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Crippled 'Exclusive' Verizon Skype App Drops On Thursday
Complete with a long list of annoying restrictions!

Back in February, Skype and Verizon announced that the two companies had struck a exclusive agreement to offer a Skype client on Verizon smartphones. While that sounded interesting at first, it soon became clear that the client would be packed with restrictions, and that Skype (which had complained ceaselessly about the closed nature of wireless networks) was in several ways helping Verizon keep the wireless sector closed with the deal. The two companies dropped a few more details about their exclusive partnership at CTIA today. Harry McCracken at over at Technologizer breaks down the restrictions:

quote:
But this version of Skype isn’t without meaningful limitations. You can’t make Skype Out calls to U.S. numbers–if you try, the app will let you route your call over Verizon’s voice network, where it’ll use minutes from your plan. You also can’t use Skype In to receive calls from landlines and cell phones: Incoming calls must come from other Skype users. And for reasons I don’t completely understand, Skype Mobile works only over Verizon’s 3G network, not Wi-Fi–which is the opposite of the situation on the iPhone, where you can only call over Wi-Fi, not the AT&T network.
We'll help Mr. McCracken: Verizon wants you paying more money for data. As mobile VoIP and push IM applications begin to erode the idea of traditional voice minutes and SMS, Verizon knows its only choice to keep profits up is to charge an arm and leg for data. Thus, exclusive Skype deals rife with restrictions, increasingly-high ETFs, pricing models that push everybody on to pricier data plans, and mandatory data plans for all phones are now par for the course. The deal gives the impression that Verizon's embracing progress, but in reality they're fighting the inevitable decline of the traditional voice minutes model.

Meanwhile Skype, who used to complain about closed networks, not-coincidentally decided to stop supporting Skype for Windows Mobile, and has yet to release a 3G-enable iPhone client. Apparently, Verizon was able to loosen Skype's principles (however briefly) with a handshake and an exclusive partnership, which we're told will be in place for two to three years. Skype insists that the 3G iPhone client and Android support are coming, which suggests the "exclusive" part of this deal is largely stage dressing for a rather bizarre dog and pony show.
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tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

1 recommendation

tiger72

Premium Member

Wow.

And people still actually *choose* to pay Verizon for wireless service each month?

I think I just vomited in my mouth a bit.

Sabre
Di relung hatiku bernyanyi bidadari
join:2005-05-17

Sabre

Member

Re: Wow.

Well, not all of us have much of a choice.

I spend a significant amount of time in a rural area where only VZW has coverage. I considered Sprint since they roam on VZW's CDMA, but Sprint's terms allow them to basically rip up the contract and stop supporting roaming if you spend more than 50% of any given month roaming, which I would do on a regular basis.

So I'm stuck. Nonetheless, I give them as little money as possible. I have a voice-only dumb phone (because I don't really need a smartphone anyway) and I've been refusing all my "New Every 2" credits because I don't want a phone that's any more crippled than what I already have (the newer models apparently don't even allow BitPim'ing my own ringtones to the phone).

koam
Pink Pecker
Premium Member
join:2000-08-16
East Puddle

koam

Premium Member

Re: Wow.

»Re: [Verizon] What's the story on Nexus One?

N10Cities
Premium Member
join:2002-05-07
0000000

N10Cities to tiger72

Premium Member

to tiger72
I wish Alltel hadn't sold out to them, otherwise we would still be with them.

ariesguy
join:2001-01-30

ariesguy to tiger72

Member

to tiger72
said by tiger72:

And people still actually *choose* to pay Verizon for wireless service each month?

I think I just vomited in my mouth a bit.
They have the best service where I live and I haven't had any problems anywhere I've traveled.. What else should I base my decision on?

RR Conductor
Ridin' the rails
Premium Member
join:2002-04-02
Redwood Valley, CA
ARRIS SB6183
Netgear R7000

3 edits

RR Conductor to tiger72

Premium Member

to tiger72
said by tiger72:

And people still actually *choose* to pay Verizon for wireless service each month?

I think I just vomited in my mouth a bit.
Yes, because they have the best network in much of the country, and the biggest 3G network. In my area (RSA 344-Mendocino, Lake Counties-Northwestern California), they are just behind U.S. Cellular in coverage, and are catching up quickly to them (they've invested heavily in our market over the past 2 years, after treating us like a Red Headed Stephchild, both as VZ and their forerunners, GTE and Contel). They have the most 3G in our area as well.

antwanp
Lovably Pompous
Premium Member
join:2002-05-14
Cedar Hill, TX

antwanp

Premium Member

I'm Confused...

So does this mean that there will no longer be a Skype app on Windows Mobile (non-Verizon), iPhone or Android (non-Verizon models?)

-A. Payne

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: I'm Confused...

They've essentially canned Windows Mobile support, iPhone 3G is strangely delayed despite AT&T's blessing, and Android support is supposedly coming at an unspecified date (I assume which is written on the check from Verizon?)
elister
join:2006-07-17
Seattle, WA

elister

Member

In an ideal world....

A cheap (under 200$ no contract) WiMax phone running WinMo or Android is released. Install Skype mobile, sign up for Clearwire, 1.5mb service, which should be fine for voice calls. Unlimited everything for 30$ a month.

But the only WiMax phone I am aware of, is the Nokia N810 and it costs 500$

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: In an ideal world....

said by elister:

A cheap (under 200$ no contract) WiMax phone running WinMo or Android is released. Install Skype mobile, sign up for Clearwire, 1.5mb service, which should be fine for voice calls. Unlimited everything for 30$ a month.

But the only WiMax phone I am aware of, is the Nokia N810 and it costs 500$
Who needs wimax? I can call you on my G1 using Skype (via Fring) over 3g already. As long as pings are below 150ms, you probably wouldn't even notice a difference.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

3 edits

FFH5 to elister

Premium Member

to elister
said by elister:

A cheap (under 200$ no contract) WiMax phone running WinMo or Android is released. Install Skype mobile, sign up for Clearwire, 1.5mb service, which should be fine for voice calls. Unlimited everything for 30$ a month.

But the only WiMax phone I am aware of, is the Nokia N810 and it costs 500$
One is supposed to be announced from Sprint today or tomorrow at CTIA. The HTC Supersonic EVO running Android and with a Wimax/3G radio combo.
»newsreleases.sprint.com/ ··· =1405159

EDIT: The Wimax smartphone from Sprint is announced:
»now.sprint.com/evo/?ECID ··· nity:evo

coldmoon
Premium Member
join:2002-02-04
Fulton, NY

1 edit

coldmoon

Premium Member

Re: In an ideal world....

said by FFH5:
said by elister:

A cheap (under 200$ no contract) WiMax phone running WinMo or Android is released. Install Skype mobile, sign up for Clearwire, 1.5mb service, which should be fine for voice calls. Unlimited everything for 30$ a month.

But the only WiMax phone I am aware of, is the Nokia N810 and it costs 500$
One is supposed to be announced from Sprint today or tomorrow at CTIA. The HTC Supersonic EVO running Android and with a Wimax/3G radio combo.
»newsreleases.sprint.com/ ··· =1405159

EDIT: The Wimax smartphone from Sprint is announced:
»now.sprint.com/evo/?ECID ··· nity:evo

Do you know what bands the HTC phone supports? I need multi-band for overseas travel and I haven't been able to find info on that...

Thanks
Mike

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

3 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: In an ideal world....

said by coldmoon:

Do you know what bands the HTC phone supports? I need multi-band for overseas travel and I haven't been able to find info on that...

Thanks
Mike
This is what I found. I can't say if that will work on CDMA or Wimax frequencies in the EU, Mexico, Canada, etc.:

Transmit
PCS(3G EVDO): 1850 to 1910 MHz
Cellular: 824 to 849 MHz
WiMAX: 2495 to 2690 MHz

Receive
PCS(3G EVDO): 1930 to 1990 MHz
Cellular: 869 to 894 MHz
WiMAX: 2495 to 2690 MHz
GPS: 1575.42 MHz

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72 to coldmoon

Premium Member

to coldmoon
said by coldmoon:
said by FFH5:
said by elister:

A cheap (under 200$ no contract) WiMax phone running WinMo or Android is released. Install Skype mobile, sign up for Clearwire, 1.5mb service, which should be fine for voice calls. Unlimited everything for 30$ a month.

But the only WiMax phone I am aware of, is the Nokia N810 and it costs 500$
One is supposed to be announced from Sprint today or tomorrow at CTIA. The HTC Supersonic EVO running Android and with a Wimax/3G radio combo.
»newsreleases.sprint.com/ ··· =1405159

EDIT: The Wimax smartphone from Sprint is announced:
»now.sprint.com/evo/?ECID ··· nity:evo

Do you know what bands the HTC phone supports? I need multi-band for overseas travel and I haven't been able to find info on that...

Thanks
Mike
If you need it for overseas travel, then you're SOL. This is a CDMA phone. Not GSM (which every major carrier in Europe uses).

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One to elister

MVM

to elister
Didn't samsung release one awhile back? Mondi or something like that? If I remember right, it was a phone ONLY in that it could use VoIP over wimax/wifi, it didn't function at all over the traditional cellphone network.

gball
Master Yoda
Premium Member
join:2000-11-28
South Bend, IN

gball

Premium Member

UMMM

Okay so whats the point of this app then? Why would anyone use it instead of just calling them? They both use minutes.

I'll admit I don't know much about Skype but I'm not sure what the advantages would be for anyone to use this?

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: UMMM

The point of the app is to give the illusion that Verizon is embracing progress instead of desperately trying to fend off the inevitable death of traditional voice minutes.

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One to gball

MVM

to gball
said by gball:

Okay so whats the point of this app then? Why would anyone use it instead of just calling them? They both use minutes.

I'll admit I don't know much about Skype but I'm not sure what the advantages would be for anyone to use this?
I am trying to figure out the same thing. You can't call a landline/cellphone number from it, and you can't receive a landline to skyps call on it. So you could load up the app to make a VoIP call to another cellphone user with the same VoIP app, or you could just call them directly using the free mobile to mobile almost all of their plans have.

Is this just there way of convincing people VoIP on a cell too much trouble for too little (or no) reward? Do they really think this app is going to do anything more than piss people off?
stufried
Premium Member
join:2003-10-13

stufried

Premium Member

Re: UMMM

Verizon is targeting the immigrant and international market allowing people to call/receive calls from their friends overseas for free and they are giving up the international long distance market (which is illusory since most of these people are using calling cards).

PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD

PGHammer

Member

Re: UMMM

said by stufried:

Verizon is targeting the immigrant and international market allowing people to call/receive calls from their friends overseas for free and they are giving up the international long distance market (which is illusory since most of these people are using calling cards).
And why do most of them use calling cards?

Because international LD raters (which are usually NOT controlled by VZ, but by the outside-the-US telco; how do YOU think that Carlos Slim became the richest man on Earth?) ar4e horrendous (both landline *and* wireless, and CS has fingers in both pies).

As bad as per-minute voice wireless rates are domestically, they are a yawn compared to international rates.
stufried
Premium Member
join:2003-10-13

stufried

Premium Member

Re: UMMM

Compare what Verizon or ATT charges cellular customers who pay an extra $4 (apx) per month for "discount international calling" with what the same carriers offer to landline customers on a discount plan. There is a huge difference. Google Voice or Skype integrate well with many smart phones and give you cheap international voice calls (and SKype offers cheap international SMS).

I frankly think you can get most of the benefit from this deal from iSkoot or something. The elephant in the room is that it is child's play to hook an Asterisks box up to Skype which means unlimited talk 24/7.

Before we blast Verizon and Skype completely, I'd point out that there deal sounds very much like the one they have with 3 in the UK, HK, AU, etc.
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Google Voice

That's why I will still use G Voice over this crap. Have my google voice # set to my Friends and Family w/o using any minutes at all and can make international calls through GVoice cheap.
nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

nonymous (banned)

Member

Verizon is burying themselves into a hole and doesnt know it

The mandatory $10 for a data plan if you want anything above a kiddie phone and now this. Well pay for the data and we will still make you burn minutes.
I just want text messaging and a ok phone with keyboard you can use it with. Think they have one off brand one with a keyboard left if you dont want data. If that is the only one left when my contract is up and the incentive for 10 a month very very limited data or 30 for unlimited is tactics like this I will switch. Live in a major city so many carriers to choose from. Plus if really need backup get a cheap prepay if verizon even still has it for when in very rural areas.
Their network has gone to their head. It may backfire soon. They will be left with a very profitable customer base I guess as all will have the now mandatory data features and text and every thing. But how much that customer base shrinks may be well more than they think if the economy doesn't improve soon.
I do know some that just upgrade and got the forced 10 data as said well it is cheap now I can play on the net. They burned thru the 10 dollar data easily now either have to pay overages or go to a 30 dollar plan. Well lucky for Verizon they locked them in for 2 years and high etf. They are now not has happy as when the csr sold them on its just 10 dollars and fun net. See how many fall for it is really skype but with only a tiny little unnoticeable restriction. They may just lock more customers in with the how great it is then those customers no matter how many regrets and unhappy are now stuck.
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

1 edit

Mr Matt

Member

I just saw an interesting program on Maggots.

I just saw an interesting program today on Maggots and other parasites. You can hear the loud sucking sound as the wireless parasites come up with new ways of draining their customers bank accounts.

Trimline
Premium Member
join:2004-10-24
Windermere, FL

Trimline

Premium Member

VerSkype

Well, since Skype has allowed Verizon to drop basically all the functionality of Skype (Skype out, Skype in), and can't ride a wireless/3G network, I'd call that aborted product VerSkype.

Why Skype would even deal with Verizon, I have no idea. If I were the CEO of Skype, I'd run like hell.

airtouch25
join:2007-05-22
united state

airtouch25

Member

Re: VerSkype


Because Verizon is paying them an exorbitant amount of money most likely.

I'm sure Verizon sees it this way: By paying off Skype and creating an exclusive deal they are in a sense paying off and preventing future competition. But from the outside they appear to the PR world that they are embracing openness.

Verizon Wireless is owned by a Bell and the mentality is one in the same. I can't say I blame them per se but a smart consumer should see right through this.

koam
Pink Pecker
Premium Member
join:2000-08-16
East Puddle
·Shoreham Telephone

koam

Premium Member

One positive...

Despite all the restrictions, it seems like this would be useful to send or receive calls on your VZW phone without using your minutes to or from people on their computers using Skype.

Since peak time minutes are during the day, and many people are on their computers during the day, it would seem like you could talk to them from your mobile and save your monthly VZW peak minutes.

Is that correct?

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

Re: One positive...

Sure, except you are still paying for the data, where as most of their plans include free mobile to mobile.

koam
Pink Pecker
Premium Member
join:2000-08-16
East Puddle
·Shoreham Telephone

koam

Premium Member

On a smartphone I'd think most customers had unlimited data. and I don't know of any with free mobile to computer ....and the free m2m is only to vzw.

would the calls also be free to your friend with skype in ...another country? meaning that you could be on your cell phone and call India for free 24/7 to someone on a computer with skype in India?

Likes It
@swbell.net

Likes It

Anon

Skype Mobile works for me

I have a loved one overseas who only has access to a computer, not to a phone. We both have Skype accounts so this allows us to be able to talk when that was not even possible before unless they want to pay exhorbitant fees for a satellite phone.

Now I can receive Skype phone calls on my Droid and can call them on the computer as well.

You guys who are complaining about all this are just too much. Do you think that Verizon is going to allow Skype calls to domestic landlines which take away from their service minutes ? Ultimately they are in business to make money , not to make all the techies happy because they are getting something for free.

If you don't like Verizon who clearly has the best coverage in the US, then use another carrier. It's that simple.