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AT&T to Allow Skype and Google Voice to Operate on Its Mobile Network?

Everybody pony right up to Google and let them listen to your cell phone calls. They already read you email now so what is the problem? The men called Uncle already read all Google email and they are salivating for people to start using Google Voice.
 
satcomer said:
Everybody pony right up to Google and let them listen to your cell phone calls. They already read you email now so what is the problem? The men called Uncle already read all Google email and they are salivating for people to start using Google Voice.
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is that a black helicopter in the distance?
 
So much for Unlimited Data Plans

This means the end of unlimited data plans. Pretty smart business move for AT&T. Allow the service but make sure you get paid for it.
 
solace said:
do that few people actually have Google Voice accounts in that a wide swath of people still believe it's some sort of VOIP system?
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Yes.

This has been another edition of simple answers to stupid questions.

Like a lot of Google services (despite the hype in tech circles), it's been an abject failure in the marketplace. So far. That might change as the market changes and it becomes a more useful proposition, but right now it offers essentially zero value for the vast majority of people.

Notice I said majority, not all. That doesn't mean you as an individual can't find it useful. You certainly might. So don't bother with a "BUT IT CAN SCREEN CALLS! EVERYONE SHOULD USE IT!!!" diatribe.
 
This shouldn't effect me as i live in the United Kingdom, where AT&T has no market presence, but it does. Sad, Apple. Very Sad.
 
ruinfx said:
is that a black helicopter in the distance?
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Read the book Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw and then you will know how they get to you trough your cell phone. Then get back to me.

They are tracking people through Google Voice & Email. It has actually made their tasks easier once people started using services on the "cloud". It made a central location for them to look for targets.
 
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Probably scared of losing their exclusivity agreement. Others in the world have been toppling like dominos.

Hopefully O2 does the same due to competition.
 
What about tethering?

I'd so much rather be able to tether than make VoIP calls. I have Skype on my iPhone, I pretty much only use it when I'm abroad. I'm really not going to use it as VoIP, my phone makes calls and I have more than enough minutes as it is.

But tethering would be so helpful when working on the train, sitting in an airport and generally being on the go. Tethering will at least bring in some additional revenue for AT&T. I think this is a little bit ridiculous, in my opinion.
 
satcomer said:
Read the book Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw and then you will know how they get to you through your cell phone. Then get back to me.
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I can see why you'd find that frustrating, Pablo, but for the rest of us...?

They are tracking people through Google Voice & Email. It has actually made their tasks easier once people started using services on the "cloud"
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Next time someone rapes or kills a family member, I'll be glad they have that capacity. Are you of the school that thinks police shouldn't be allowed to patrol? After all, when they're out on the roads, they're (get ready for it) watching all of us. Oooohhh. :)
 
mwg said:
Any idea when it will be available?
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WSJ says, ""The change means that iPhone users can now use Skype and other Internet phone services on AT&T's 3G network."
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As an experiment i just downloaded the free skype app from the app store, logged in with my skype* info, and placed a call. (Sooner or later someone will try that and it WILL work!) Unfortunately, it wouldn't place the call over 3G; I turned on wi-fi and the call went thru fine. So "now"for 3G isn't "now" "yet". :)

*--i like skype on my computer because i can be working away at something, and if i need to call someone quickly i just dial from my MBP (and, of course, it incorporates my entire >700-entry address book list) and I'm talking away while still working on the computer. It's very convenient: I don't have to pick up my iPhone and pop a bluetooth headset in my ear first, or tuck my ISP voip phone on my shoulder. And for the few cents it costs (so i can call landlines or mobiles in addition to other skype users), it's entirely affordable. I signed up for the caller ID function, where people I call will see my mobile phone number so know it's me: I just tested it and as they promised, caller ID is working 24 hours later.

I'm looking forward to having this service on my phone.
 
rwitte42 said:
Okay, Mr. Numbers...

AT&T has approximately 2.5 million iPhone subscribers. If you take the money from their data plan (not the voice, just the $30/mo data), that comes to $75M per month or $900M per year.

Yeah, I think someone could carve a budget out of that to do some network expansion. I believe AT&T is planning something on the order of $18M for network expansions. That's 2% of revenue from the iPhone data plans alone .
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Your math is off.

In 2009, AT&T has committed to spending between $17- 18 BILLION into network improvements.

$18 BILLION = 100% of revenue from 50 MILLION $30 data plans.

Problem is, AT&T doesn't have 50 MILLION customers paying $30/month for data. AT&T only has 80 million customers total. No way 62% of AT&T's customers has a $30 data plan.

So AT&T is using 100% of the revenue from *every data plan* (iPhones + others), plus billions of other money, in 2009 network improvements.

And their network still has huge issues in some areas...
 
CustomMacSales said:
This means the end of unlimited data plans. Pretty smart business move for AT&T. Allow the service but make sure you get paid for it.
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Good! I use less than 30 MB per month for an average of $1 per MB. With 3 iPhones in the family and nobody using more than 100MB, I expect I could save considerable amounts with metered data plans. Most of my data use is at home or office where I have wifi access. I doubt I would try to use Skype on 3G, it is already iffy on wifi but good enough for a toll bypass app.

I am one who considers the unlimited plan and restrictions on apps due to data use concerns to be one of the greatest negatives with the iPhone. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change, but would welcome a more logical approach.
 
A step in the right direction. Excellent news! Just need o2 in the UK (or possibly orange and vodafone) to follow suit.... ;)
 
rtdunham said:
I can see why you'd find that frustrating, Pablo, but for the rest of us...?



Next time someone rapes or kills a family member, I'll be glad they have that capacity. Are you of the school that thinks police shouldn't be allowed to patrol? After all, when they're out on the roads, they're (get ready for it) watching all of us. Oooohhh. :)
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be careful what your willing to give up. the government isnt going to give it back. Think about all the injustice the government will inflict on the people. America shouldn't be a police state. we are free, or so the saying goes.
 
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