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Fring and Skype Spar After Fring Introduces Video Calling for iPhone 4

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Apr 12, 2001
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Last week, fring rolled out its updated App Store application, bringing a number of new features, including support for two-way video calling over 3G and Wi-Fi for iPhone 4 users.

A number of users noted that soon after the update was released, Skype became unavailable on the multi-protocol chat and communication application. After initial indications that Skype support had been temporarily "reduced" in order to deal with network capacity issues, it appeared that fring may have actually blocked Skype from its application. A press release issued today by fring claims, however, that it is actually Skype that has forced fring to withdraw support for Skype's services, ostensibly due to fring's competitive introduction of video calling.
fring, the multi-award winning mobile over internet communication service, today announces that it is being forced to stop its 4 years of Skype interconnectivity following threat of legal action. Skype's anti-competitive ambush comes in the wake of fring's mobile video calling on iPhone 4 launch, which continues to set the standard in rich mobile internet communication.
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fring notes that it has expanded its capacity to support the new video calling feature and its previously-existing services such as GoogleTalk, SIP, Twitter and others, but that it has been unable to restore Skype compatibility since attempting to bring it back online following downtime dealing with network demand.
"We are disappointed that Skype, who once championed the cause of openness, is now attempting to muzzle competition, even to the detriment of its own users" said Avi Shechter, fring's Co-Founder and CEO "We apologize to our users for the impact of Skype's bullying and we will be happy to reconnect with Skype once Skype reverses their decision." Avi continued, "We believe in communication openness and know that users will continue to vote with their mobile phones - opting for fring's innovation, clarity, honesty and openness".
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According to TechCrunch, a Skype spokeperson has denied that it is responsible, noting that the two companies have been debating for some time over whether fring's Skype compatibility complies with usage and other licensing agreements but that fring alone is responsible for the removal of Skype support at this time.

Article Link: Fring and Skype Spar After Fring Introduces Video Calling for iPhone 4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/12/fring-and-skype-spar-after-fring-introduces-video-calling-for-iphone-4/
Skype probably just wants to prevent anyone else from introducing Skype mobile video calling before they roll it out themselves in their own app. The problem is, Skype has developed a reputation for taking damn near forever to update their app. Didn't they have a working version of it running in the background at the iOS 4.0 event, and if so, why are people still waiting on it?
 
Small White Car said:
Thank god. I was getting tired of Apple fights with Adobe news.
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Fixed.

Fring is not the slightest bit pleasant to use. Its inter-connectivity to other services are regarded as "add-ons" that you "subscribe" to, rather than, you know, the entire point of the damn thing. How is AOL, MSN, Yahoo or Skype an "add-on"? There's also a bunch of other crap in there that just does not reflect good usability. But the straw that broke the camel's back is their absolute refusal to allow the "fring test call" to be removed, disabled or otherwise hidden, requiring every user to have it permanently tattooed on their contact list, despite a raft of complaints and requests ever since the very first version they ever released.
 
Skype will begin to charge for use over 3G. I assume Fring wasn't planning on enforcing this rule. Who knows?
 
rwilliams said:
Skype probably just wants to prevent anyone else from introducing Skype mobile video calling before they roll it out themselves in their own app. The problem is, Skype has developed a reputation for taking damn near forever to update their app. Didn't they have a working version of it running in the background at the iOS 4.0 event, and if so, why are people still waiting on it?
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I definitely think skype is trying to lock down their own software here and unfortunately you are correct that they are terrible at releasing timely updates :(
 
Good. So long as Skype release an update soon with video conferencing. But I doubt that...
 
Not quite worth it...

I also find the app frustrating.

I might be missing something, but the video chat function doesn't quite work like it should. The audio is sent to the regular phone speaker--not the bottom speaker. Therefore, while you can see who you are talking to, you can't hear what they are saying without putting your ear to the phone.

Please let me know if I'm missing something.
 
fring was painful to use as video chat. deleted it almost as quickly as it was downloaded. maybe skype's will be better, but given how my phone can't even hold a call on 3G without dropping most days, i can't see how video chat could ever get off the ground.
 
MDMac said:
Skype will begin to charge for use over 3G. I assume Fring wasn't planning on enforcing this rule. Who knows?
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If that's the case then Skype will not be getting my business. The whole point of Skype is FREE skype to skype calling. They didn't become the biggest video chat company by charging.

And now that Skype is gone from fring, time to delete that app. Now just have to wait for everyone in the world to get an iPhone 4 for Facetime...and global WiFi of course.
 
Well this sucks, the Skype app is useless and has no push notifications and no video whatsoever, oh and it crashes like 80% of the time, and 90% of the time when it does launch, all of my contacts are always offline, even if they are NOT offline. Skype sucks, in every possible way. Not just the iPhone app, but the Mac app too. And the Windows app too. Other than that, there are no problems with it.

Fring was the only thing that allowed me to use Skype whenever I wanted to on my iPod Touch, well, I guess I'll just have to delete it now and just use MSN or something.
 
rwilliams said:
Skype probably just wants to prevent anyone else from introducing Skype mobile video calling before they roll it out themselves in their own app. The problem is, Skype has developed a reputation for taking damn near forever to update their app. Didn't they have a working version of it running in the background at the iOS 4.0 event, and if so, why are people still waiting on it?
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like after 1 or 2 years right ? Thats how they are lazy for updates. To update to work on 3G they took around 1 year after FRING do it for us.

SHAME ON YOU SKYPE TEAM !
 
not surprising.... fring was offering something that skype wasnt, and piggy backing skypes users/accounts... plus it wasnt that great an app anyway.

i just hope that skype come out with a good update...

Ant
 
ant69 said:
not surprising.... fring was offering something that skype wasnt, and piggy backing skypes users/accounts... plus it wasnt that great an app anyway.

i just hope that skype come out with a good update...

Ant
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Well very dime a dozen dev has an iPad app and Skype doesn't have one yet, they are beyond pathetic in their upgrades.
 
What I can't figure out is why FaceTime is not compatible with iChat AV. Or, why the iPhone didn't just come out with mobile iChat AV instead of FaceTime.

I care little about iPhone 4 to iPhone 4, but if I could do iPhone 4 to PC or Mac, that would be useful. Webcams are a great way for families to stay connected (esp. if you have kids) but a lot of the time you're crossing a generation or two. I was able to get my parents on a webcam attached to their PC, but they'll NEVER have an iPhone. For one thing, it is an expensive luxury for people on a fixed income... but otherwise it is just a bridge to far because they don't currently even use a cell phone.
 
Skype is just being childish. It's a shame to see an awesome app lose half it's purpose and functionality.

Hopefully they change their mind, or they come out with a *better* video calling app, and then let Fring re-introduce theirs.
 
Is there any other way to video chat from iPhone to PC. I don't care if it is wifi only vs 3G. From looking around, Fring-to-Skype seems to be the only solution ... that was until.
 
its stupid skype has still not released an update for iOS 4. i mean adding the multitasking functionality cant be that difficult really. i just have a feeling they're trying to make their app FaceTime compatible and losing a lot of customers' faith in the process. :\
 
shirinos said:
its stupid skype has still not released an update for iOS 4. i mean adding the multitasking functionality cant be that difficult really. i just have a feeling they're trying to make their app FaceTime compatible and losing a lot of customers' faith in the process. :\
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What faith? The only faith I have for skype is that they are ...insert expletive... who managed to have other venture capital ....insert expletive... behind them way back when it mattered and since then they have offered shoddy support to customers. I am changing to alternative providers soon. Enough with this rubbish.
 
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