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Skype for iPhone Sparks Battle Between Consumers and Carriers
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I can't say how much I would be all for data tiers.
The first thing that has to go is the term "unlimited" when there is a data cap. Now I haven't looked recently, but if AT&T (or anybody else) advertises these data plans as "unlimited" yet puts a cap on how much you can download, that's a flat-out lie. If they're marketing plans for DSL at 1.5Mb, 3Mb, 6Mb and just calling their data plan for wireless a "data plan," that's OK.
Now that I've made that point, I don't want to pay $30/month for a data plan that I don't really use all that much. I think I use 100MB/month right now on EDGE, and I think the limit is 5GB. I would really prefer some 1GB cap on my plan at $10/month and let the heavy YouTubers pay for what they use. One-size-fits-all didn't work for landline broadband, and it won't work for mobile as it becomes more mainstream.
Let me break it down for you:
Fring = barely usable Skype client. Because the calls have to be routed through Fring proxies, the contact state has significant lag, and the quality of voice call is somewhere between poor and unusable. Doesn't support full Skype functionality like contact search, etc.
Skype = fully functional Skype client. Because it's a native client, it has none of the above issues and supports full set of Skype functionality.
What I would like to see is to be able to be provided with an unlimited data plan that I can use in anyway I want (Skype, Surfing the internet, tethering, what have you) and not have to pay for minutes separately.
Bottom line is that these days data is cheap, done properly a cell phone company could potentially charge as little at $20.00 per month for an unlimited data plan with no cell minutes.
Let's face reality, Boost Mobile is no offering unlimited everything plans for $50 per month (in some areas it costs $5.00 more for internet) and this is with a prepaid phone, so there is no reason for anyone to be paying over $55.00 per month for phone service anymore. And no more overage minutes, yet they are still making a profit by all accounts, so I don't see why AT&T should be any different.
Bottom line is that these days data is cheap, done properly a cell phone company could potentially charge as little at $20.00 per month for an unlimited data plan with no cell minutes.
Let's face reality, Boost Mobile is no offering unlimited everything plans for $50 per month (in some areas it costs $5.00 more for internet) and this is with a prepaid phone, so there is no reason for anyone to be paying over $55.00 per month for phone service anymore. And no more overage minutes, yet they are still making a profit by all accounts, so I don't see why AT&T should be any different.
That is a completely irresponsible thing to say. As if people weren't copying cassettes in the 80s, those people would be far more than 30 years old today.
But that is quite enough with the piracy undertones. Frankly I don't much care for being ripped off or being cornered by service monopolies as a consumer. Particularly when they are providing their service on leased air space, that is owned by every single person in the said country.
So, it is the iphone they are complaining about, but they haven't said much about BB, Symbian, WM, and Palm users who, in many case, have had skype available for years? Odd isn't it?
From what I've read, the bugginess is related to using Skype on jailbroken iPhones with specific combinations of software loaded. I've made several long calls (45-75 minutes) with Skype on the iPhone to landlines/mobile phones and it's worked very well. The call quality is a bit worse than using Skype on my desktop, but that could be speaker/mic related too. It's certainly good enough for anything I might want to do with it. Even with just wi-fi capability, it's a huge step forward if one frequently has access to wi-fi.
Apple is not the bad guy here.
IT'S at&t!
Apple wants to allow use of VOIP via 3G, but at&t told them not to.
Remember, Apple is just a messenger here! at&t is the bad guy here.
Beside, isn't the whole point of using VOIP is over the high speed internet connection via Wi-Fi, not cell connection?
IT'S at&t!
Apple wants to allow use of VOIP via 3G, but at&t told them not to.
Remember, Apple is just a messenger here! at&t is the bad guy here.
Beside, isn't the whole point of using VOIP is over the high speed internet connection via Wi-Fi, not cell connection?
Not at all. The point is to use data, "internetz" data, for voice calls....for no additional arbitrary fee. 3G is more than fast enough.
Right. You can, for example, legally move your iPhone service from AT&T to a competitor like T-Mobile or Verizon.
You know... because this is America.
And honestly its embarassing and pathetic that WE don't stand up to it AS IS, let alone when AT&T tries to break the law to continue raking in their dough.
Make no mistake, banning Skype from 3G is in fact going to prove to be ILLEGAL.
If the FCC shirks their responsibility to the Fair Use Doctrine and decides that AT&T's proietary gateway to the internet is somewhere ITS OWN internet, then we're all officially screwed.
my feelings exactly!
without Skype, my phone is a bit iffy in my house precisely because the carrier's signal is so weak where I live. They can stuff it where the sun don't shine.
Fully expect a rate hike when/if banning Skype is seen as illegal. AT&T will just claim that it is to cover added bandwidth burden on their network.
That's wrong to stop users from accessing Skype. An iPod Touch will be allowed to do it, but not an iPhone? It isn't going to work the same way. I can't rely on a Skype number once I'm not in my house for example and doesn't the app have to be running?
It's not going to replace the phone part of the device, although in all fairness it should do. IIRC doesn't some country have a phone service that lets a mobile phone act as a land line when you're back home?
It's not going to replace the phone part of the device, although in all fairness it should do. IIRC doesn't some country have a phone service that lets a mobile phone act as a land line when you're back home?
t-mobile netherlands
t-mobile netherlandds just released a statement that they don't care, saying that people have paid for their data, now they can do with it what ever they want...
And AT&T is to blame, because european handsets have been able to do skype forever, as stated above. Nokia's sold in europe have had skype or truphone integrated on it forever.
t-mobile netherlandds just released a statement that they don't care, saying that people have paid for their data, now they can do with it what ever they want...
And AT&T is to blame, because european handsets have been able to do skype forever, as stated above. Nokia's sold in europe have had skype or truphone integrated on it forever.
And what's wrong with that? That's what I WANT to happen.
Don't charge me $30 and then tell me all the things I can't do.
Charge me $60 and let me do everything. (Skype, laptop tethering, app-store apps over 10 MB, etc.) Continue to offer the "$30 but you can't do everything plan" for whoever wants it.
I would GLADLY pay more for actual unrestricted service. I hope this IS what happens.
Welcome the start of the era of free phone calls xD Why pay for your mobile connection, if you can have internet with you all the time 
What's the big deal?
What's the big deal to carriers anyway? Consumers would still be paying them for the internet connection (EDGE or 3g) over which VOIP would be used. My guess is that carriers will eventually adjust the price of the internet connectivity to account for any losses they may incur from less frequent (traditional) phone calls made.
What's the big deal to carriers anyway? Consumers would still be paying them for the internet connection (EDGE or 3g) over which VOIP would be used. My guess is that carriers will eventually adjust the price of the internet connectivity to account for any losses they may incur from less frequent (traditional) phone calls made.
iphone and itouch
so not getting an iphone might get an itouch soon though. So if skype works with it and I get the mic of course then for sure the app in mine. Now as for Canada does anyone here know if our crappy law makers are trying to ban it from the itouch as well??
so not getting an iphone might get an itouch soon though. So if skype works with it and I get the mic of course then for sure the app in mine. Now as for Canada does anyone here know if our crappy law makers are trying to ban it from the itouch as well??