Skype for mobile in beta - runs on S60 and UIQ
Published by Rafe Blandford at 22:56 BST, April 24th 2008
Skype has released an official mobile client. The application is written in Java so it should run on a variety of phones including both S60 and UIQ phones. The application uses an Internet connection for status and contact information and for Skype chat (instant messaging). However while the application does allows you to make calls, it routes them through the PSTN (phone) network rather than over the Internet. This means you will be charged for both incoming and outgoing calls of any type. Read on for more.
The Skype application can be downloaded from www.skype.com/m (the easiest install method is to visit this URL on your phone).
The application has the standard Skype contact list. From here you are able to select contacts and initiate calls or chat sessions. You can also add or remove contacts and set your status. Pressing right on the direction pad takes you to screen that allows you to initiate a Skype Out call and pressing right again takes you to a list of ongoing chats.
When you initiate call (be Skype or Skype Out) the application makes a local voice call to a server which then routes your call over the Internet (i.e. takes it from the PSTN network and transfers it to the IP network). Thus the Skype Mobile application is not a voice over IP (VoIP) solution. Similarly incoming calls are routed to your phone over the PSTN network. Skype will have chosen this method to solve both the bandwidth (especially in 2G areas) and latency issues that are typical of mobile data connections. This is the same method that iSkoot uses (it is not clear whether Skype have licensed iSkoot's technology or developed their own).
From the perspective of the user the application makes a standard voice call when calling out as shown below. An incoming Skype call will appear as a normal incoming call.
A local number is used for both outgoing and incoming calls. Incoming calls are paid for using your Skype credit while outgoing calls will be billed by your operator (though may come out of your inclusive call allowance).
I did some testing with Ricky of Symbian-Guru and Steve. I was able to make and receive calls to land line and mobile numbers using Skype Out. I was also able to call a Skype contact, but only if they were on a PC. Mobile to mobile Skype calls resulted in an engaged tone. This is a beta application so there are bound to be some kinks to be worked out.
The voice quality of the calls isn't all that great. Skype Out calls to landlines were acceptable, but Skype to Skype calls seemed to be of lower quality. While it was perfectly possible to hear the other end the quality was noticeably poorer than a standard mobile call. Subjectively I'd say the quality of Skype calls made through Fring are better. However neither of these match the outstanding TruPhone VoIP service (who must do clever things with their audio codecs).
The Skype application also supports Skype chat sessions (instant messaging). The application will alert you with a beep (providing the application is running) when a new message arrives and there's support for multiple chat instances.
Because the Skype application is written in Java the text entry interface is slightly cumbersome on S60. As with other Java applications a separate window is opened for entering text. The chat functionality includes the ability, via the menu, to add extra participants to a chat and set the chat topic.
I also tested Skype on the Sony Ericsson P1i and it works fine. However there is a slight problem with text entry - when starting a chat message (or entering log-in credentials) you need to press a number key (as if you were entering text T9 style). This is a bit fiddly, and not immediately obvious, but is not a major concern (this is a beta). Obviously this problem will not apply to the W950 and W960. Hopefully the text entry issue will be fixed in a later beta. The application also install and runs on the Motorola Z8.
Overall first impressions are good - the application feels particularly slick for a Java implementation (fast loading and few delays). However as we noted above there are a few problems, most notably with call quality, but given this is a beta room for improvement is to be expected.
More information is available from the Skype website including a full list of compatible devices.
Thanks to Gerrymoth at NokiaAddict.com for the tip via Ricky of Symbian-Guru.
Update
Outgoing calls are limited to those in Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and UK. Incoming calls and chat should work in all countries.
Share This (Digg, del.icio.us, Facebook, etc.)
Categories: Software, Editorial Thoughts
Platforms: S60 3rd Edition, UIQ 3
News Discussion
Unregistered
Oh not that iSkoot rubbish again..!
krisse
Quote:
|
However while the application does allows you to make calls, it routes them through the PSTN (phone) network rather than over the Internet. This means you will be charged for both incoming and outgoing calls of any type.
|
Erm... doesn't that rather spoil the main point of Skype?
The official Skype client for Nokia's internet tablets puts everything through the internet, even when the tablet's connection comes from a mobile phone acting as a modem. I've used the tablet client through a phone connection and it does work, it seems odd not to have this option on the official phone client too.
Do you get the feeling the phone networks don't want this client to be implemented fully on phones?
rcadden
@Krisse,
it somewhat defeats the purpose, I agree, but what it DOES, is instead of your carrier charging you for the international call, it only charges you for a local call. THAT could potentially save you a LOT of money.
quack
Doesn't help those with Wi-Fi on their phones though does it! I'd quite like to be able to use my N95 for Skype-to-Skype without being charged for it.
DevilsRejection
with S60 OpenC and OpenC++ there should be no reason why we shouldn't see a native application.
Rafe
Yes it an imperfect solution, but then it is aimed at the feature phone as much as S60... I still hope we'll see a proper Skype client for WiFi S60 phones. Of course there's always options like Fring.
I imagine some people will be happy to use it just for Skype IM and the odd Skype to Skype call. International saving is a plus, but I'm not sure whether the quality would stand up to really serious use.. One call I made was very poor, while the other were acceptable.
shoobe01
Installer bug: insists my (US) mobile number is invalid on the mobile device. Not a problem using the same page on the laptop (then sideloading) though...
N95 installer appears to operate correctly on my N75.
Guess Who
No direct Skype to Skype VOIP? Java? What a steaming pile of horse manure.
Ulrich Ka
Gizmo5.com for Java works the same way: it does not route calls thru VoIP, but does a
callback with normal GSM protocol. However there's Gizmovoip.com, a plugin for the
Nokia SIP-client, which seems to be working with WLAN. Tested it on E51 with WiFi-connection.
Gizmo supports Jabber and SIP, which are standard protocols, while Skype is closed source.
Maybe should give it a try...
bartmanekul
Very poor effort from skype - as Krisse said it negates the main advantage of skype.
Im under the impression they dont want it. 3 have that free skype thing going on, with a skype client on 3 firmware.
Fring is just way to flaky for proper use. Have to look elsewhere for VOIP then I suppose. Have to give truephone a look, skype obviously dont want to ruin their 3 thing going on.
Unregistered
I was dismayed to see the words 'Java' and 'Skype client' in the same sentence, BUT... since I am after a Skype client to conduct chat and the occasional call when out of the office, this might be enough. First signs are positive, an easy install on my N95 and it is working fine with my account. A first step, in almost the right direction.
The use of a local GSM call rather than WiFi is annoying, but since I will be mostly be using calls when roaming, it could save a packet, especially if I buy another SIM...
Unregistered
TruePhone, Fring, Gizmo they all patch my phone in an unpleasant way. In fact the previous Gizmo managed to crash the phone when receiving incoming calls. Currently I simply run a real SIP connection on my phone. Free calls to and from anywhere over wifi and 3G, and yes it has a landline call-in number for 10 euros for the first year. No successive costs.
Skype on the PC and the N800 has but one real advantage over sip and msn-ish systems. It is currently the only voice ip system that allows flawless, uninterrupted calls to the sunny island of Malta from Europe. Having tested TruePhone, Fring and MSN on the PC, I found they have drop-outs, and complete connection loss due to Malta's unstable internetconnection to the world. Only Skype works well. But I fear Skype Mobile can still have their servers or their netwerkconnection clogged it causng severe problems connection problems as I have seen happening with truphone and fring.
snoyt.vox.com
krisse
Quote:
|
it somewhat defeats the purpose, I agree, but what it DOES, is instead of your carrier charging you for the international call, it only charges you for a local call. THAT could potentially save you a LOT of money.
|
You only save money if you make calls to people abroad AND they're sitting next to their PCs ready to receive a Skype call AND you can't get to your own PC.
-If they're not abroad then you might as well ring them directly. In fact that would actually be cheaper than using Skype if you're calling a normal landline or mobile.
-If they're not next to their PC, then you have to ring a normal landline or mobile number. That means you have to pay the SkypeOut charge on top of the charge to connect to Skype, which might well be the same as or more than the cost of just ringing them directly.
-If you can get to your own PC, you might as well use that instead, it'll be free or much cheaper.
Unregistered
Hi Krisse,
Calling to abroad from my mobile phone within the netherlands costs about 50 eurocent/minute to anywhere in Europe. About an euro/minute to the U.S. So using Skype from my mobile phone would be a local call in (local mobile phone rate, mostly within callingplan) and the USA costs (0.02 eurocents/minute). Pretty cheap for a mobile call I'd say. Yet any callservice can offer that. Including my SIP provider. So Skype still looses in sufficient internetbandwidth situations. Perhaps they will add a SIP option. Allowing you to use the best and cheapest bandwidth available...
Calling in a foreign country would be more expensive (at least 50 eurocent/minute) and I really would look for a wifi-access to make some calls via any trusty SIP protocol.
snoyt.vox.com
dougalzene
slick interface, no use.
I installed it without reading about it, so happy I was to see S60 client, until I saw charges to receive skype incoming calls, huh? how disappointing.
skype, please make a S60 client that is useful to me, that does what skype does on a pc - make & receive calls over internet - for me that is wifi on the phone. come on, how many voice solutions are already available?
I pay you skypein and skypeout money, 100-150+ euros per year, so it's not as if you need to be waxing me for more money.
Tauno
Just a note: You can't do VoIP stuff in Java (j2me) it's simply not possible. Sure - a native application for Symbian would be a solution but it's not possible to do in Java..
Unregistered
Anyone know if it support group chats?
That is a feature that is missing in the current Skype-compatible client (Fring).
Rafe
Yes group chat works well (you can add extra people to an existing chat).
Taomyn
Plagiarising my response to this release on another forum:
Quote:
Yup, another truly disappointing release by Skype Sad
I haven't found anyone that can give me a straight answer why they can't release a native client with nearly all the Skype functionality for the worlds most popular phone platform.
They want to be "disruptive" then do it - bring out a proper Skype client and you'll get results. This new application doesn't bring anything new to the table that other products can't already fulfil.
In my opinion - don't bother with is one and keep on hoping!
|
Unregistered
@tauno -- You absolutely could do VOIP in java... look at all of the streaming audio/video clients for java, and you absolutely do have access to the camera/mic in java as well.
I'm sure Skype went this route because the S60 client they were working on was not so good, and there's little incentive to improve it. And J2ME is as fast as a native S60 app anymore, so why bother with native coding. Let's just say coding for S60 is rather having a baseball bat slammed into your head repeatedly. A bat with lots of nails sticking out of it.
Unregistered
What's the point if it's Java? So rubbish. Should run as native rom app in the background....so frustrating.
Holme
Downloaded it, tried it and deleted it.
There is no doubt in my mind that the lack of a real Skype client for S60 is due to the interests of the phone companies.
I'm paying a lot of money in Skype credits but I seriously consider dumping my Skype account now.
Unregistered
Why use a Java app? For that matter, why use Skype? This is break-out over local PSTN, there are many other companies providing the same service in apps that a far easier to use and with better call quality. Try
www.mo-call.com.
jcompagner
But it is completely useless... :(
Unregistered
would be nice to pay a early fee to skype, and be able to login to my skype account from my phone trough a 1-800 number and be able to call anyone I want using my credits in skype.
27 Comments / Post New Comment