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Apple and Skype React to AT&T's Announcement of Support for iPhone VoIP Services
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Why isn't it there now. AT&T doesn't have an influence on what the carriers across the pond do with their network.
So if AT&T has no influence that leaves only one party that is influencing the implementation of these VOIP programs.
Your beloved Apple, perhaps? Or is it a larger conspiracy amoungst carriers?
The rest of the world has been ready for several years. It's AT&T and Apple that has been stuck in the 20th century.
What uses more bandwidth?
all transmission from handset to cell towers is binary in/on a RF carrier. So does the VoIP which does not have a FCC mandate for minimal voice quality, use less or more than the 'traditional voice' digital stream? If the VoIP uses less, then it would be to AT&T's benefit to support it. Those who are much technically inclined and can lay off the pseudo-technobabble (in plain english please) now is your moment to shine & do some 'splaining.
all transmission from handset to cell towers is binary in/on a RF carrier. So does the VoIP which does not have a FCC mandate for minimal voice quality, use less or more than the 'traditional voice' digital stream? If the VoIP uses less, then it would be to AT&T's benefit to support it. Those who are much technically inclined and can lay off the pseudo-technobabble (in plain english please) now is your moment to shine & do some 'splaining.
Perhaps Apple will add 3rd party background tasks to it's lousy phone.
Lousy phone with the highest consumer satisfaction rates in the industry?
I suspect more likely that the developers don't develop country specific versions of their apps, as it is quicker and cheaper to develop one app that can be approved world wide.
All Along
Since the news of the FCC investigation thread, I've always stated that Apple was most likely bounded to the provider via agreement constraints. This latest round of news and change in direction from AT&T (to save their corporate asses) proves this theory.
Now will these apps be limited to wlan access only or 3G+wlan.
Since the news of the FCC investigation thread, I've always stated that Apple was most likely bounded to the provider via agreement constraints. This latest round of news and change in direction from AT&T (to save their corporate asses) proves this theory.
Now will these apps be limited to wlan access only or 3G+wlan.
Welcome to the "all along" club.
Last month we were "crazed fanbois" to suggest Apple couldn't really do anything about it.
Perhaps Apple will add 3rd party background tasks to it's lousy phone.
Push is a far better solution for Skype than the crash-prone resource-hogging buzzword of "background apps."
Background apps do have certain advantages, but in this case, Apple's solution really is superior to what other phones make you deal with. (Manual memory management and apps bogging each other down? The Pre reviews sure don't make me jealous of that.)
Ok... where the heck is the Google Voice App then?
If Apple "never" rejected it, and its been under review of the last 6 months- can Apple now APPROVE it and get in the app store.... like today?
If Apple "never" rejected it, and its been under review of the last 6 months- can Apple now APPROVE it and get in the app store.... like today?
Good question. I'll give it a shot, or at least lay out some info and thoughts.
- Skype will test your speed and use 3-16Kbps.
- GSM's voice codec can use 7-12Kbps.
Everything depends on what rate your voice is being encoded at. And don't forget it's probably a duplex connection, so you can both talk at once, thus double the bit rates. But that's not important.
Let's say they're both encoding at 12Kbps. Now it gets fuzzy, for two reasons:
1) For the same encoded data, Skype will ALWAYS use more on top of that, because it's using a IP wrapper, whether TCP/IP or UDP/IP.
2) Phone companies still use a circuit switched paradigm for consistent quality. GSM voice uses time slots dedicated to you and you alone.
So the question really is, which one uses more carrier resources?
GSM voice uses a fixed amount of time, which prevents anyone else from using that time slot. So that's one measure of resource usage.
VoIP uses GSM data slots, which could be more because of overhead, or perhaps less when nothing is being said (silent time).
Edit: two more thoughts. VoIP users with unlimited data plans, might tend to stay online far longer and tie up resources. OTOH, VoIP will shunt to the Internet ASAP, while GSM voice will use up carrier internal lines all around the world.
I think it's basically a wash, with the caveat that VoIP has less priority than GSM voice. Anyone else have thoughts?
You guys who moan about manual memory and apps.... have you never run more than one app on your laptop at a time? Have you ever had to stop one to make the others run faster or give them more memory? Of course. Annoying yes, but was it really rocket science?
And the Pre has the perfect paradigm. Just flip the app's card away to stop it. Too easy.
ATT - Weak in the knees for Apple
+1 on everybody who thinks it's because of the iPhone exclusivity, I agree - The real money maker for ATT is the iPhone, not the service.
One day, there shall be a mass exodus from ATT, and if they lose Apple, you can risk a bet that 99.99% of future communication devices won't go exclusive at all. That means cheaper rates for everybody no matter who you're with or what you carry in your pocket.
I also think Apple doesn't give a crap about Skype of Google Voice. Apple's extra cash comes from the sales in the App Store. Here is where they'll make sure Skype and Google Voice become somewhat irrelevant with the exception of being additional marketing ammunition for the iPhone - who cares if other devices have had VOIP, if it's on the iPhone it actually means something... also I think we're about to see new VOIP apps that will light a fire under Skype's....
PS - GO USA!!!!!!!!!
+1 on everybody who thinks it's because of the iPhone exclusivity, I agree - The real money maker for ATT is the iPhone, not the service.
One day, there shall be a mass exodus from ATT, and if they lose Apple, you can risk a bet that 99.99% of future communication devices won't go exclusive at all. That means cheaper rates for everybody no matter who you're with or what you carry in your pocket.
I also think Apple doesn't give a crap about Skype of Google Voice. Apple's extra cash comes from the sales in the App Store. Here is where they'll make sure Skype and Google Voice become somewhat irrelevant with the exception of being additional marketing ammunition for the iPhone - who cares if other devices have had VOIP, if it's on the iPhone it actually means something... also I think we're about to see new VOIP apps that will light a fire under Skype's....
PS - GO USA!!!!!!!!!
