When iPhone was launched, the biggest drawback of the phone was that it didn’t support 3G (not that it affects me as i’m in India) and certainly was nothing but a piece of crap for me because it didn’t allow users to install third party applications. Well, officially it still doesn’t allow that (expected to happen in june 2008) however thanks to all the hackers and modders who’ve given us AppTapp and iBrickr and thus enable us to install various applications on iPhone.
Still I found that iPhone was not much use to me and the biggest reason was that there was no Skype for iPhone. I’m a die hard fan of Skype, although I don’t like to associate myself as a fan of anything but when it comes to Skype, I do have a soft corner for it.
We still don’t have Skype for iPhone and I’m wondering that why Skype didn’t go for partnership or created the application for iPhone when we all know that it can be JailBreaked ? Well, what ever the reasons may be but iPhone was unusable for me till the time it didn’t have Skype with it.
However, Fring – The ultimate VoIP/IM software for mobile phones has once again done what others haven’t and proved that it’s far better software/service and one can depend on it at any point of time. Fring has released an installable application for iPhone which allows you to run Gtalk, MSN and Skype too! Of-course it lets you chat with your friends in list but the best is that it lets you make Skype Out calls and thus help you in saving money when it comes to international calls!
Well, I’ll be still keen to see if Skype goes ahead and comes out with the official Skype version for iPhone but I wonder if they’ll ever do so until Apple partners with them or they open up iPhone for third party developers. I don’t own an iPhone so, I couldn’t test Fring for iPhone, however Fring has at least given me reason to go for iPhone.
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Guess the EDGE speeds are just not enough to have a decent conversation using skype. On WiFi, the experience is better. So if iPhone does come up with 3G and if india adopts 3G soon, that would be an ideal situation to go for iPhone :)
I wonder, iphone is atnt limited … so when comes to skype , cheap voip calls might affect ATNT. Wondering other stuffs, skype is very concerned about the user experience, thats the reason giving an excuse of slow processor speed in Nokia symbian phones, they are still not ready to create an application for that.
Coming back to Fring, Since I am using it, I can say it doesnt replace desktop voip service. No support for speakerphone + no clarity in voice while talking on a wifi is the major disadvantage. Fring UI is not that friendly too. Hope things might change … Voip over edge or 3g is of not much cost effective option unless you have an unlimited data connection.
@ kanak : well, Apple did the most stupid thing they could ever do by joining hands with AT&T. I mean they would have made more sales for sure if they were not AT&T specific. Well, not that it’s effecting any one, people are using it anyway and that too without AT&T.
Well, the good news is that good souls at Apple have decided that they’ll not stop any VoIP companies to develop software for iPhone once they open the gates for third party developers. Although, AT&T may start interfering…
Well, Fring is good enough software as far as mobile VoIP software are concerned. I didn’t get the chance of checking the iphone version and may be they’ve addressed the issues in that version.
As far cost effective solutions depend, I completely agree to you, it won’t make sense if we don’t have unlimited data connection as the data transfer will definitely increase because of the voice being transfered over the internet..
@ Venu : Well, the Edge speed will be decent enough for conversation using Skype. I’d used Fring long back and it worked fairly well even though I was using GPRS connection and we all know that how badly their speed sucks.
well, i’m still happy to use it along with my wireless router, at least skype will work without any issues in a place where I’ve got wi-fi connection.
Fring work on IPhone as far as the IM is concerned. Works pretty well with Skype chat. However making calls over Skype out is a different story. You cannot make calls from your IPhone using Skype out to a landline. You can make calls to other skype users but not to a landline – which is a major flaw. Have searched the net and have not found a solution or workaround for this issue yet.
Well my question is: does it work on iPhone 4 and iPad either?
Thanks