Skype for iPhone: Does it Actually Work?

Is the promise of unlimited cell phone calls for free too good to be true?

By John Brandon Posted 04.07.2009 at 5:28 pm 4 Comments

Last week, Skype released a client for the iPhone, and the whole world -- or at least 50 million iPhone users -- can rejoice. With free calls to other Skype users, the new app (available free from the Apple app store or from Skype)is ground-breaking, because it means you can place Internet calls without having to use AT&T carrier service. And, iPod Touch users now have a reliable VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) tool that is a real game-changer. Essentially, Skype turns the iPod Touch into a cell phone, without any carrier service.

Does the client really work? I tested the service over the past week, and found that it is very reliable in specific conditions, for both local calls and international chats. Skype for iPhone does have a few hang-ups though, and not the kind you'd normally hope for from a phone.

Truth be told, all VoIP clients -- such as Google Talk, Vonage, and Gizmo -- require a fast Internet connection running at 3Mbps or more. Your home router also plays an important role. Newer models such as the D-Link DIR-855 and the ZyXEL 550-NH have Quality-of-Service (QoS) features, which smooth voice calls by giving them priority over simple data downloads.

Local calls between Skype users were crystal-clear during most tests, both over a home broadband connection and at a public library. In a few cases, Skype for iPhone would cause a strange delay where the other party had to wait for the audio -- almost like it was held up in traffic. An international call had a similar problem which grew progressively worse. Anytime you call someone who does not use Skype, you'll use Skype Credits you buy at Skype.com -- usually at just a few cents per minute. You also have to pay extra for voice mail and a private number in your own area code.

Still, Skype for iPhone has some cool extra features. If multiple people call you using the desktop version of Skype, you can add them to a conference call. Any call you make or receive is added to a history log, which you can view on your iPhone or the Web. You can also listen to voicemail on your phone or from your computer.

The most-publicized downside to the new client is that you can't make a call over iPhone 3G service; it only works over Wi-Fi. If you're connected via 3G, your Skype buddies can see that you're online, but nothing more.

For free, Skype for iPhone is worth the download -- just don't expect miraculous service.

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4 Comments

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Seriously

04/07/09 at 6:25 pm

Even if they did make this for the 3g service it would added to contract that you would not be allowed to use it. Normally I am very capitalistic by nature, but Cell phone companies are a rip off. Not quite as bad as cable companies, but close.

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burgerga123

04/08/09 at 12:10 pm

Are you telling me Apple allowed this? This doesn't violate some AT&T terms of service agreement or something? I find that really surprising.

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AMP13

04/08/09 at 1:04 pm

That's all well and good, but if I wanted an iPhone, I would've bought one.

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champrizi

07/17/12 at 9:05 am

At first glance this phone seems identical to its predecessor, except for the distinctive top-mounted incisions which signifies that a new design of the antenna is lying in wait inside. However, when you switch on the phone you will find that things are different. The 4S does not require activation via the computer except that you are restoring the data from a pre-existing iTunes backup. The phone can be set up as a new phone or restored from an iCloud account. In the event that you do not currently have an Apple ID, there is the option of creating one. A number of iPhone 4 users will ask themselves why they would need the iPhone 4S when the iOS 5 upgrade, which is free of charge, will equip their existing phone with the majority of the new features that are in excess of 200. However, it is important to note that the iPhone 4S is the best phone that Apple has built to date. The A5 dual-core processor, which makes things obviously nippier, is new and it is a feature that is also incorporated in the iPad 2. Web pages load quicker, apps launch faster, multi-tasking is a great deal more fluid and Pages and other resource-hungry apps now permit you to edit documents with no lag. Another great feature of the A5 processor is that it allows you to mirror the content of the iPhone 4S over AirPlay. When operated wirelessly, the iPhone 4S can push out up to 720p to the Apple TV. When connected to HDMI, the number will increase to 1080p. The ease of pushing content of the small screen to the big screen of the fly is an unexpected delight, particularly when you begin to rotate and zoom. In addition, it is something to brag about to owners of iPhone 4; the earlier model just cannot handle with the demands of this technological wizardry. The two antennas that run across the top of the iPhone 4S can both receive and transmit data, enabling quicker 3G connections. Apple has asserted that highest speed of download by way of HSDPA is 14.4Mbps, which is two times as quick as the iPhone 4. A major overhaul has been done to the camera, it now has the capacity to record 1080p video and take eight-megapixel stills. In addition, face detection is an upgrade and it works really well.

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