The popular internet telephony service, Skype is all set to launch its service for iPhone users on Tuesday. Skype’s iPhone application will be available on App Store as a free application and it will allow free calls between Skype users. Just like Skype for desktop, Skype-to-Skype calls will be free, but calls to traditional phones will be charged on per-minute. This application will also work Apple’s latest iPod Touch, which has in-built Wi-Fi for data connection. Unlike the first-gen iPod Touch, the latest iPod touch has a provision of microphone.
According to Webware, Skype for iPhone will have the look-and-feel of Apple’s sleek interface rather than having Skype’s branding. Calls can be made on Skype for iPhone only if you are under coverage of WiFi, and it will not work over cell phone network, but chatting can still be done over cellular network. The application makes use of iPhone’s inbuilt camera to snap pictures and use them as your profile avatar. You’ll be able to join conference calls, but you won’t be able to initiate one.
I think the necessity of a WiFi connection to make a voice call is a big negative. However, the carriers will be very happy about this drawback since it wouldn’t bite their phone call revenues to the extreme extent. SMS and file-sharing are two things that are missing out, but I think it’ll eventually make its way into the application. Let’s keep our fingers crossed until Tuesday.
[Image Credit: Webware]
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