You can finally ditch your voice plan, or at least downgrade it.
One of the most useful demonstrations about the iOS 4 is that it can multitask with VoIP applications such as Skype. As world travelers should know, Skype is essential to keeping in touch with those wherever you are, at the cheapest rates – as long as you have an internet connection.
With the option to purchase a virtual phone number complete with voicemail, you could actually scrap your landline in favor of using Skype. And now you can ditch your voiceplan too on your iPhone 3GS or 4.
Skype today finally rolled out Skype 2.0.1 for iOS devices, which will run in the background on multitasking enabled iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 (and some jailbroken iPhone 3G too).
"This means you can receive Skype calls while other apps are running, even when your iPhone is locked. And during a call, you can keep the conversation going while you switch to another task, such as checking a movie listing or reading an email," Skype's Peter Parkes wrote in the company blog. "We’ve also updated the app’s graphics to support iPhone 4’s Retina Display."
Perhaps even bigger news is that Skype has scrapped plans to charge for calls over 3G. It originally planned to created a new tier of service for users who wish to place calls over a 3G network, using data instead of voice minutes from the carrier. Now those plans have changed and 3G calling will be free – costing only the data from your provider.
With a virtual Skype number, you could in theory downgrade your voice plan to the very lowest level and rely purely on the data network for your voice communication.
Another interesting bit is that a third-generation iPod touch with Skype loaded is now a replacement for a VoIP phone while it is in Wi-Fi range.
Could be interesting for calls within your country of origin and for receiving calls from abroad though....
Plus, there is a chance these will not loose the 3G connection (needed for your Skype to work at all) when you hold it in your hand...
Enough of this apple crap - please...
carrying around another device would be pointless, and i dont want to give up those games. (as much as i support android and the open market, the android store is no where near the app store in terms of quantity or quality of games)
the ipod touch and separate phone made sense until now. but if i can get an iphone and make free calls over 3g? sounds good to me.
And an Android client.
"I've dug myself in to this massive whole, so rather than buy a device that actually works I'll keep on digging with my ispade"
It's still TECH NEWS! Get over it.
Big Deal
Because they are restrictive piles that charge for every little dime they can. Because their hardware sucks and has problems, and instead of just admitting it and fixing the problem. They say everyone that has the problem is a moron and holds their phone wrong. Because they have became big enough that they think they can dictate what the consumer can and cant have. Because they lie about their products. And the number one reason I hate them. Because they wanted to charge me 20bucks to turn on bluetooth via software. F-u it had the hardware in it when I bought it. Why didnt the hardware JUST WORK.
Yep but iphone users will spend $100 on skype credits (when their voice plan was $40) just because its so cool and its on the iphone.