App Aims: Unlimited Skype-to-Skype Talk Time

Reviewer’s Comments
Looking for an inexpensive communications system to support your plans of iPhone worldwide domination? Skype is here to fill that need. The iPhone/iPod touch app has a seamless mobile interface that is easy to use and intuitive. You can set up a new Skype account or add an existing account from within the app. If you set up a new account on the mobile side, it’s immediately available online as well. You can purchase credits, an online Skype number and voicemail through the app which in turn links you to Skype’s web site via Safari where the actual transaction is handled. All of the major features, including your contacts, instant messenger, dialing pad, call history and profile are accessible within the app. The notable exceptions are MMS texts, new IM notification and video support. The MMS messaging should be addressed with the operating system update 3.0 due out sometime Summer 2009 but the other missing items will continue to be unavailable for the foreseeable future. Another issue worth mentioning is that you can’t receive calls via Skype unless the app is running nor can you call someone else's iPhone unless THEY have the program running.

One of the really exciting points the Skype app provides is for the iPod touch user community. As long as the touch is tied into a WiFi network, you can make and receive calls without a mobile phone calling plan. You’ll need either a mic’d set of earphones or an external microphone in order to talk to the other person but the iPod touch’s speaker will allow you to hear just fine. Set up, both on the device and the computer, is straightforward and everything simply works without fanfare or fuss.

Throughout the testing review period the app ran smoothly without crashing or locking up although there have been other users who have reported those issues. It’s possible that those problem are due to the Internet connection and not the app. All in all, the Skype app is a great addition to the iPhone/iPod touch.

Check out our iPhone 3G review, music and movie download reviews as well as our other iPhone App reviews to help you get the most out of your iPhone. If you’re interested in other VoIP services for your computer, you’ll want to check out our VoIP Services Review as well.