This is about Skype...

[janpetras]

First of all, Skype consumes too much battery.

Second, it eats away data like cake.

Third: Theres Yahoo Messenger with Voice and Video which uses push and doesn't eat any battery or any data if it's in the background, but you're still online and can receive calls and whatnot. So, Skype for Android plain sucks. Come to think about I bought this phone just for Skype. Big, big disappointment.

All in all: Skype IS NOT an app which you can run in the background.
I found the best alternative to be Yahoo Messenger.
What do you guys think? (not interested in phone-to-phone call apps like fring, need to be able to do computer-phone and reverse).

 

[chrisinsocalif]

My biggest gripe is Skype not having any bluetooth support. It only works on my speaker-phone. Also when people on skype call my skype ID, it forwards to my mobile phone when i am not online and the call quality is muddy using Skype to mobile. Skype to Skype for android, the call quality is great but I dont like talking on speaker-phone.

 

[amlothi]

All in all: Skype IS NOT an app which you can run in the background.
I found the best alternative to be Yahoo Messenger.

I don't leave skype running all the time. Why would I need to? I have a phone. You know, the kind of phone people can call and send text messages to if they want to reach me immediately.

I use skype when I want to make calls (usually international) without using my minutes. Therefore, the app is only open when using it.

Does Yahoo Messenger allow me to make cheap international calls to a PHONE? If so, I might consider it.

 

[Usta]

I don't leave skype running all the time. Why would I need to? I have a phone. You know, the kind of phone people can call and send text messages to if they want to reach me immediately.

What if you want to be available if others from abroad want to call you via Skype?
I think it is a valid point that Skype app should be minimalistic about system resources.

 

[SunsetRider]

I am about to pick up my desire hd. I have been reading contradictory reports about whether or not video calls are possible with android Skype. Some reviews claim it works well, other posts complain video is not available. Whatz up with dat?

 

[mazka]

Skype's Android offering is subpar, now they have been bought by Microsoft probably a good time to say bye to that piece of crap.

I am about to pick up my desire hd. I have been reading contradictory reports about whether or not video calls are possible with android Skype. Some reviews claim it works well, other posts complain video is not available. Whatz up with dat?

I think Skype signed some deal with some US carrier not to put video on.

 

[okishead]

Skype app...I guess I need to try it to make up my own mind about it, but looks like it does not really work well if you don't have a charger or an extended battery..

 

[amlothi]

What if you want to be available if others from abroad want to call you via Skype?
I think it is a valid point that Skype app should be minimalistic about system resources.

I've never used Skype for the purpose of Skype-to-Skype calling. There are much better alternatives out there, IMO.

That's why i don't see the point of letting it run. Google Talk runs all the time on my phone, has a much smaller footprint, and people can reach me that way. If I need to call them, I can then open Skype.

Also, if they are using Skype, they could just call your phone directly.... right?

 

[Usta]

I've never used Skype for the purpose of Skype-to-Skype calling. There are much better alternatives out there, IMO.

That's why i don't see the point of letting it run. Google Talk runs all the time on my phone, has a much smaller footprint, and people can reach me that way. If I need to call them, I can then open Skype.

Also, if they are using Skype, they could just call your phone directly.... right?

Google Talk may be the solution if you are in US.
However, in many parts of the world Skype is THE way to go. People use Skype mostly for free PC to PC calling, and if you have Skype running on the phone, then you are also reachable for them.

Calling from Skype to your phone (Skype Out) costs money, so that is not the ideal solution. Skype works very nicely from PC to PC and the only thing missing is the improved Skype application on the phone.

 

[amlothi]

I understand that Skype is popular for that purpose for many people. Frankly, there are so many other ways to contact people now, that I just don't see why one would *have* to have Skype running on their phone all the time for people to be able to contact them.

Also, I don't see how Google Talk has anything to do with being in the US. I'm not in the US, and GTalk is on my phone already. Other people with Android phones or Gmail have it too. It's enough for me.

 

[janpetras]

I don't leave skype running all the time. Why would I need to? I have a phone. You know, the kind of phone people can call and send text messages to if they want to reach me immediately.

I use skype when I want to make calls (usually international) without using my minutes. Therefore, the app is only open when using it.

Does Yahoo Messenger allow me to make cheap international calls to a PHONE? If so, I might consider it.

Yes, Yahoo offers better rates than Skype.

 

[janpetras]

I've found the best alternative. It's called "Friendcaller".
It's awesome. It has an app for every type of device you could imagine and you can also call people straight from a link, no install required, no registering (login with Facebook).

I've installed it on my phone, it's running all the time and doesn't consume any data battery, I think it uses push.

The thing I like most about is that it's blazing fast. I made some tests and it takes LESS than a second for my phone to ring from the moment I push call from the computer.

Also, the call quality is GREAT even over EDGE Plus, it works like a normal phone call, not speaker phone.

Oh and did I mention the rates? 0.0200 compared to Skype's 0.200 )
You can see more about it here: FriendCaller - Free VoIP calls over the Internet

I've been trying them all one by one, until now I tried out Skype, which doesn't work well for me. I need an app that can run on my phone all the time so my parents can call me from their computer whenever they want, for free. I'm in Sweden not U.S.

So Skype-to-Skype did actually work but the battery issue was a real turn-off. I mean it really, really ate battery like cake. 26%-27% of the overall consumption was Skype.

Then I tried Yahoo Messenger, it works like a charm and I keep it open anyway for chat purposes with various people, however, it has some glitches like me pushing Accept and the phone being actually declined, or calling for the computer and the phone not calling at all. But this was all Yahoo to Yahoo, Yahoo to mobile worked great and TBH the rates are even lower than Skype.

Then I tried fring - it's a great little app, too bad it's only mobile to mobile and I need one that runs on a computer. My folks already have enough trouble learning how to use an app on the computer, I don't even want to think about how it's going to be teaching them using fring on a smartphone, plus, too much hassle.

Then I tried "truphone" - this actually worked great. Nothing more to add, lower rates than both Skype and Yahoo, works like a charm, but I've decided to try the last one, this Friendcaller, anyway. So I did.

And here we are, Friendcaller is great. The rates can't get lower than that, plus Friendcaller to Friendcaller is like the others, free. But it works. It works 100%, all the time, and it's damn fast. I loved how fast it was. Not even regular phone calls are that fast. Believe me, under 1 second connection time ! It's like you push call and the phone rings instantly. And it works over EDGE, 3G and Wi-Fi, and it doesn't disconnect when you switch between them.

I think I'm going to stick with this one. However, I'll keep making some battery tests with Truphone and Skype again.

 

[Usta]

Friendcaller sounds nice, but it can't do video calls. That is a major disadvantage.

 

[Archphoto]

I use Skype to Skype on my Desire every now and then. It *is* a pain that I have to force close it when I'm not using it - why can't it just exit like most of my other apps when I hit the back button??

And I do agree that it eats up the battery rather fast, but when I use Skpe, it's usually 90% PC-PC; the ability to use on my phone is an added bonus that I use on the odd occasion, when I've finished work for the day, but still need to keep in touch via WiFi for a couple of hours.

If I'm looking to use it during the day (often), I'll make sure it's fully charged prior to using.

 

[jocn4see]

First of all, Skype consumes too much battery.

Second, it eats away data like cake.

Third: Theres Yahoo Messenger with Voice and Video which uses push and doesn't eat any battery or any data if it's in the background, but you're still online and can receive calls and whatnot. So, Skype for Android plain sucks. Come to think about I ****ing bought this phone just for Skype. Big, big disappointment.

All in all: Skype IS NOT an app which you can run in the background.
I found the best alternative to be Yahoo Messenger.
What do you guys think? (not interested in phone-to-phone call apps like fring, need to be able to do computer-phone and reverse).

Agreed! Skype for Android suck. Useless to be Frank

 

[zuben el genub]

Works perfectly well for voice Skype to Skype. Family member moved to England.
Haven't tried it on the Galaxy, but on the Nokia C6, you could be on the phone and computer at the same time. I can turn it off and do on the SGS4g. Due to the time difference, I only turn it on during the time family member might call.

I looked at Truphone, and they had nothing for S60V5. I gave the Nokia to the family member who moved, so I still need an app for both Nokia and Android.

 

[Little Green Robot]

I have the leaked Skype with video for my thunderbolt and it works great, video and all. Then again I don't leave it running for extended periods of time.

 

[janpetras]

Yeah, well about Friendcall - it doesn't have video but neither does Skype. Plus, many phones to even have a front-facing camera.

Yahoo messenger supports video, weird enough for the back camera, but hei, it's a start.

As far as Truphone, I think it's a nice app but a bit odd to use, I'm... not sure if it works over 3G/Edge and still performs as FREE or if 3G/Edge actually starts costing money (The Tru Anywhere thing). I haven't registered my number with them so I couldn't try it out without Wi-Fi.


Here's a thing Friendcall has and Skype needs - Push notifications. How hard can it be.
That would be my best, Skype + push notifications, so I can keep it closed and open it just to answer a call.

Friendcall, obscure, has push notifications.
fring - little tiny nimble app - has push notifications.
Truphone... not sure? I really find this app odd but damn good.
Yahoo messenger - push notifications.

Well, in the end, I guess all have their problems...
But I'd rather take lots of problems like no video, a bit of delay or a not-so-good sound quality instead BIG battery drainage coupled with no push. I don't think there's a bigger killer combo than that.

 

[amlothi]

I use Skype to Skype on my Desire every now and then. It *is* a pain that I have to force close it when I'm not using it - why can't it just exit like most of my other apps when I hit the back button??

No need to force close it you know. Go to My Info screen, press Menu button, and choose to Log Out.


It's annoying that they decided to hide this feature, but it IS there in the app.

 

[mystvearn]

No need to force close it you know. Go to My Info screen, press Menu button, and choose to Log Out.


It's annoying that they decided to hide this feature, but it IS there in the app.

I just downloaded stop skype app from android market. It says installed, but I can't find it.

On another note. You can only use skype in wifi mode and not 3g? And no video calls, only audio calls?
I tried logging in in 3g mode, too slow, turned wifi on. Works, then I turned off wifi, says skype is offline. I have no idea how to turn on the video. The sgs2 has a front facing camera, so should work.

 

[amlothi]

It was my understanding that Skype was limited to Wifi only in the US. Not sure about elsewhere.

 

[Bob Denny]

It was my understanding that Skype was limited to Wifi only in the US. Not sure about elsewhere.

Nope. The current version of Skype (1.0.0.983, with the blue icon and white S, not Skype Mobile!) does both WiFi and 3G.

Also, I'm not noticing much battery drain when leaving it running. I use System Status to monitor battery charge/discharge history and I've run days with it off and on and I can't see any effect.

No video in this app :-(((

 

[janpetras]

Well IDK how it doesn't use battery for you (maybe it was offline?) but for me it's always 25-30% of my battery if I leave it open.
I uninstalled it and forgot about it. Not worth the pain. I just use Yahoo Messenger now which works great, it's totally free and also have phone out feature like Skype with lower rates.

Once 2.3.4 rolls out for my device I'll try Google Talk too but Yahoo Messenger seems really solid.

 

[bobby.hawk]

I have a Motorola Droid Pro, great phone! I recently went to England for 2 weeks. I bought a Skype phone number so I could work from England. I forwarded my office number (8x8 VOIP) and my cell phone (Verizon) to the Skype number and everything worked as planned. Skype has better quality than our 8x8 VOIP system plus the Skype client app for android actually works! While my Droid Pro is actually a “world” phone Verizon charges an arm and a leg to run with a global plan. While working in England I planned to be at home on a wi-fi system so I really didn't need to make cell phone calls. My wish list is only that Skype would open bluetooth to my ear bud. Skype Mobile (works on Verizon cell phone network only) works with bluetooth so WHY can't the real Skype work with bluetooth?

 

[xtasea]

When I had my thunderbolt it didnt support skype video either. On there forum someone had a post how to make it work by going to market place and using an app called astro I followed his instructions and it worked great wonder if it would work on the charge