Opinion: Skype is Going to be Just Fine
12:20 am, April 2nd, 2009, Lonnie Lazar
USA Today ran an article Wednesday saying the Skype for iPhone app is “raising concern among public-policymakers and consumer advocates,” who are irked that Skype calls are limited to WiFi and not permitted to access cellular or 3G networks.
I’m reminded of nothing so much as Lewis CK’s appearance on Conan O’Brien’s show, in which he pointed out how amazing things are in today’s world, and yet no one is happy.
Are Apple and AT&T actually “trying to handicap” Skype, as implied by Chris Murray, senior counsel to Consumers Union? Is there an “urgent need” for Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to revisit the rules and regulations for wireless voice services?
I’m no fan of Apple’s “walled garden” approach to the AppStore, nor do I love the fact that AT&T is my only service provider option for using iPhone in the US.
But in just over 24 hours of playing with Skype on my iPhone, I feel confident in saying Skype doesn’t need congress’ help in its competition with AT&T. If people will have a little bit of patience, Skype and other VoIP service providers will soon be providing them with communications services and calling options they couldn’t have imagined just months ago.
The cat is really out of the bag now, so just find a good WiFi connection and enjoy your free Skype calling. It’s only going to get better from here on out.
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in Opinions, iPhone | Comment on this article
The iPhone 3.0 software will let you use skype over 3g. You will just have to wait. With all the reports I hear from America, I think your mobile phone networks are not as good as the capacity of our networks in the UK.
My iPhone is brilliant, as a phone, and O2 is a great network.
Mark
Mark Horner, on April 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 am
I don’t quite understand — Skype calling is free? Mine expects me to pay a per-minute charge to make calls.
And since I am using a PHONE, that’s already charging me whether I make calls or not, what exactly is the point of this? I can imagine that international calling via Skype is probably far cheaper than using AT&T Wireless… but for regular calls?
I just don’t get it.
ItsGene, on April 2nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Skype calls are “Free” as long as they are from Skype to Skype computers or other Skype devices via WiFi. EtherLinx could have covered the Entire U.S. by now with Long Range and Local WiFi solutions at a fraction of the money already sunk in WiMAX. EtherLinx Long Range WiFi (up to 50 miles) with over One (1) Billion compatible client devices in the consumer market, vs. the case of “only about 30 devices” with WiMAX. To BOOT WiFi is now the faster of the two technologies and WiFi devices will not only connect to the network, but interconnect directly with hundreds of different devices in the home, office, car and public space  some stand alone computing devices in their own right, others ordinary household objects.
EtherLinx “Wireless Broadband’s Holy Grail”
The solution to “get true broadband to every community in America” with Low Cost Long Range ubiquitous WiFi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6A-G0wT3ys&feature=channel
layneincalif, on April 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
It’s Louis CK. Even says so right in the description of the youtube video.
Camperton, on April 5th, 2009 at 11:09 pm