Skype Multitasks on iPhone; Voice Plans Useless
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.
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Sold. i want one.
good morning apple
what's new on this procedure, my good old n95 was able to do this lightyears back 
Don't know how it is in the US, but here in Europe using data on your phone outside of the country you live in is WAAAAY expensive! You'd be better off just making a voice call when you're in another country.
Could be interesting for calls within your country of origin and for receiving calls from abroad though....
to Welshmousepk - buy any other Android phone or good old N95...
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...
in other news - Apple invented a wheel...
Enough of this apple crap - please...
i already have a massive collection of games bought from the App store though (for my iPod touch).
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.
Now gief calling over Wifi.
And an Android client.
i already have a massive collection of games bought from the App store though (for my iPod touch). carrying around another device would be pointless, and i dont want to give up those games.
"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"
i wish there was a good and official skype app for android too. nimbus and others apps sucks in voice calls via skype network
A smart phone that multi tasks?! Revolutionary! Magical!
Skype uses data right? Wouldn't all that data with a heavy talker push you quite easily past your limit?
Yes, you could scrap your voice plan, but you would need an unlimited data plan to cope with regular skype use. Unless you just planned to use it in wifi zones.
just scrap your iCrap
Why does everyone hate Apple again?
A more appropriate question would be, "Why do people have a fit when THW posts news on Apple."
It's still TECH NEWS! Get over it.
The problem is that the majority of people with cellphones don't use skype therefore if you want to talk to them even with this app, then you have to have Skype credits which still costs money. Therefore it's only free if its a Skype to Skype call.
Big Deal
no way! iPhone can finally do something Android has done since inception?! Go Apple!!!
Why does everyone hate Apple again?
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.
The problem is that the majority of people with cellphones don't use skype therefore if you want to talk to them even with this app, then you have to have Skype credits which still costs money. Therefore it's only free if its a Skype to Skype call. Big Deal
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.
Once everyone downgrades their Voice Plans, Data plans will sky rocket.
There is no skype on android is there? I looked awhile ago but I couldnt download it for my phone(Galaxy S) think skype is locked to Verizon? even though im in UK...
What good it is without bluetooth support!!!!!!
'Because they are restrictive piles that charge for every little dime they can.'
Heaven forbid a company should try to make money.
'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.'
Firstly, you're talking about one hardware problem which is so minor in actual use that less than 0.5% of users have returned their phone because of is. Secondly, they have offered free cases to correct the issue and admitted it needs a solution. Thirdly, when you hold the phone normally the issue doesn't happen, so they have a point when saying you aren't holding it right.
'Because they have became big enough that they think they can dictate what the consumer can and cant have.'
Er, what? They can dictate what THEY OFFER, yes, just like every other company in the world. They don't stop people buying other products.
'Because they lie about their products.'
They haven't lied 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.'
Sounds like a ridiculous reason to have such an illogical hatred for one of the most successful phone companies in the world.
(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)
How exactly do you support Android again?
I'm sure Rogers in Canada will find a way to nickel and dime us for this as well.
Because they are restrictive piles that charge for every little dime they can. Because their hardware sucks and has problems...
just don't buy it
I like how when apple does something other phones have been doing for the last 5 years it's a big headline. Wow now icrap can copy and paste! Wow icrap can multitask! Wow icrap can use skype! Big f*n deal. I have been doing all of this on my phone forever
Once everyone downgrades their Voice Plans, Data plans will sky rocket.
Once everyone starts flooding the "data" service, they'll raise the rates and cut the caps.
With half second and even up to second ping time on 3G, the phone talk is not very good. And I am sure ATT will do everything it can to keep it this way if Skype talk become a threat for ATT plans.
Well, issue with that statement, Apple is NOT a phone company. They are a technology company which also builds smart phones. If you look at a list of the products which apple has built since its invention (ignoring the Newton), its was only 'recently' (late 90's, early 2000's) that they steeped away from computers, and have started to build other (overpriced) products.
So, no, they are not a phone company. And if it was not for the app store (prime example of nickle and dimeing (granted android does this as well)). However with apple, you need to jailbreak the phone, which voids the warranty to be able to bypass the app store. As far as I am aware about android, you can do this with the phone as it is. (I could be wrong, as I do not have a smartphone)
So you can just buy a iPad or Touch, get the unlimited data plan and use skype for calling on it?