Truphone now supports Skype calls [Archive]

View Full Version : Truphone now supports Skype calls

LostLogik

Feb 16, 2009, 01:52 PM

Just got an email from Truphone saying Skype calls now supported but sadly, on investigation, it transpires only to existing contacts and this version does not handle Skype out. Not had a chance to test as none of my Skype contacts are online but the setup seems to work ok. Just need one of my friends online now.....

lozion

Feb 16, 2009, 10:52 PM

no spype-out? :eek::mad:

LostLogik

Feb 17, 2009, 02:22 AM

no spype-out? :eek::mad:

Nope, which sort of negates it's usefulness. But I guess I can understand why not. They are two different voip business models. Truphone wants you to spend as much time as poss in its app, so offers IM and access toyour "friends". But it can't give Skype out as that is a different business' cash pot and it has no control over income/charges from that stream. It has its own revenue to protect.

Daremo

Feb 17, 2009, 02:31 AM

Ugh... So much for high hopes. Skype REALLY needs to put out their own app.

LostLogik

Feb 17, 2009, 03:42 AM

Ugh... So much for high hopes. Skype REALLY needs to put out their own app.

Agreed. However one possible ray of light is that their email had a footnote saying "this version does not support skype out". Maybe integrated in a later version? Who knows but I'm not holding my breath and to be honest, I'm more than happy with Truphone's call quality and the cost is ok. Just allowing calls to Skype contacts is enough for me at the moment. I've got a conf lined up for this evening, so I'll be able to test the Skype element of the app then.

acousticbiker

Feb 17, 2009, 10:30 PM

I haven't received the email from Truphone. How does the Skype functionality work?

petes63

Feb 19, 2009, 06:15 PM

Odd - is this the iPhone or Touch version? I have TruPhone on my Touch and there is NO Skype yet. On the TruPhone blog for the Touch dated 19th Feb they say:

"we have not released Skype just yet - stay tuned".

I actually find SipPhone with VoipStunt better than TruPhone. Call quality equals TruPhone and I get free minutes to all local and many international landlines.

LostLogik

Feb 20, 2009, 09:26 AM

Odd - is this the iPhone or Touch version? I have TruPhone on my Touch and there is NO Skype yet.

It works on my iPhone. It can be found under the IM tab.

petes63

Feb 20, 2009, 01:03 PM

It works on my iPhone. It can be found under the IM tab.

Still odd. Maybe it's just on the iPhone version at the moment and not the Touch, but can't see why not. There in NO Skype under my IM tab. See the Truphone Touch Blog:

http://blog.truphone.com/2008/12/turn-your-ipod-touch-into-a-phone/comments/page/2/#comments

"I am using Truphone on an iPod Touch.

What has happened to Skype? Until a few days ago there use to be Skype icon under 'Service List' that basically said 'coming soon'. Now this and the Skype icon have vanished from my Service List. Is Skype coming to Truphone or not?

Posted by: Petes | February 11, 2009 at 05:13 PM

@Petes - yes, Skype will soon be available on Truphone. But we have removed the icon for now because Apple don't like applications to have 'coming soon' features on them - which is understandable.

Posted by: Truphone | February 12, 2009 at 03:27 PM"

Today, 20th Feb it's still not there!

lozion

Feb 21, 2009, 03:41 PM

does it support voicemail, if you took a skype subscription?

LostLogik

Feb 21, 2009, 04:14 PM

does it support voicemail, if you took a skype subscription?

Doubt it. Truphone has voicemail but it's Truphone only. The app is to provide the additional ability to make calls/IM for Skype. It's not a Skype app (where you'd expect such functionality to be provided).

LostLogik

Feb 21, 2009, 04:36 PM

@Today, 20th Feb it's still not there!

here are some pics to show it on my iphone.

petes63

Feb 21, 2009, 05:24 PM

Yeah, I know that Skype is on the iPhone, but my point is it's NOT on the Touch. Truphone have said that Skype on the Touch is coming soon, but soon has been at least 5 weeks. Odd, as the IM option on Truphone is basically the same on the iPhone and Touch.

lozion

Feb 21, 2009, 05:41 PM

Jubelo

Feb 26, 2009, 12:50 PM

Initially, I was excited for Truphone for iPhone to offer Skype functionality. However, since the release, I have not been able to get Skype to work on Truphone. I am able to sign in; then the screen moves to "Loading Contacts," and then it never actually loads my Skype contacts. It just endlessly stays at the "Loading Contacts" screen. I've tried to sign in and out several times, and I have even let the "Loading Contacts" screen sit there for over an hour. Nothing. Has anybody else experienced this problem? Have you been able to resolve the problem? My Skype contacts load with no problem on my Mac, as well as on other iPhone applications like Fring and Nimbuzz; just not on Truphone.

LostLogik

Feb 26, 2009, 01:46 PM

Not really helpful, I know (sorry) but as you can see in the above screenshots, my contacts load without any problem. So poss a problem with your account (you have filled in your Skype details correctly?)

Jubelo

Feb 27, 2009, 12:36 AM

Yeah, I don't know. I triple checked my skype account/login info, and I have it correct. I wonder if it has something to do with the wireless network settings I'm on? I suppose I should try a different network.

petes63

Feb 27, 2009, 11:49 AM

Yesterday I got an email from Truphone saying that Skype was now available on my Touch. Sure enough Skype is now there. It appears that Truphone were rolling out Skype in stages, so some users would have got it first. However, I am not that impressed - in my experience Fring and Nimbuzz are better for Skype and Fring does allow SkypOut too. Voice quality with Truphone Skype doesn't seem to be any better than Fring or Nimbuzz, and Truphone is rather slow to sign into Skype.

Jubelo - I had a similar problem. I found that putting in my username and password details in "Setup" yet again sorted it out.

At the moment I find SipPhone better for VOIP. Using SipPhone + VoipStunt call qaulity is as good as, or better, than Truphone and calls are cheaper too.

Jubelo

Feb 28, 2009, 11:52 AM

I've tried everything I can think of. The two screen shot attachments are as far as I can get on any network.

mik34

Mar 1, 2009, 10:40 AM

I've tried everything I can think of. The two screen shot attachments are as far as I can get on any network.

I was also getting the "loading contacts" screen for a few days after the release. I contacted Truphone and they said they are rolling out the update slowly so they don't overload their system. Now my contacts load fine. You may find the same thing in a few days.

MichaelChang

Mar 5, 2009, 05:40 PM

Truphone, Nimbuzz, Fring.

I have tried all three applications on my iPhone and tested them for voice quality by making calls to Skype contacts from Truphone, Nimbuzz, Fring.

In my experience Nimbuzz is best for calling Skype from iPhone 3G (via Wi-Fi). The voice quality is best with Nimbuzz application.

Fring application Voice quality is not good. And Truphone application voice quality is just little better then Fring.

Ratings go from 1 being the worse, and 5 being the best.

Voice Quality:

Nimbuzz ( 5 )

Truphone ( 3 )

Fring ( 1 )

Nimbuzz application is best for calling Skype contacts from iPhone 3G (Via Wi-Fi).

/Chang

Narco220

Mar 6, 2009, 05:38 AM

I find truphone to have the best call quality when calling
Skype contacts. Nimbuzz comes in secound with fring being the
Worst. 

LostLogik

Mar 6, 2009, 07:06 AM

I find truphone to have the best call quality when calling
Skype contacts. Nimbuzz comes in secound with fring being the
Worst. 

Likewise. Shame really, as Fring's ability to call any number would put it so far in front, if only the call quality was good.