketing folks over at Verizon know they’ver crippled your software. IT is completely useless piece of shit.
Just bought a Samsung Galaxy S.
The only thing missing for me is Skype.
Have you really been stitched up with some US deal with Verizon?
Sort it out.
Do it.
Do it now !
Hi Skype team. Thank you very much for blocking of Fring application. I am using UIQ3 platform at my SE P1i mobile phone.
Only FRING prepared funcional software for mobile comunication incl. Skype for UIQ3.
Now it is not running.
For me it is Blah Blah sentence about terms etc. if no funcion compensation from your company.
It looks like typical business “standards” in my country during socialist and communist area.
I hope that your team prepare application for all previous mobile phones where Skype was running via Fring.
Please don´t start to be like politics from communist area twenty years ago!
can you tell me how i can use skype on samsung omnia hd fing was only software that supported normal or vodeocalls on skype. now skype does not work on my phone and nimbuzz does not support calls and fing does not hawe skype anymore thanks a lot so only think i can say now is KIITOS IHAN VITUSTI PERKELEEN KUSIPÄÄ PELLET you goys can use google translate for those compliments and pay a little more money to your employees to make skype work for samsung s60 phones, fring can do it so you goys can too.
Screw you. You say you’re protecting your “brand and reputation,” but the apps you’ve released are even worse than the third-party apps on Android, and a lot slower to come about. Frankly, I don’t think we even really want you on Android. Just don’t cripple other applications that ACTUALLY WORK.
This is totally ridiculous.
You should strive to provide a superior service and not kill competition just because you currently are in a position to do so.
I would be curious to see what you would say should Apple ban you from the AppStore due to overlaps with FaceTime… sure they could rightfully claim you provide a substandard product/service! Would it be fair?
*** LET CONSUMERS DECIDE ***
I’m very disappointed in skype, Fring was the only application for Android to be in touch with people in skype, so now, me and my colleagues is going to use Google Talk. skype’s cupidity will destroy it’s business , because a lot of users are already sick and tired first of awful call rates, and now blocking mobile applications
I used to make Skype Out calls with Fring on my Nokia as it integrates all my other IM apps.
Since it is no longer possible to do that, there’s no more use in paying for the Skype service.
I’ll use some other SIP/Voip solution, sorry..
I don’t care how they use your APIs, they managed to make it so video calls worked using an iPhone4, you guys can’t seem to figure this out. It sounds to me like you guys are complaining that someone else got to it first. Fix your app so it supports video on the iPhone 4 and I won’t need fring. I can’t believe you called in the legal sharks on this, its very disappointing.
I did a google search trying to find a way to set up videocalling on my Evo and came across this forum.
As a paying skype user on my Mac and PC I have to say that if *any* of the things that I’m reading here are true that I can’t fathom what Fring could have been doing to damage your brand and reputation that could possibly be worse that what you’ve done yourselves.
I hope that you’ve got a pretty slick ace up your sleeve to justify your lack of a response here.If not, you may consider the termination of whatever brilliant mind came up with the idea to sever ties with Fring. I’m starting to realize that you two had the makings of a monopoly on the Net-to-Landline Smartphone Business for the new generation of Smartphones. I can’t believe that the void caused by dissolving that partnerships will be left unfilled for long.
Just a small comment.
I found Fring when I was looking for a Skype client, supporting Video chat. I only used Fring to have a Videlo call via Skype. It’s your call now.
I can summarize my opinion with my clear impression that either Skype hates android/is terrified by Google dominating them or that they fail in hiring capable programming staff.
Skype can stay in bed with Jobs while Google will make sure they can stay in bed…
Can’t wait till both parties suffocate in their hypocritical arrogance.
Thanks to both for two nice concepts but it’s definitely time for Google to rule and pull that thick velours carpet from under your big heads.
Skype please remember without Fring people in certain countries which Block skype and all voip have no way to access skype .Fring let them access skype to communicate with their loved ones as the alternative is too expensive.
Fring helped alot of people to use skype.
However to all of you who use Fring, I am sure they will find an alternative to skype soon .
Good morning,
I hope that you understand that is a BIG MISTAKE!!!
In this moment don’t support ANDROID take off the people to change abitude.
I can’t speak with my friends throut SKYPE? Ok, I will use MSN… Google talk..!
My friends, my collegues, my customers, they can follow me from the PC to my phone DROID.
Some people continued using SKYPE, because was FRING on DROID… Today??
Maybe they’ll change their abitude…
…ah!!! NIMBUZZ on droid support SKYPE….
The worst service that I never hear…. great for you!!!
Have a nice day… and good luck!
There is NO WAY I will use Skype from my PC and Fring adressed my needs to stay online from a ‘lightweight’ client.
I’ll give it 30 days, then my Skype subscription is history…
VIDEO on ANDROID? Now you CAN!
http :// code. google. com/p/imsdroid/
(strip spaces to open link)
I do not know the technical side of things but I cant see why Skype have removed themselves from Fring – I have been using Skype for a very long time and I have just started to use Fring less than two months ago. i will continue to use Fring until a point where Skype have the Video-calling facility on mobile phones such as Fring. I still think that Skype have the best quality of voice -calling but Fring has been a lot more user friendly in my opinion. I used to make 50 + Skype calls a month when on Fring but since they have removed themselves from the latter I am sorry to say that I hardly use Skype at all now.
Skype = Idiots
Frankly, this response only raises more questions than it answers. Rather than resort to the usual frothing at the mouth here, I’d like to take the opportunity to add some items to this blog post.
The response contains limited explanations. You’ve cut off a valuable software resource which a lot of people were using on emergent mobile platform technologies which you simply don’t support well yourselves. Your response here gives me the impression that “smart” mobiles simply don’t figure in your business plan, and Fring simply beat you to the mark with so many platforms and modes supported. Which makes it look like you’re trying to put them out of business (your glib “user experience” comment does not help this at all).
You need to reconsider this decision, or sack your PR guy and hire another who comes up with better explanations. Or tell us the whole story. This one simply isn’t good enough.
I guess I’ll cancel Skype and switch to Truphone for my Nexus One.
I think I may well also cancel Skype. I need a be to able to make world calls now. And just when I was about to start using Skype seriously..
Skype: what’s holding me back from purchasing more of your services is that skype does not fully develop it’s products. The skype app for iPhone could be much more powerful, I downloaded fring so I could make sure it worked with skype so my android owning friend could chat with us on his phone and now I find because of some stupid argument over fring canceling a service you don’t even provide in the first place you have stopped allowing them to use your API. You need an android solution asap and you need mobile to mobile video chats.
I work in Asia as network security analyst and a lead network consultant to several large corporations. I spend 60% of my time now pushing packets in China. Chinese investment money is flowing like beer at the Oktoberfest and I have quite bit of knowledge regarding VoIP. The companies talk to me.
Skype? “Find a need and fill it”: The ONLY code for business. Resting on last year’s payoffs are going to get you killed business wise.
Skype has now become so slow at pulling up their socks, (and kissing too much USA phone service butt) it has forgotten that there are still shoes left to be filled. Skype has forgotten the players that put them there in the first place. (For me, I’ve been with Skype since 2003, and I am now extremely tired of the direction so poorly managed by “Silver Lake Partners”.
It’s time for competition, and the Chinese are stepping up to it. They want to put Skype out of business. Period.
Now. Remember the name “Xiasha”, China, it’s a large city based purely on IT research just outside of Shanghai. The amount of research (and money) going into VoIP right now is phenomenal. iPhone, Google Android, MS Windows, all MAJOR players in the strategy, not the butt of the joke that Skype has placed them in.
Forbes Magazine recently reported that 16% of all people making over $30K a year worldwide are considering purchasing a new smartphone within the next 5 months. Hello, Skype? The WORLD IS CALLIING! Where are you?
Oh well, never mind. Get ready people at Skype, you have finally blown it for yourselves so bad that you’re done. Yes. History will be kind, but the current iPhone and Android using public won’t be.
Can anybody say, “BetaMax” ten times real fast?
There’s a lot of angry rants about skype here. It only means that skype must improve their services in order to keep up with competition and keep customers happy. A service like this should be helping people communicate and transact with ease. It’s not fair for paying customers to get crappy services.
Well. If you are reading every blog comment, then I’ll just say I’m disappointed. You could do better. Fring was proof of that, and regardless of your comments, makes me sure you somehow blocked them to hide that. I encourage you to prove me wrong. Please.
My expectations aren’t high. I respect an application the more it updates.
I am not so tech savvy, but would like to be practical. To remove / discontinue something that is already working fine and receiving good response, praise from all customers is totally an insane act. We, as customers do not really interested in knowing who is right and who is wrong, just put it back working again and we continue to pay you or your advertisers pay you. Otherwise, the customers shall show our strength, why don’t we start boycott skype for 6 months and then fring for 6 months in mass action and see if they would yield to us. Or else, just fuck them up forever! Ohh, if 6 months is not enough because they are dammmmnnned rich now, then increase to 12 months. Let’s stop using now……. we are small user just like small water molecule in the ocean, but we can make tsunami and teach them don’t underestimate the “user(s)”. Don’t understand which idiot resort to “lose-lose-lose” option for all users-skype-fring.
I Have an HTC Evo and now no way of using Skype. When I bouth this phone my firs and only question was, Can I use Skype? I was assured this was possible,just to find out later that Skype signed and exclusivity contract with Verizon. What was Skype thinking? For sure it was not thinking of Skype costumer’s needs. After seven years of being a loyal costumer, Skype is about to lose my business. Maybe there is another company that can keep up with the technological trend while keeping the costumers satisfied.
Ok, Skype. I have to say I am siding with you on one thing (and one thing only) fring was using your service against your agreements, and you let it go on (and seemingly never banned them). That is good. But it’s not a secret that your company has horrible support and customer relations. And to be quite honest I have never been impressed with any of the mobile skype applications aside from the Windows Mobile version (full wifi calling, or 3G, without usign minutes) And none of them have ever even attempted to support video calls. You android App is a joke, and its pretty clear that you guys are content giving the lowest acceptable answer to customers requests. If you have to make it a pay feature I dont care. But to not offer it at all… what the heck?
Fring could do it, over your services, so obviously it’s possible. To say that fring was damaging your brandname and customer relations is just BS. Even if only for a time, they offered what everyone has been expecting of you. I think it’s safe to say that if the people in charge of fring ran your company, we’d at least have good software, and maybe some new features once in awhile. I know Fring sucks with support too, but at least they have the software to back it up.
In short, to repair the “damage” that Fring supposedly did to your brand name (though it was actually yourself) simply do the following.
Re-enable wifi calling on all platforms, enable 3g calling without using minutes. We pay these outrageous fees for unlimited data for a reason. And for gods sake just add video chat. Again it’s obviously not that hard. Fring pulled it off relatively quick and it was pretty reliable. And they didn’t even have access to your full systems.
Face it, you got beat. You were sad. And now that Fring messed up you’re simply using that as an excuse to keep being mediocre.
I know this is all free services, so let me point out I dont expect anything, nor do I feel owed anything, but if you really care so much about your brand and your image, then prove it by doing something.
Mr. Skype sir – Verizons is not the only cell phone carrier out there. If you can write a Skype app for an android phone for verizon, you can write it for other carriers too. How about an app in the app store? Verizon and AT&T don’t work where I live or work or travel, so it would be stupid for me to switch from Sprint to one of those carriers. I was able to video conference with my husband on our EVOs before Fring was disabled so I am sure a similar Skype app would not be a problem. I pay for Skype at home – my home phone is the original I-Phone (the one from Linksys – not apple) – with my husband’s account. I would be more than willing to pay for Skype service as would many other people. Disappointed that we have to tether our phone to the laptop to use Skype. Would be much easier to have a Skype app on our phones since they have cameras anyway.
The true fact is “fring was too smart for Skype”. Video Calls on my iphone2g were so awesome untill the skype destroyed it. X_X !!
“Fring’s mis-use of Skype software was damaging to our brand and reputation” – What an excuse to compete. Every customer above wants skype on fring, if thats not possible y dont u try to make an application that supports video chat on mobile handsets as low as iphone 2g n nokia 5230.
Being a long time skype client (I pay for the service) and Fring user, I feel really disapointed with Skype.
I’ve been waiting for a mobile Skype solution that was announced 2 or 3 years ago and never came, more over, we must see that there is a solution for Verizon users, but none for people living ouside the US like me.
On the other hand we have Fring, a new startup that became massivly famous because it was doing what skype decided not to do, bring solutions to voip clients.
The conclusion is plain simple. Skype was a really good during it’s first years but now its like using a fax machine, its no use for most of us. I had to buy an Inmarsat satellite phone because skype doesnt provide me with a long announced mobile solution. Inmarsat is now receiveing the money Skype refused to accept from me and thousands of heavy-use clients worldwide.
Skype keep up the bad work, you will loose more and more clients. I dont really care now.
Thanks,
Jack
Truphone.com is a winner
I own a Nokia N95 8GB and I live far away from my family, to whom I used to make video calls with Fring. Does the offical app allow that? Of course not.
I am a paying customer and very disappointed.
I can’t believe this haven’t been resolved yet.
To be honest, I don’t at all care about this Fring-Skype conflict, but I bought my Skype credit when I knew I can use it on my HTC Desire using Fring.
For that matter, blocking out Fring (for what ever reason), without supplying a working alternative does in fact make my Skype credit unusable [for me].
Under these circumstances, and as I have to find an alternative and buy some competitor’s credit – I’d like my money back please.