⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

"...The application works in any network and doesn't require WiFi..."


Yeah, in other words it's totally worthless for anyone traveling overseas as you'll have to pay international roaming fees in order to connect to Skype to "call free."

I guess it's nice for those who want to call someone overseas from the US though... Disappointed...

Hope they'll realize this is a pretty important detail and will allow the application to connect through WiFi so I can call home from Starbucks in Taipei, etc...

MD11Fr8Dog

Not totally true! You would just need to find a free wifi hot spot, which might not necessarily be convenient. I am looking at trying a small Apple Airport Express to set up on a layover and create my own wi-fi in my room using the company/hotel provided HSIA! Anyone tried this yet?

Anxiously awaiting the 3G iPhone to replace my Treo 700wx ....


(fwiw, I've used Skype on my Treo, but what's the point since its CDMA and no worky outside of US )

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

You misunderstood my reply. Finding a free (or not free) WiFi spot will not help you. According to the link Skype will be accessible through the network (in other words AT&T network or roaming networks) and not through WiFi - at least that's my understanding.

If that's true, AT&T is hoping to cash in on us using international roaming fees in order to connect to Skype while overseas... Again - IPhone will not be using WiFi but rather AT&T network to connect...

I'm hoping to replace my Treo 700P but Skype is the deal breaker - we'll see what happens.


(fwiw, I've used Skype on my Treo, but what's the point since its CDMA and no worky outside of US )

That's my point - although iPhone is not CDMA and can roam overseas, if I'm gonna pay roaming fees I might as well be making direct phone calls. Why should I or anyone else roam in order to connect to Skype when overseas?

JB130

Yes, I have tried this and it works as advertised.

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

In the US - Yes but if you have unlimited minutes then why bother Skyping? Unless you're calling someone outside the US.

What we are hoping for is that we'll be able to Skype through WiFi and NOT AT&T or other roaming NETWORK when overseas...

bifff15

I've done this in Latin America and it works fine. Haven't tried it with Skype but would think if you have the cell phone part of the iPhone turned off and only the Wifi portion turned on it shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure to get the new highER speed Express with 801N.

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Could you please post a link or a photo of what y'all are talking about?

MD11Fr8Dog

I was under the impression that the Treos with wi-fi worked this way also. I, unfortunately, don't have wi-fi on my Treo, but I haven't done much international since I upgraded to CAP 2 yrs ago, so no big deal. My plan has been to wait out for the 3G iPhone before changing phones and hope for a Skype. My Treo is almost 2 yrs old now, but stil does all I need, except wi-fi, but not a big deal domestically.

Soemthing I have some folks doing is getting SkypeIn and using the forwarding feature to a phone overseas that gets free incoming minutes. For instance, I have a cheapie back up phone from Wal-Mart that I buy minutes for when needed (forgot phone or charger at home). It has a sim chip. Swap to a network in Europe with free incoming and install that chip - will cost some Euros up front. Have momma call Skype number, which forwards to new Europe number, cost after SkypeIn and Europe sim chip is .02/min. I will try this later this month.

MD11Fr8Dog

Hmm, I didn't read it that way, but will look again!

JB130

I've underlined the key phrase in that company's description of their Skype product...

Using the device's Safari Web browser, iPhone users can log in to skypeforiphone.com and talk to their Skype contacts or call any landlines and mobiles in a cost-efficient way.

Since the program is actually just a "web application" (a website specifically built for the iPhone and accessed through Safari) the type of connection is irrelevant for the sake of the connectivity discussion. Safari doesn't care about the delivery source of the data. Theoretically if you have a signal, be it WiFi or wireless data from the phone company, it will work. FYI, if you bank with USAA or Bank of America, they have great iPhone-specific web applications available right now.

From a practical point however, as previously mentioned by others in this thread, using the current slow 2.5G technology from the phone company and the 2.5G limitation of the current version of the iPhone, the Skype experience may suffer severely....not to mention the foreign data roaming charges would be worse than a sharp stick in the eye.

That's why the 3G leap is such a big deal...it will have the capacity to handle voice and eventually video with ease. It's also why the iPhone 2.0 software upgrade is a big deal...it will allow, for the first time, native applications to interface directly with the iPhone OS rather running inside of Safari as a "web application." The only question remaining is if Apple will approve/allow Skype to run on the iPhone in this manner.

If you have some time to kill on a layover, check out the video presentation by Steve Jobs of the new features and capabilities of the 2.0 upgrade. It's kinda heavy on geek speak in the beginning but you'll see some very cool stuff in the pipeline...
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap/

-JB