Skype Mobile

[jamo]

So, I very excitedly downloaded Skype Mobile this morning, and...I'm so pissed. You can't use it over wi-fi! You can't even use it with wi-fi enabled. I was really looking forward to using this next week when I go over to Europe, but now I can't. What a waste...

 

[NHARRISON1969]

Yep the app is crap and from what I understand the calls do count against your minutes.

 

[jamo]

Yeah, that is why they won't let you use wi-fi. How ridiculous...that EVO is looking pretty good all of a sudden. Why would Verizon even announce this, for the 1% of the population with relatives abroad? Good job...

 

[superdorf]

You guys should really read the information on how it works... or watch the video from CITA...

 

[sbursik]

Says right on the application install page that IT DOES NOT USE MINUTES. So how did you come to the conclusion that it does? Skype to Skype should use data. I agree that its lame you cant use it over WiFi.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/25/skype-mobile-for-verizon-on-android-hands-on-with-wifi-off/

 

[Le0_Br4zUc4]

So, I very excitedly downloaded Skype Mobile this morning, and...I'm so pissed. You can't use it over wi-fi! You can't even use it with wi-fi enabled. I was really looking forward to using this next week when I go over to Europe, but now I can't. What a waste...

This is what most people didn't understand yet. Skype Mobile is an application for verizon phones to use over verizon's network, if you use it out of country or WiFi you aren't using the app over verizon's network. It won't work just like you can't use V-Cast and other VZW apps when you're overseas.

The solution to your problem could maybe be google voice? I believe you will be able to use it in europe over wifi.

 

[sbursik]

From the article on Engadget.....

It's been a little over a month since Verizon announced it would unleash the VoIP hounds on select smartphones, an interesting move give AT&T's wrangling with the FCC over Google Voice and begrudging approval of Skype over 3G. Early this morning the Skype Mobile app hit the Android Marketplace for Verizon devices (and only Verizon devices), and while it does work on 3G, it curiously doesn't work on WiFi -- at all. Click on through for some screenshots and our impressions.
Skype Mobile for Android

So, yes indeed, this app only works via 3G. In fact you can't even launch the app with WiFi enabled; you have to turn it off. That's a little bit odd and, for those who were hoping Skype and WiFi would help fill some coverage gaps, frustrating, but there's a somewhat reasonable explanation: domestic Skype calls are simply made over Verizon's voice network. In other words, you can't make Skype calls to anyone within the country -- unless they too are a Skype user, of course.

Making a call to any other Skype user is handled purely through data, but a call through Skype to a domestic number will suck down your minutes just like any other call. It's only when dialing internationally that you can hit a real phone number through VoIP, and here the app will automatically jump in and offer to save you some cash. That is, of course, assuming you have some credit in your Skype account. If you don't there's no way to purchase it through the app. It simply redirects you to Skype ? Make free calls and great value calls on the internet, which is not particularly friendly to mobile browsers. (In fact, when we opened it up in the recently released Opera Mini it loaded in Norwegian. Seriously.)

So, free calls to other Skype users; calls to domestic numbers still use your minutes; international calls at heavily discounted rates; you can't even IM when WiFi is on. A perfect release? Hardly, but if you're a Skype user with other, similarly inclined friends and associates, or if you spend a pretty penny on international calls, this should make life a bit easier for you -- assuming you have a solid 3G connection.

 

[OMJ]

This is what most people didn't understand yet. Skype Mobile is an application for verizon phones to use over verizon's network, if you use it out of country or WiFi you aren't using the app over verizon's network. It won't work just like you can't use V-Cast and other VZW apps when you're overseas.

The solution to your problem could maybe be google voice? I believe you will be able to use it in europe over wifi.

Google voice on android is not voip and does not work over wifi

 

[jamo]

Says right on the application install page that IT DOES NOT USE MINUTES. So how did you come to the conclusion that it does? Skype to Skype should use data. I agree that its lame you cant use it over WiFi.

Skype Mobile for Verizon on Android hands-on (with WiFi off) -- Engadget

Quoted from Engadget:
"Making a call to any other Skype user is handled purely through data, but a call through Skype to a domestic number will suck down your minutes just like any other call."
I don't really care that much about minutes; I don't use mine anyways. What I do wish is that I could use wifi to make a call, which is pretty much the point of Skype for me.

 

[Humpa]

Quoted from Engadget:
"Making a call to any other Skype user is handled purely through data, but a call through Skype to a domestic number will suck down your minutes just like any other call."
I don't really care that much about minutes; I don't use mine anyways. What I do wish is that I could use wifi to make a call, which is pretty much the point of Skype for me.

It does not use minutes when calling a Skype user. But calling a normal US number via Skype is just like calling a normal number from the Phone app - it uses your minutes plan, obviously, otherwise that'd be a pretty big loophole for free calls.

 

[jfe]

Half Baked, Half Assed app

Hopefully they will make some improvements

The rate to calling Mexico is the same for Skype as Google Voice, so I get no benefits there

 

[modestrock]

God I love how many complainers there are in the smartphone world, like everyone is entitled to everything and it should be free. Why do you think you have a phone/plan? To make calls and communicate via your network.

Why would they allow an application that rendered part of our contracts null and void? Now we just have the option to talk to those on skype in addition to the many other ways of contacting them.

 

[barry99705]

God I love how many complainers there are in the smartphone world, like everyone is entitled to everything and it should be free. Why do you think you have a phone/plan? To make calls and communicate via your network.

Why would they allow an application that rendered part of our contracts null and void? Now we just have the option to talk to those on skype in addition to the many other ways of contacting them.

No, it should just work like the ****ing desktop app works! It'd be nice to be able to use it over wifi so those of us that travel outside the US can call home with skype on the phone instead of skype on our laptops. That's all I use skype for. I've never called a real phone with it.

 

[Durkan]

Same here Barry, i only use it when i travel so I can call the usa for free over wifi. And people can call me for free from the usa with a skype number. I just tried calling my skype number from a landline phone and the app running on my droid never rang once. This app is just full of fail..

 

[superdorf]

Okay... then don't use it...

 

[CaliBoyPhillip]

I don't have much to say besides the fact it does not work over wifi is horrible. I hope this gets figured out... I just wish there be an actual skype application soon as I want to get me an EVO.

 

[Graz]

Skype

 

[superdorf]

I don't have much to say besides the fact it does not work over wifi is horrible. I hope this gets figured out... I just wish there be an actual skype application soon as I want to get me an EVO.

I don't know what you want "figured out"... verizon and Skype agreed to have the app work this way.

 

[Le0_Br4zUc4]

Google voice on android is not voip and does not work over wifi

That's incorrect I was in Brazil a week ago and I was able to use google voice over wifi without problem

 

[RandolphNY]

I am still new with my droid, but when they were talking about Skype, were you thinking video conferencing like you do with the laptop?

I didn't realize until I just tried it, that all you are doing is calling.

Thoughts?

 

[jfe]

That's incorrect I was in Brazil a week ago and I was able to use google voice over wifi without problem

How?

Just straight Voice?

 

[furat]

that is nonsense its not only don't work on wifi but it required us to disable it, thats mean if we want 24 hours skype (as they promise) we should disable our wifi 24 hours

 

[Humpa]

that is nonsense its not only don't work on wifi but it required us to disable it, thats mean if we want 24 hours skype (as they promise) we should disable our wifi 24 hours

Yeah, I have absolutely no problems with how they've integrated this app and the services it provides. But they need to come up with a fix so people can still use wifi - that's fine if they don't want skype to use data (or wifi data), but they should be able to come up with a way for a user to use wifi still. I leave my wifi off, so I don't care - but lots of people leave their wifi on.

 

[shadowdude777]

Google bought up Gizmo5 a while ago. It's been quite long and registration still hasn't opened up over there. That's really all I'm waiting for; Gizmo5 with Sipdroid should work well. Apparently they're working on Gizmo5 integration with Google Voice; it really seems like Google wants to give us the ability to get as many free calls as we can!

EDIT: Hmm, the Skype app says that it currently doesn't work over WiFi. Is that just a useless, fancy word they put in, or does that foreshadow things to come?

 

[radikal]

its the first version of this app, give it time people, rome wasn't built in a day and apps usually aren't perfect as of day 1