iSkoot - Skype comes to BlackBerry

[Reed McLay]

Skype is unique among the IM crowd. It does not depend on centralized resources and uses a proprietary method of getting the message through.

Skype is currently owned by eBay and provides VoIP, Video and Chat anywhere on the Planet. There is no additional cost to use Skype, international calling is not tolled.

About iSkoot | Life on the go.

Founded in April, 2005 by Jacob Guedalia and David Guedalia, San Francisco-based iSkoot brings leading internet services like Skype™ to mobile handsets around the world, delivering rich consumer experiences with minimal impact on operator networks.

iSkoot began with the simple premise that services meant to improve person-to-person voice communications - Skype and other VoIP applications - ought to work with the mobile devices we carry for the express purpose of... person-to-person voice communication. That turned out to be a relatively tricky technical challenge, especially because we refused to compromise the quality of voice transmissions or abuse network resources with a brute-force approach.

In taking on that challenge, we ultimately addressed a number of other interesting challenges as well, especially around offloading processing tasks from the handset to proxies in the network, which lets the handset learn some new tricks without paying a penalty in battery life. Going forward we are laser-focused on bringing more Web services to the handset in a way that respects both the current mobile ecosystem and the way that taking those services mobile transforms the user experience.

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Short version, they have implemented a free Skype client. It installs OTA, via Email or with BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

Get iSkoot | Life on the go.

Installation requires identifying your country of origin, providing a phone number and a Skype ID. If you have it on a computer, it connects quickly.

First time, you affirm a few connection details and there are your Skype contacts. First time Skype users can register on BlackBerry.

What does Skype give you? Toll free calling to other Skype subscribers and a very private chat client. The chat client works just like the desktop version, instant response but there is no reply in progress indicator.

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol, means your data connection is used instead of your voice plan. I will be monitoring the data use, but I expect to be impressed.

Skype is free to other Skype clients and very low cost to national or international phones using Skypes credit plan.

[schaidshaw02]

I have the Skype unlimited US plan. Can I use that on my BB now that I have downloaded iSkoot? Or is it only Skype to Skype that is unlimited with iSkoot?

[Reed McLay]

ISkoot uses Skype's API's to access the Skype network and Skype Out, the connection to land or mobile phone systems.

If you have unlimited Skype out credits, it will apply to iSkoot too.

[schaidshaw02]

Thanks!

[Pete6]

It only works via my data plan and not over WiFi. I understood that iSkoot were fixing this but they do not seem to have done so. Pity.

[Reed McLay]

Wifi is the critical component for UMA over my internet connection. The network signal is very weak, typically 1 bar and often not present.

I have just run a test, network connections off, UMA active. No connection in either direction.

[myt_mouse]

Originally Posted by Reed McLay

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol, means your data connection is used instead of your voice plan. I will be monitoring the data use, but I expect to be impressed.

I was under the impression that data was only used at the initial stage of connecting your call but voice minutes are used during the duration of the call as it dials out to a local number before connecting you.

I was able to use iskoot on my 8310 and since its non-3g it can't handle voice and data at the same time. Thats whay I figured it doesn't use your data while your actually on a call. Is there any sense to what im thinking?

[Reed McLay]

Originally Posted by myt_mouse

I was under the impression that data was only used at the initial stage of connecting your call but voice minutes are used during the duration of the call as it dials out to a local number before connecting you. ...

Skype works a sublayer of the internet. Voice is digitized on the handset and routed through a peer to peer network to another Skype client or the Skype Out service.

Skype Out completes the connection to land and mobile phones for a charge to your Skype account.

I don't maintain a Skype Out credit balance, in practice, my Skype voice contacts usually use the Video connection to my home work station.

Skype Chat is the reason I prefer Skype. Privacy is inherent in the network.

I was able to use iskoot on my 8310 and since its non-3g it can't handle voice and data at the same time. Thats whay I figured it doesn't use your data while your actually on a call. Is there any sense to what im thinking?

I have not tested voice and Skype together. Perhaps I will check it out later when I am in strong signal location.

[ivangarciaf]

I was under the impression that data was only used at the initial stage of connecting your call but voice minutes are used during the duration of the call as it dials out to a local number before connecting you.

From the FAQ section of iSkoot webpage:

15. Do iSkoot calls count towards my mobile minutes usage?
Standard air time rates for your mobile phone calls will apply.

If this is true, the only advantage of this program is for international phone calls.

This is not truly voip, is it?It seems to connect through a local number.Not free skype to skype calls?

[myt_mouse]

Thanks Reed!

Originally Posted by ivangarciaf

From the FAQ section of iSkoot webpage:

15. Do iSkoot calls count towards my mobile minutes usage?
Standard air time rates for your mobile phone calls will apply.

If this is true, the only advantage of this program is for international phone calls.

This is not truly voip, is it?It seems to connect through a local number.Not free skype to skype calls?

What I did to get around this is add the local number that iskoot dials out to, to my My 10 nationwide calling list. This coupled with my unlimited US and Canada Skpye plan gives me unlimted calls anytime of day to landlines and to other skype users.

[ivangarciaf]

Thanks myt_mouse!!

[Pete6]

Originally Posted by Reed McLay

Wifi is the critical component for UMA over my internet connection. The network signal is very weak, typically 1 bar and often not present.

I have just run a test, network connections off, UMA active. No connection in either direction.

I had iSkoot a year ago on my UIQ3 base SonyEricsson and it would not work on WiFi only becaise iSkoot corp could only make money when the Skype local call was placed via the data plan port. We has some huge arguments with the iSkoot folk just after the app was released. If you look on the iSkoot board, and they havn't deleted it, you can probably read the whole horrible story.

It still does not work and I am 12 feet my wireless AP and have 4 bars.

[Reed McLay]

Interesting, even after restoring the net work connection, the messages have been lost. Humm....

[samsams]

I have had iSkoot for a few months. In the beginning it worked fine but it dropped a lot of international "Skype-out"-calls.
This is my feedback, correct me if I use the wrong terms here:

First a small explanation on costs:
Connecting with iSkoot you use data to start with, so you should have a no limits data plan. (1)

Once logged in you can make calls to Skype contacts or Skype-Out contacts.
iSkoot connects you then through to its own local server. So when I am in Italy it connects to a local number in Rome, here in Holland it connects me through to number in Amsterdam, in US I don't know.
Therefore I will always pay a local fee as it were a local call, the amount depends on your own contract. (2)

Then it connects you with Skype...seems a lot of steps but it does all instantly...

Thirdly (yes you pay 3 times!) there is an additional cost if you call tel numbers without a Skype account, so called Skype-Out numbers. That fee will be deducted from the credit you have put in your Skype account (via PayPal or C/C) (3)

Ofcourse if you are calling another Skype account the call is free from charge BUT still you use data (1) and still you call the local iSkoot server (2).

I use(d) it a lot for making calls to cell phone numbers elsewhere in Europe, in the end I saved lots of money even when I called Skype-Out numbers.

But as I said, iSkoot dropped too many call and had some difficulties in loggin in so I kicked it out.
Now I use Nimbuzz, works exactly the same as I explained above, connects you with Skype ....PLUS....it is a multiple IM client (Facebook, ICQ, AIM, Yahoo, Gtalk, MSN....)...never dropped an international call, sound is perfect and is just a very cool app to have!!!

P.S.
Would really like to know what Reed or other mods think of Nimbuzz...

[Reed McLay]

Thanks to Google, I don't have to ask, what is Nimbuzz?

Nimbuzz - learn more: Mobile web pc widgets

About Nimbuzz Mobile

Nimbuzz Mobile lets you call, chat, message, and send files on the go, for free. It combines all your buddies from Skype, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM, Google Talk and more. One login, one contact list, all accounts.

See who´s online and where, call/group-call, chat/chatrooms, offline messaging, send photos/music/video, voice messaging.

Nimbuzz Mobile free to download and use. Nimbuzz will not charge or bill you for anything. However, since Nimbuzz uses your internet connection, incremental data charges from your provider will apply. We therefore strongly recommend to use the mobile client only with a flat-rate data plan or free Wifi connection.

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Interesting, thank you for the feedback. I will look into it further.