Official: Skype coming to iPhone
Last week's Skype for iPhone rumours have turned out to be true, according to the company.
Skype's COO, Scott Durchslag, is reported to have high hopes for the application's success on the iPhone, saying that "the No. 1 request we get from customers is to make Skype available on iPhone. There's a pent-up demand."
Apps that integrate with the iPhone's standard functionality are nearly always a good thing, and Skype will allow users to pull phone numbers directly from the Contacts application instead of having to duplicate and then keep updated this information. That's a very smart move.
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The application will be free, just like its desktop counterpart, with gratis Skype-to-Skype calls and calls to other numbers charged for just as you're already used to.
One thing that won't be available is video. Not only does the iPhone's camera not natively support video imaging, but the bandwidth requirements might be prohibitive and could well get the mobile network operators' backs up.
"We're considering video carefully but we have a really high bar on the quality," said Durchslag.
Interestingly, and something I wasn't aware of as a UK resident, is that Skype hasn't caught on in such a big way in the US. Perhaps this will help it to succeed.
There's little doubt that Skype is going to be an amazing addition to the iPhone (and also BlackBerry devices in due course). What will be interesting is to see how the network operators react to it. In fact, they're often still getting decent fixed monthly revenue from iPhone users, many of whom are probably already using the Internet more than voice calls.
Skype for iPhone should be available from tomorrow (Tuesday).
(Via Reuters)
Related stories: iPhone gets Skype service, of sorts | Palringo for iPhone gets voice instant messaging functionality | Paringo brings first rich messaging service to iPhone
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