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Verizon Skype Deal 'Exclusive'
But what exactly does that mean?

Last week Verizon and Skype held a joint press conference to announce that the companies were collaborating on bringing Skype to Verizon smartphones, but the longer you looked at the arrangement the stranger it seemed. The Skype offering works over Verizon's circuit switched voice network and not 3G -- and that the product nibbles away at your Verizon Wireless minutes -- and won't work with Wi-Fi. GigaOM now confirms that the agreement between the carriers is "exclusive," with Skype and Verizon striking a two to three year deal:

quote:
The deal, my sources tell me, is an exclusive partnership between the two that will last for a period of 2-3 years. No other U.S. carrier is going to get a similar Skype offering – which also bolsters my theory that Skype can help Verizon distinguish itself amongst smartphone offerings, especially the iPhone.
Except it's not clear that anybody really benefits from this "exclusive," or that it really even is an exclusive anyway. What users want is for Skype to simply work via 3G like a normal application should, without their carrier implementing barriers (no Wi-Fi) and tying the service to the slowly dying concept of carrier minutes. Meanwhile, Skype was supposed to be preparing to launch just this kind of application for the iPhone in short order.

So there's two possibilities at play. One, Verizon dumped a wad of cash into Skype's lap so they'd avoid offering 3G applications for other smartphones. Or, Verizon dumped a wad of cash into Skype's lap to take a useful app, make it less useful, then tie it to traditional voice minutes -- while dressing it all up under the guise of exclusiveness and openness.
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jjoshua
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ

jjoshua

Premium Member

Somewhat useless

I guess it's ok that you can contact your skype buddies more easily. Otherwise, it's pretty useless.

If you want to make cheap overseas calls, you can use jajah.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Skype is useful for international calls

That's why I won't care if it eats my minutes, because I'm not paying 69c/min to call overseas. Besides I have plenty of minutes I do not use and they now have the unlimited plans for $69.99.

PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD

PGHammer

Member

Re: Skype is useful for international calls

That is precisely VZW's point.

With unlimited-voice in the US, it's international rates (which are mostly beyond the control of either VZW or partner Vodaphone plc) which are the best place to attack with Skype. (Look at Vonage, for example; they actually started this on the landline side with Vonage World. The cake is flat-rate domestic service; however, the icing is MUCH lower rates for overseas calls.)
SunnyD
join:2009-03-20
Madison, AL

SunnyD

Member

Or....

Perhaps this is an indication that the iPhone is actually coming to VZW this year...
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Or....

and people have been saying that since the first time the ATT/Apple contract was about to end. And are still saying it today.

If itw as going to happen Apple would have already sent in their filings to the FCC for a new phone to be made for CDMA.
djhexer
join:2002-10-07
Reno, NV

djhexer

Member

Does This Mean....

If you have Skype Out and call overseas you get charged VZW's Intl rates???

If so thats crap why even have skype??

Or

If you have skype out you call overseas you get charged the Intl rates from skype and minutes get taken out from VZW minutes?? If so then who cares I rather pay skype's Intl rates than a cell providers Intl rate.

Besides who has skype out?? I have Google Voice to call japan it's the same rate as Skype
watice
join:2008-11-01
New York, NY

watice

Member

Re: Does This Mean....

said by djhexer:

If you have Skype Out and call overseas you get charged VZW's Intl rates???

If so thats crap why even have skype??

Or

If you have skype out you call overseas you get charged the Intl rates from skype and minutes get taken out from VZW minutes?? If so then who cares I rather pay skype's Intl rates than a cell providers Intl rate.

Besides who has skype out?? I have Google Voice to call japan it's the same rate as Skype
ORRR, if your buddy in Japan has Skype, you only get charged minutes. And it's not over 3g so the quality isn't crap. It's not a bad deal. Not a great one either tho.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Verizon dumped a wad..

..of our cash to prevent customers from using Skype over EVDO or WIFI.

Why would Verizon do ANYTHING to save customer's money?

I bet Skype had to sign an ETF ... LOL!

Steve B
Premium Member
join:2004-08-02
Auburn, WA

Steve B

Premium Member

So what is all this exactly?

Seriously? I'm not getting it, lol. From what I can gather, VZW gets skype to work on its C.S. network, blocks WiFi and eats your voice minutes. If that is the case and I'm not missing anything, why even have Skype? To me it looks like VZW is just replacing the phone apps with a built-in skype app. What about the Skype application for the iPhone/AT&T, etc. They just announced not to long ago that it will start working over 3G.
JJV
Premium Member
join:2001-04-25
Seattle, WA

JJV

Premium Member

Skype on Sprint


I have had Skype on my Sprint phone for a couple years.
I didnt think it was any big deal. Im sure it works on many other networks with windows mobile phones.
Verizon blocks their customers from using free applications. Thats why I left them.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

Can You say "Magic Jack"?

I knew you could! If Skype chooses to cripple their product, there are alternatives.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: Can You say "Magic Jack"?

said by n2jtx:

I knew you could! If Skype chooses to cripple their product, there are alternatives.
But Magicjack is used on a PC that has to be on, not a cell phone.

DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey

DaveDude

Member

Skype = IMS trial

Its kinds obvious that this is their attempt at an IMS trial for LTE. This way they can monitor Skype, see how it goes. Then write there own version for there upcoming LTE phones.
lqrisquicker
join:2010-01-21
Glens Falls, NY

lqrisquicker

Member

Re: Skype = IMS trial

this maybe the most logical thing i have read thus far on this issue. Verizon has said they are launching LTE widespread very soon, by the end of 2010 i think i read 30 to 35 markets converted to LTE. With LTE being data only, its possible, that they are using skype to see how they could go about getting voice on there new data network, if they figure that out, they can eliminate regular cellular service and use that radio spectrum for data there for increasing wireless capacity.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Skype = IMS trial

those markets of 30-35 are for DATA ONLY. NOT voice. VZ all carriers have said that they'll only use LTE or WiMax for data only at first and keep the CDMA or GSM network running for voice.

snacks
@sbcglobal.net

snacks

Anon

analog

verizon will be using the old tv air waves.
stufried
Premium Member
join:2003-10-13

1 recommendation

stufried

Premium Member

"Exclusive"?

This is like giving you an exclusive agreement to be the only one to sell the product at 1234 Main Street. You can easily get a circuit switched connection to Skype through iSkoot, Shape Services, etc.

You will pay Skype's cheaper international rates, but they are not that cheap (particularly after they added a connection fee). What you might be able to save money on is incoming calls. To forward Skype to a mobile phone, you need to have a monthly plan with Skype or it is a real bad deal.

I'm guessing that fee is waived.

diablito
@fiu.edu

diablito

Anon

It maybe good for some

If it eats your mins and charges u for international calls then it is useless since ur cell phone provider also charges u, even if skype might charge a little less it still useless. However if it eats your mins but does not charges you for international calls when calling another phone that has the same application then i would say it would be good especially for companies. I mean you pay for ur unlimited calling here in the states u can talk all u want internationally similar to skype pc to pc but now on your phone, that would be neat. If they really want to have somewhat of a good product i think thats the only way it would work.

astokes
join:2000-08-11
Bangor, ME

astokes

Member

Re: It maybe good for some

Im happy using Google voice on my Motorola Droid, 2c calls back home to the UK, though I was hopeful that Skype would work over wifi, oh well.
wildcat man
join:2007-11-03
Kansas City, MO

wildcat man

Member

Custom configurations usually mean trouble

When someone comes up wih the idea of "let's custom configure our network to adopt to this app" there's bound to be trouble. I like Skype (it's amazing what volumes of wholesale economics can do for a valuation), but only use for video. I am still dumbfounded that Verizon didn't follow Cablevision's plan into mobile (X,XXX international minutes for $20) a couple of years ago. That's what happens when Finance runs Product, I guess..

srm59
Premium Member
join:2009-06-22
Glen Cove, NY

srm59

Premium Member

Skype to Go

I don't see any advantage to this "exclusive" agreement. For international calls from your cell phone through Skype you could just use Skype to Go, and that's good from any service. I think this is just marketing hype.
JoeSchmoe007
Premium Member
join:2003-01-19
Brooklyn, NY

1 edit

JoeSchmoe007

Premium Member

Can anyone clarify this for me?

Just what does this deal mean? I was able to run Skype on my Windows Mobile Phone on Verizon EVDO network several years ago. I haven't really used since then, just wanted to know if it works and it did. The sound was somewhat choppy but usable.
watice
join:2008-11-01
New York, NY

watice

Member

wireless mins?

"and that the product nibbles away at your Verizon Wireless minutes "

huh?

"In addition to free Skype-to-Skype global calling and low rates to international landlines and cell phones, Skype will be ‘always on’, meaning customers can receive Skype calls, instant messages and see friends’ presence anytime. And, Skype usage won’t be charged against customers’ monthly Verizon Wireless data plans or minute allowances."

»www.skype.com/mobile/reminder/

make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

»about.skype.com/press/20 ··· zon.html