[checkyoulater]

in yet another blow to the Blackberry faithful windows phones have debuted the beta version of a native Skype application on their mobile devices. Granted MS does own Skype this was a no brainer but still, it's unbelievable how RIM can stand by and watch and not comment on why getting Skype to work with their Blackberries seems next to an impossible task.

check out the article here

[qbnkelt]

um....Skype works on my 9930 and 9370 from VZW. It's a carrier exclusive for BB. THAT's the problem.
It's on my Skyrocket on AT&T.

Haven't used it on any of the three phones.

[Blackberry_boffin]

in yet another blow to the Blackberry faithful windows phones have debuted the beta version of a native Skype application on their mobile devices. Granted MS does own Skype this was a no brainer but still, it's unbelievable how RIM can stand by and watch and not comment on why getting Skype to work with their Blackberries seems next to an impossible task.

check out the article here

Calling it a 'blow' is a bit of a stretch, esp when you acknowledge MS now owns (soon anyway) Skype.

[belfastdispatcher]

Seriously? They only get Skype now? Microsoft have owned it for quite a few months now.

[Dapper37]

This story is obvious /eneviable.

[bobauckland]

Point is, this means of the major global operating systems, Skype is now on iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows Phone. The ONLY major OS missing is BlackBerry.
This is potentially a hammer blow.
RIM is growing fast in developing countries, Nokia has huge marketshare they want to transfer from Symbian to Windows Phone. Offering Skype vs Berries without Skype in countries where most people have loved ones abroad would quickly see BlackBerry usage shrink quicker than it takes to spell RIM.
If RIM doesn't act fast it will be too late.

[belfastdispatcher]

Point is, this means of the major global operating systems, Skype is now on iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows Phone. The ONLY major OS missing is BlackBerry.
This is potentially a hammer blow.
RIM is growing fast in developing countries, Nokia has huge marketshare they want to transfer from Symbian to Windows Phone. Offering Skype vs Berries without Skype in countries where most people have loved ones abroad would quickly see BlackBerry usage shrink quicker than it takes to spell RIM.
If RIM doesn't act fast it will be too late.

If Skype was really that important to Blackberry users there wouldn't be 75 millions using one.

It's been many years since I last used skype, I would much rather use a half voip service like Vopium that allows me to make cheap calls, actual calls to an actual phone number.

[bobauckland]

If Skype was really that important to Blackberry users there wouldn't be 75 millions using one.

It's been many years since I last used skype, I would much rather use a half voip service like Vopium that allows me to make cheap calls, actual calls to an actual phone number.

Good for you. Video chat is where its at for communication needs over the internet at the moment, and in the future.
I moved to a BlackBerry because it suited MOST of my communication needs excellently.
Barring Skype, but I had an iPad. I got rid of the iPad for a PlayBook and have loved it but its left me isolated from my overseas family and dependent on my wifes Android for all family chats when out and about.
Have to be careful using the 75 million figure as a defence or indicator that the strategy is right, a lot of those 75 million are overseas, and when they get flooded with cheap Windows Phones with Skype and people find they can use Skype to do a lot of BBMs work AND video chat? That number may shrink rapidly, just as it did in the States.
RIM is missing a trick in not adding voice/video chat to BBM and then charging other platforms for using it. They have a window, now, where people will go for it, in a little while longer as more mindshare is lost, no one will be bothered.

[belfastdispatcher]

Yeah but I would say 99% of people with a blackberry also have a computer that's skype capable, I can already have skype on 3 computers in my house, or at least on my netbook that's always with me.

While skype is important skype on a mobile phone is not really that important.

Un UK 3 mobile carrier has tried really hard to push skype, they actually had skype phones and never caught on.

You're overestimating skype.

Even if I could skype on my BB I wouldn't because of my 750mb data plan. If I'm on wifi I might as well use a laptop.

Edit- oh, and by the way, most people that buy a BB buy it because they prefer typing over talking. That's the reason BBM is so popular. It's the text generation.

[bobauckland]

Yeah but I would say 99% of people with a blackberry also have a computer that's skype capable, I can already have skype on 3 computers in my house, or at least on my netbook that's always with me.

While skype is important skype on a mobile phone is not really that important.

Un UK 3 mobile carrier has tried really hard to push skype, they actually had skype phones and never caught on.

You're overestimating skype.

Even if I could skype on my BB I wouldn't because of my 750mb data plan. If I'm on wifi I might as well use a laptop.

Edit- oh, and by the way, most people that buy a BB buy it because they prefer typing over talking. That's the reason BBM is so popular. It's the text generation.

Having a computer thats Skype capable has nothing to do with it.
Ive got 3.
I sincerely hope the decision makers don't adopt your view cos it will kill RIMs overseas market.
Due to time differences, and how widespread cheap data plans are, video calls mean you can keep in touch when out and about, at the shops, at work, at a party, wherever. It means you don't have to wait to get home and call someone in the middle of the night. Its what people are used to cos its available absolutely everywhere, well, except on BlackBerries.
My wife has a 500MB data plan and Skype barely eats into it, but it makes a huge difference being able to stay in touch with our families wherever we are. Thats the point in having a mobile. Your argument is akin to saying we don't need a browser on phones or tablets, cos, hey, our laptop at home has one right?
Skypephones caught on, I had one, again, mostly with people with families overseas.

Your point about BBM is really dangerous, people may prefer typing, but most people will prefer a program that gives them the option to type and talk and video chat, vs one that allows only typing. Options are what people demand. RIM should be adding to BBM, not talking about how awesome it was 3 or 4 years ago while other programs have raced past in terms of features and options offered.

[belfastdispatcher]

Due to time differences, and how widespread cheap data plans are, video calls mean you can keep in touch when out and about, at the shops, at work, at a party, wherever.

That's exactly where you can't use video calling, you can't walk out and about with the phone in front of you everybody listening on your conversation, or at work, or at a party, unless you always carry a headset with you and that's not exactly practical.

Widespread cheap data plans? Data plans are getting more expensive and data caps are getting lower. 3 give you lots of data but as soon as you run out of 3G you're screwed, no 2G.

I stand by half voip, you call a local number, from there on it goes via voip to an actual number, good clear conversation unlike skype, actully that's how 3 skype phones worked anyway.

[dagerlach]

The IT folks at my office have told us not to install Skype on our computers that we VPN on. They said Skype has security issues that can allow someone to gain access to our network.

[emirozmen]

It looks pretty good too. I really love the UI of WP!

[bobauckland]

That's exactly where you can't use video calling, you can't walk out and about with the phone in front of you everybody listening on your conversation, or at work, or at a party, unless you always carry a headset with you and that's not exactly practical.

Widespread cheap data plans? Data plans are getting more expensive and data caps are getting lower. 3 give you lots of data but as soon as you run out of 3G you're screwed, no 2G.

I stand by half voip, you call a local number, from there on it goes via voip to an actual number, good clear conversation unlike skype, actully that's how 3 skype phones worked anyway.

I sense we will go around in circles.
Videochat when out and about is a huge feature.
You can duck in your car, show something in a store, heck when my daughter was born we were video chatting with my parents around the world on my wifes Android till the battery died, then it was on to my Berry where all I could do was email pictures.
The BlackBerry is pushed as a communications device, heck Ive extolled its virtues as a communications device.
To completely omit one form of communication while excelling at others makes the overall venture a fail.
You've gone to quite desperate lengths to back RIM on this and I don't know why.
Data plans are unlimited on T Mobile and 3 and even if they weren't give me the chance to decide what I want to do with my data. Omitting a feature as it might eat at my data really makes you sound like you're clutching at straws, imagine omitting online radio as it may eat up data, thats just silly.
Making a call in 3G areas is better than not being able to make it at all.
RIM could devote time to a cross platform BBM with video chat if they wanted. Or license Skype.
Not offering an option at all is criminal, and something they will pay dearly for if not corrected.
Half VOIP does not offer video chat nor is it completely free minutes wise.
500MB of data is a lot cheaper than long distance calls.

[qbnkelt]

Seriously people...Skype IS on BB.
VZW BBerries. Never used it but it's there.
Never used it on my Skyrocket either.

[bobauckland]

Seriously people...Skype IS on BB.
VZW BBerries. Never used it but it's there.
Never used it on my Skyrocket either.

Verizon and 3 are the only 2 networks I know that have contracts with Skype to provide Skype on all their phones including BlackBerries.
I don't think video chat is an option but not sure.
But the clients themselves are not usable on any phones off the networks.
They work on the iSkoot program I think.

[pantlesspenguin]

Skype is VERY important to me. My baby brother and his new bride (I'm very close to both) moved away to Tucson a few months ago. We were used to hanging out ALL THE TIME, and Skype (and a platform called iMeet that is offered through my company) has really bridged the many miles between us. I also have a very good friend who moved to Israel a couple years ago, and we Skype about once a month.

I've used Skype on my Android phone ONCE. 99.99% of the time I use it, it's on my laptop because that gives me the most robust experience. I don't think I'd even miss it if it suddenly wasn't available on my phone. I *do* use Skype chat to talk to some of my other friends on there, but I use imo.im for that and not the actual Skype app.

However, just because I don't have much use for it on my phone doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't use it all the time. It's kind of like the Netflix argument. I think what it all comes down to is that it would be great to have the OPTION of using it. Those who have no need for it don't have to download the app.

[belfastdispatcher]

Verizon and 3 are the only 2 networks I know that have contracts with Skype to provide Skype on all their phones including BlackBerries.
I don't think video chat is an option but not sure.
But the clients themselves are not usable on any phones off the networks.
They work on the iSkoot program I think.

Skype has cut iSkoot off a long time ago, shame as I loved using it on my 8320(back then I was using skype a bit but mainly for chat)

[bobauckland]

Skype has cut iSkoot off a long time ago, shame as I loved using it on my 8320(back then I was using skype a bit but mainly for chat)

If they've cut it out and a full functioned Skype client is on 3s Blackberry devices surely there'd be a version somewhere that could be loaded on other Berries? You're getting my hopes up now.

[belfastdispatcher]

If they've cut it out and a full functioned Skype client is on 3s Blackberry devices surely there'd be a version somewhere that could be loaded on other Berries? You're getting my hopes up now.

3 wasn't using iSkoot, I'm pretty sure of it, it looked completely different for a start.

[bobauckland]

3 wasn't using iSkoot, I'm pretty sure of it, it looked completely different for a start.

When my Skypephone would boot up the iSkoot logo would show up.

[TheScionicMan]

It's too bad Skype is THE ONLY WAY to videochat, much like NetFlix is THE ONLY WAY to get streaming movies. If only there were alternatives...

[bobauckland]

It's too bad Skype is THE ONLY WAY to videochat, much like NetFlix is THE ONLY WAY to get streaming movies. If only there were alternatives...

Its too bad you found all the time to make this post but can't actually provide any options or alternatives for cross platform video chat programs that work with any degree of decent functionality on a BlackBerry or Playbook.

[swyost]

The IT folks at my office have told us not to install Skype on our computers that we VPN on. They said Skype has security issues that can allow someone to gain access to our network.

In other words the IT people said the thing IT people always say when they don't want to deal with something that would require learning something new....

[pantlesspenguin]

It's too bad Skype is THE ONLY WAY to videochat, much like NetFlix is THE ONLY WAY to get streaming movies. If only there were alternatives...

This is very true

Its too bad you found all the time to make this post but can't actually provide any options or alternatives for cross platform video chat programs that work with any degree of decent functionality on a BlackBerry or Playbook.

Have you tried Yahoo or Google Talk for video chat? Admittedly I have not tried these on my PlayBook so I'm not sure if they work, but they do have video chat with their Android apps so I'd assume their apps for PB would have this function, too. Does PB have a Tango or Qik app?