Help Samsung Galaxy S2 & Skype

[geemacd]

Can anyone tell me if Skype works on the Galaxy S2 or not ? I know there is a Skype for Android app, but cant find if it works with this phone or not in the manner it should. He is in London, UK and will be using it on 3.

Father in law is looking for a new phone to be able to use his skype account to talk to family and friends while he is not near his laptop and I recommended this phone, as I thought it might best suit his needs even though I am part of the HTC-loyal with my Desire lol. He hasnt bought it yet so wanted some feedback before he spends part of his pension on something that might not work or be the best

Anyone give me a help with this, really appreciate your help

 

[xmjox]

I don't see why it won't work, as the SGS2 has a front facing camera.

The app itself works as I have downloaded it, but I have not yet attempted a video chat (mainly due to the fact I haven't had WiFi access and don't want to use up all my data allowance!) so can't 100% confirm whether or not it works.

I will try and let you know once I have WiFi access again

 

[akanimbus]

I use skype to stay in contact with friends and family around the world and have been doing so for some considerable time.

My experience of Skype and the SGSii using both wifi and the TMobile network is sadly lacking to say the least Connections are either difficult to call, are very quiet and connections are prone to drop. Other users on other SGii's and different networks may fare better or worse? I'd be interested to know. Skype on the SGSii does not, as yet, allow video chat.

The 3 network provides Skype free as part of their service. I have migrated from 3 to TMobile. However, I still use my Nokia E61 on an expired PAYG 3 sim to make free calls using Skype and find the 3 network service to be very reliable. This may well apply to other SGSii users on the 3 network?

 

[trick202]

I think skype vid chat is iOS only at the moment.

I may be wrong?

 

[geemacd]

thanks for the help guys

Anyone else got any experience using this yet ?

 

[xmjox]

Just found this in the Android Applications forum:

So I'm going to be away for several weeks this summer and would like to be able to video chat with friends and family using my Atrix and their PC's and Mac's. I thought Skype would be the natural choice but it no longer has video chat.

So it looks like the app does NOT support video chat. Which is a shame GoogleTalk was recommended by another poster, so may be worth investigating what the other people need to have in order for that to work?

 

[lotus49]

I use Skype regularly. I called my wife yesterday from Schiphol Airport to my home in England and the call quality was better than over the 3G network.

Unfortunately though, Android Skype doesn't support video calls yet. No doubt it will but it doesn't yet. Disappointing as I wanted to show my daughter what an exciting time Daddy was having at the airport (= not at all) using video chat.

 

[loony]

im waiting for skype to only work on the WIN7 phones...


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[Blue1k]

Ya Skype on android is pretty poor. Glitchy when I had my Desire HD and Vibrant.
It runs perfectly on my N8! lol

I really hope they beef up the Android version-sorely lacking

 

[Bigmaxy]

I've found that Skype audio on Android works quite well really over 3G but does require quite a good/fast connection. When I used it on my Nokia N900 I found it chewed quite a bit of data though, not sure of the Android implementation data wise.

Video calling worked on the N900 and is available on iOS and I read once it was available on a particular android handset on Verizon I think in the US. So it is possible to run on Android but may not be suitable for all handsets, I don't know if this is because of hardware or software (os) differences.

I understand Google Talk Video is available on 2.3.4 and a hack is available for those that root their device on 2.3.3, it is buggy though from what I read.

I guess we have to be patient until a decent video calling app is available that works to a PC.

 

[Jim34]

skype has no video chat feature on android (at least on my sgs2)

 

[MadiZone]

I've been testing it lately with a friend of mine - we both bought SGS2. We're from Denmark.

Observations:
1) There is an official app for Android.
2) Running it permanently doesn't seem to affect batterylife adversely.
3) Audio clarity is better than a regular phonecall.
4) Echo cancellation is excellent - no unwanted feedback, not even when both parties use speakerphone.
5) Latency/delay is higher than an ordinary national phonecall. However there doesn't seem to be an audible difference between WiFi delay and 3G delay.
6) There is no support videochat, even though we both have frontfacing cameras.
7) Skype has a modest data consumption. Being signed in uses little data and calls run at around 200 kilobytes pr. minute from what I can tell.
8) Skype is prone to drop calls and corrupt audio when you got poor 3G reception or when you're on 2G/GPRS/EDGE.
9) When changing between WiFi and cellular connections, Skype loses connection and takes about 30 seconds to reconnect. If you place a call immediately after you are reconnected, there is a risk of losing the call. However, most of the time the first few seconds of the call will be poor with stuttering sound, but within 10 seconds, Skype seems to obtain a solid connection and call quality improves.
10) When my friend is moving in 2G areas, he usually unknowingly loses connection and appears offline on my contact list and can stay offline for hours. When he stops moving (stays at the same place / antenna), he eventually comes back online when on 2G. We haven't experienced this problem in areas with good 3G coverage.

We are both moving our number to 3 in a couple of weeks, because they almost have nationwide 3G coverage, while other operators in Denmark only has nationwide GSM networks with a lesser degree of 3G coverage.

We are excited to see how Skype will perform in a pure 3G environment.

 

[adamantell]

each time i load skype, it crash..

anyway fix this?

running on 2.3.3 and lastest skype tryed a clean isntall 2-3times and same problem

 

[iynCognito]

skype has no video chat feature on android (at least on my sgs2)

yup, as the previous poster mentioned, skype video is not available for android. Skype seems to be dragging its heels on this. I too am waiting for the 2.3.4 update so that I can video chat from my sgs2 to a computer using google talk!

 

[stivesstu]

Skype most definitely does not support video on the Galaxy, only voice and text. And I wouldn't hold my breath expecting it to support video any time soon.

Obviously, keeping up with the changes in mobile video calling must take a lot of resources but at the same time it's clear that Skype's priorities currently lie in the Apple camp. This company obviously has a very close relationship with Apple (we'll see what Microsoft thinks about that later I'm sure) and it seems to me that it either always gives Apple devices a head start with new technology or takes its time making Apple devices compatible with anything else, which is just as bad. To be fair I guess you can equally blame Apple for making it deliberately difficult.

I bought a new Samsung TV 9 months ago with Skype built in. For Skype to work at all I had to buy a special TV webcam (at 4x the price of a normal webcam) only to discover the system can't make video calls to macs. It still doesn't and as far as I know, no TV Skype system can.

So while Skype heavily promote these services what they don't tell you is that they're all half-cocked or have severe limitations. Just as annoying are the meaningless commitments.. "We are working hard to bring you this service." I'm not sure what Skype thinks is hard work but what I do see is a company unable to keep up and allowing Google and others to step in and show them how it should be done.

 

[heshanj]

skype works great on my SGS2. no video call though. but u can make skype calls like making an ordinary call on my mobile, i love that. the skype apk is available if u google it.. its a free app, i dont know why its hard to find on the market

 

[Motorhomer]

I've just installed Skype on my new SGS2 and it's been flawless so far. I've only made a couple of calls but they were of superb quality with no lag or other problems.

I am making them with my phone connected via a good wi-fi signal, so as yet I can't comment on the results out in the big wide world but, given a decent signal, I'm confident that it will be just as good.

It will save me a lot of money on international calls when I'm in Europe, were I spend up to three months a year. (I live in England.)

 

[lotus49]

It will save me a lot of money on international calls when I'm in Europe, were I spend up to three months a year. (I live in England.)

It's got to beat spending the whole year in Lancashire .

Signed, A Yorkshireman.

 

[Motorhomer]

It's got to beat spending the whole year in Lancashire .

Signed, A Yorkshireman.

A Yorkshireman eh? Have you ever thought of moving to England?

 

[Ih4teKies]

if you want free vid chat smartphone to smartphone there is always Tango and even better -Fring.

Unless the OP wants pc-sgsII or sgsII-pc.

 

[taxi/man/derry]

What is the cheapest way to video chat, my O2 is 50p a minute.
Or can i go galaxy 2 mobile to home computer.
thanks, only learning take it easy.

 

[heshanj]

patience, gingerbread 2.3.4 includes google talk video unless u dont want to limit urself to google.. in which case, as mentioned in above post, fring works.. n im sure (and hoping) skype updates to include video chat

btw, does fring allow u to video-chat with an MSN/yahoo contact who has a webcam? or is that only fring-to-fring, and u can only text-chat with msn/yahoo contacts, on fring?

EDIT: just tried it out, u can make voice calls to msn.. no video.. although i tried voice call with just one contact n she said she didnt receive any call on her msn, although it was ringing on my end

 

[heshanj]

i also read one review where the writer talked about having msn/yahoo/skype/facebook contacts in one place, to text-chat.. i was only able to add msn, yahoo, google, AIM, ICQ.. no skype or facebook

EDIT: im unable to make voice calls from fring (android) to my friend's MSN (PC). is this even possible? im not sure, it shows up as an option, but it doesnt work. it rings on my end, but no notification on my friends MSN

 

[Deleted User]

It's true cuz I got it on my phone and the new version of Skype supports the video-to-video chat. It's great!

 

[Screech]

Remember, if you download skype from the android market it will not support video on the SGS2. At this time you still need to download an APK that is hacked to allow video on more than the officially supported phones. But, video does work with that hacked APK on the SGS2, I've tested this myself.