Skype for iPhone: It's Real and It's Spectacular
I had about 3 story options on my plate to write about tonight. But I found myself constantly returning to the iTunes store and searching for Skype, over and over again. Finally, there it was: As promised by no less a personage than Om Malik himself, the official Skype iPhone client has arrived. Although video streaming is a no-show, both full IM and voice communication is supported directly over wireless networks. Plus there are a few additional touches specific to this client that make it really great.
First, let's talk about the interface. In short, it's about as close to the PC/Mac client in style and utility as it can possibly get. Contacts, instant messenger, dialing pad, call history and profile can all be accessed at any time via the navigation bar at the bottom. Here's some more of the primary features:
- Contacts can be listed alphabetically or by who is online.
- You can see all ongoing chats or just new chat messages.
- When calling out, there is a button that links to the iPhone address book.
- Call history can be switched from everything to missed calls.
- The info page lets you update your status (even with a photo!), access your profile, change your status, buy more credit and check your voicemail.
Rest assured the interface is slick and the app works as promised. But, I think the real reason why we are all so excited about this release over other Skype-enabled iPhone apps like Fring or Truphone is simply how much it works like its desktop-bound big brother that we know and love. Instant messaging chats just work. Group chats just work. Getting at-a-glance status on your Skype friends just works. The bottom line is, other apps may get the job done, but due to bad interface design, a critical missing feature, or trying to do too much, are not a pleasure to use. This client actually is a pleasure.
With all that said, it's still not perfect. It's better than everything else Skype-related on the iPhone, yes, but optimally it could support Skype SMS (though the carriers would probably never allow it), notification of new IMs when the app isn't in use (hopefully coming shortly after the iPhone 3.0 firmware hits), and.. well, support for video. Why not? People were recording MMS videos with their cellphones in 2004. The Japanese have had dual-camera phones with live video streaming for quite a while now.
And yes, I do realize the camera is on the back of the iPhone, making it hard to use the screen and the cam at the same time. I don't care. It's time Apple realized people are willing to trade some battery life for the ability to record a short video and start allowing apps that support it. But, until that day comes, Skype for the iPhone is highly recommended. I have already put it up on the first page next to Tweetie and DVR Remote. You can find the link to Skype in the iTunes app store here.
Facebook
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all ReadWriteWeb posts
I sense an opportunity for an iPhone accessory: a rearview mirror that allows you to see the screen while filming yourself. Brilliant!
This might actually make it worth it for me to get an iPhone. Mobile minutes are outrageously expensive here in New Zealand. With this, I could Skype-out for $0.03 or whatever and save heaps (at least when on a Wi-Fi network).
Have to agree with @Andrew. Mobile rates here in New Zealand are a big rip off. I too may have to get an iPhone.
It is a pleasure to use you are right on. You forgot to mention voicemail, it is a shame it is not included right now, but I'm still very happy with the app as it is!
Looking forward to see what they can do.
I've been looking forward to playing with this. The app looks neat but in a limited experiment the calls seem as subject to Skype's patchy quality as they do on my PC.
Not sure what benefits this provides over something like Fring, which not only offers Skype and Skype Out on iPhone, but also aggregates all my IM accounts and support Twitter.
Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz
WOOOPP, CHEAPPPP calls cant wait
by the way, for great up-to-date information; tips and tricks as well as great deals on most things to do with iphones and i touchs go to www.bestiphone2u.com
(w)(w)(w)dot(bestiphone2u)dot(c)(o(m)
or simply click my name on this post
i can see that is possibel even i i couldn't beleive it untill now.
it is time for this ,as the biggest player they have to keep make new "relations like this or die
I too may have to get an iPhone.god!
RS Gold
here in germany, t-mobile already anounced a statement that they will block the new skype-app for the whole t-mobile-network nationwide.
given reason: the quality with skype calls is not that good than their own celluar network!! --> *LOOOOOOL
the only reason is, that they fear massive grop in volume!^^
skype rocks
So many touch screen phones have come into the market. But I feel iPhone is still the best.
Thanks, i downloading Skype for Iphone.
"People were recording MMS videos with their cellphones in 1994."
What? I don't remember a single phone have a camera on in 1999 even.
For all those caught by the hype remember it's only available over wifi, not the cellphone network, so it severly limits is use.
> it works like its desktop-bound big brother that we know and love.
OMG. Skype has the least intuitive, least configurable -- and most frustrating -- UI of all of the chat/audio/video clients I use. You're not setting the bar very high. If anyone loves Skype, it's simply because they haven't tried anything else.
The iphone version looks like an improvement, but not enough to lure me in.
I cannot believe that you did not mention the fact that Skype does not work over 3G! You can only call other Skype users when you are connected over Wifi which is a major dealbreaker.
I completely understand that this might have been a compromise Skype had to make not to upset he mobile network owners, but still, it is a shortcoming you should have mentioned in your post (Note that Windows Mobile does support Skype calls over 3G!).
For all those caught by the hype remember it's only available over wifi, not the cellphone network, so it severly limits is use.
Seems that voice works over 3G on iPhone3.0 firmware (for now).
Sorry, the link should be: http://9to5mac.com/skype-works-on-3G-3.0
You ask why doesn't the Skype i-Phone support video chat? I'm surprised at your naivety. The answer is simple. Wireless networks can't handle that volume of traffic. A short video clip here and there taxes network capacity, but streaming video chats would cripple the cellular network.
Link to video walking your through it all. This does look better than the desktop app.
Good catch, Richard! I updated the year to be 2004, which is what I was actually intending to type.
Now you can receive calls from cellphones to your skypephone. You must contract a skype phone number. You must have wifi connection. In the future updates, skype will stream video also.
@Josh, Hey, In sweden we've had video-calls since ages, works perfectly fine.
The iPhone gives you what you pay for... there are so many Skype phones that are in the $75 - $125 range, but this is a reasonable alternative. If you're okay with being tethered to your computer and will accept cellphone-level quality, this is a good product for the price.
Read more ...
The internet tablet made by Sony (Mylo Com-2) had Skype on it a long time ago. The hyped news about Skype+iPhone pushed the price of the Mylo way up. I bought my Mylo a few months ago for $150, now it's $300.
Cant make skype out calls on 3G connection ?!?!? Come on....
Im not that impressed...
Skype app is great on an iPod Touch. The only gripe I have with it is there's no option to keep it signed in and running in the background. Those with SkypeIn can only receive calls during the time the app is running, not very useful there.
Spectacular if you're one of the few lucky ones running it. Most of the reviews in the App Store describe constant crashes, but somehow you've avoided those problems. Good for you. But a raving reach-around of a review for a product that most people are experiencing terrible problems with just seems odd.
Trade battery life? That's a big trade when the iPhone battery life is already so limited.
I agree with angus - "there's no option to keep it signed in and running in the background" - seriously how dumb is that... basically you can't receive any calls, only make them to other people that have it on their desktop, not on their iPhone/iPtouch - hopefully something for the next version hopefully...
I was kind of dissappointed. Here's my situation. Looking at the iphone, really wanted it. Heard that at&t service spotty in my area. My next door neighbor right across the street has a 2g. She loves it, get service in the house, no problem.
So I buy a 3g yesterday, everythings great, love it. Unfortunately I get home and no service in the house! I was planning on using iPhone for new business I'm starting.
So I get the idea. I'm running iPhone off of my wireless router. I get Skype, pay for 3 months service for unlimited calls to landlines, pay for a online number for skype.
So now I plan to forward my number to my skype number, so I can receive and make calls while no service in the house.
I worked....but only when the skype is open! When the iphone goes into standby after a minute or so, calls get kicked into voicemail.
Miserable...I thought this was going to work. Now I wonder if it's worth it to keep the iphone...nothing else close to as nice!
Asher
For those who rant about Skype not being able to run in the background on iPhone: i don't know a single application that can do so iPhone natively. That's because of the limitations set by Apple and built into iPhone OS.
Bad news: iPhone OS 3.0 (as far as I read) also won't support backgrounding.
Good news: there is a workaround. Unfortunately, you have to jailbreak the device and install an extension that allows backgrounding.
i find it hard to believe that Skype doesnt "support" 3G calls. Fring supports them (Skype calls) over mobile internet, so why wouldn't Skype do so as well?
Has to be restrictions over mobile internet with certain mobile operators...
Skype on iPhone 2.2 works over 3G with VPN without any jailbreaks :)
Jailbreak required for Skype to run in the background, not for 3G. :)
Call (I mean skype) me when video calling is implemented. Amen to your review.
Great post.Thanks a lot.