Help me out here. The iPhone version of Skype was released the other day; it’s Wi-Fi-only, but it’s a VoIP product, so I don’t understand from where the outrage is coming. Do people, e.g. the Consumers Union, expect AT&T to subsidize the phone to the tune of hundreds of dollars, and then allow you to use some other provider exclusively? A “dance with the one who brung you” sort of scenario.
Of course, I understand the value of Skype. I lived in Europe for a few months last year, and used Skype to call New York without paying Telefónica €8 zillion a minute. But to expect AT&T permit you to use this or any competing service when it, in a very real sense, is footing the bill for your phone (granted, unless you buy it without a contract), seems silly to me.
Skype, like any VoIP product, needs to play by Apple and AT&T’s rules, as our little graphic illustrates in such terrific detail.
And despite all this, the FCC may well look into updating the rules to prevent AT&T (and Apple) from limiting what you can put on your device, in the interest of an open Internet.
So we’ll see, I guess. I just don’t understand all the brouhaha.
I use AT&T’s U-verse for my home broadband Internet, but use Packet 8’s VoIP for my home phone. I can also use Skype over AT&T from home as well if I want.
I’m not sure how much AT&T is “subsidizing” my Packet 8 and Skype usage in this scenario.
You’re missing the point here. AT&T knocked literally hundreds of dollars off the iPhone with the expectation that they’d make it up through your contract and (hopefully for them) overages. When you use their almost unlimited data plan to make voice calls, you’re not making the subsidy worth their while.
I have no problem with this being wifi only. It has been that way with Skype mobile as long as I can remember. I used to use it on my windows mobile all the time. I prefer using it on wifi anyway, since the signal is stronger and less flaky for the most part. Are people really that cheap that they expect to get to make 100% free calls? If I were ATT I would allow skype on the 3G network, but charge 800 bucks for the phone for the ability to do so.
AT&T has millions of users on its 3G network. Given the number of people clamoring for Skype on the iPhone, if AT&T were to open up its networks to skype traffic, it would possibly cause outages and drops in quality of service. Imagine if some of AT&T’s business customers (read more loyal and better paying) would drop AT&T because of the shotty service caused by Skype?
You could, of course, do whatI do… install skype on the device and use joikuSpot as your 3G-wiFi access point… thusly, “stickin’ it to the man”. ; )
I don’t want the hassle of a contract, so I got an iPod touch (newset gen) with the mic in the line, and essentially have a phone in my iPod. :) It’s a bit like having the old POTS since you have to have a wifi connection, but, with JoikuSpot and wifi all over Seattle, I’m pretty much always covered.
I don’t expect Sykpe to operate on 3G. I mean cmon, it’ll save you money on calls when your at Home, Starbucks, Mc Donalds and any other WiFi hotspot. Pony up and pay the piper when you need to use your phone and no WiFi is avaliable.
But here’s the real question: if I’m paying AT&T for unlimited 3G minutes anyway, why the hell do they care? I’m still paying AT&T to use it…. Any VOIP bandwidth would still be going through them anyways… Over 3G, It isn’t taking away from their usage, It is still all running through them. If anything, I’m NOT using AT&T when I’m talking through a Wi-Fi connection. Can someone explain…
The answer should be obvious. The network use has costs. The bandwidth you use costs AT&T a certain amount. They’ve established their fees for unlimited data based on models of expected usage. They got other per-use or per-minute fees, which are for phone use. If people start transferring their heavy per-minute activity into the unlimited data, then AT&T will have to adjust their rates. Which means that they might end up having to increase the cost of the data plan to make up for it. Which then means that everybody’s fees will go up, because you thought those bits were free. Which they’re not.
Yeah, at the end of the day, they run a business and can refuse service to anyone. Ronbo13 explained it well. They design a solution tied to their idea of a business model. They are here to make money. Then they serve you. If they still serve you but it’s affecting their bottom line, they can either eat it or pull the plug.
The other thing i would like to add is the ability to call someone overseas. I can call my brother for “free” via Skype to Skype. It would cost me $1.20/min if I was using the AT&T international plan.
I think the bottom line is that people are frustrated because in their mind they “tricked” AT&T first. Then that idea was yanked from them. They feel insulted. Is that the absolute truth? No. Just an emotional response to what some think was genuine in the first place. If AT&T, Apple and Skype closed that door with Windows Mobile users years ago before someone even thought of reaching the door knob, we would have had some “Oh man, that’s too bad!” instead of a bunch of outraged people who forget that AT&T is here to make money.
Get a life people. You all know that AT&T has a contract with Apple to exclusively offer service via 3G and Edge. They do not own wi-fi rights so that is all that you are going to get. Everyone knows that there is no way in hell that AT&T is just going to give that up becuase “you haaave to have skype on 3G”. Grow up and find something worth fighting for other than voip on 3g or edge. It isn’t going to happen any time soon.
Skype works on Edge and 3G on the new iPhone 3.0 beta so far. Of course, it works best at wi-fi, but 3G is decent enugh :)
Skype calls works with 3G using voipover3g, availailable via Cydia on jailbroken phones.
AT&T don’t like it? Tough!
With the iPhone 3.0 Beta2, both Fringe and Skype let you call over 3G. Over 3G, as xaviered said, it’s works well. Wifi’s better but not that much (just less dropped calls).
Tried it to do a con-call from my hotel in northern Kazakhstan the day after it came out and it worked just fine. A definitely improvement over paying $$$$ a minute for roaming charges.
The post above makes no sense – I’m paying my $150 bucks a month to AT&T anyway so if I’m not actually using their network then they are saving money. So by using Skype on WiFi I’m improving AT&T’s bottom line. Who are they to complain?
On 3G I get it…but on WiFi… stop complaining.
makes no sense.
Where is the confusion….Skype is VOIP, VOIP runs on WiFi, Why should I expect Skype on my 3G.
Come on people, lets focus on the real battles, service coverage and service quality
? Skype requires an internet connection, whether 3G, 2G or LAN or wifi.
Well here is my look on it. What if i am paying both AT&T and Skype for both of their services. Why am I unable to use AT&T to receive a phone call? What if they only limited it to receiving calls on 3G? Because on the IPhone 3.0 they will have push and it would be able to let you know if someone is trying to call your Skype number. Wouldn’t that be a fair compromise? But currently I can not even check a Skype VM… That seems a bit off I think…
Mobile companies make 85 cents of every dollar in profit. The other 10 cents is to pay for sending you the bill and the expensive receivable departments. 5c goes to maintenance.
So providing free calls is a feasible option anyway, and i hate being ripped off…
Now when we do have chance to get free calls and just pay for the data, we are not allowed. AT&T and whoever is stopping this, are living in the past, wake up…. and prepare for the future…
Stamps are out dated, so is Kodac films, and soon will mobile phone calls that we have to pay for…
Okay I bought my iphone unlocked @ full price, I owe AT&T nothing! I pay full price for Skype and I have Zain as my provider which I pay full price for 3G Internet access. Why am I bound by other peoples contractual obligations. My friend has all the same things but a different phone than the iphone and he can make skype calls over 3G. This is complete crap, I am getting screwed due to other companies assumptions and pressures on their vendors. If phone carriers dont want people using Skype over their phone then they shouldnt allow any Internet access over 3G. This is just like the RIAA trying to force people not to use the Internet for music instead of embracing the technology. These phone providers refuse to live in this century by trying to prevent technology from happening. This is a joke.
I do not have AT&T and bought my iPhone in Europe for the full price without any contract. So I should be allowed to make those calls over 3G.. but guess what.. also I am denied that service. Pretty pointless if you ask me!