Skype talks iPad and VoIP over 3G

Seth Weintraub

February 03, 2010

Interesting. Skype today posted a video regarding updating the application to enable it to work over 3G. This, shall we say, "flies in the face" of what they said a few weeks back when they blamed Apple for not allowing them to do VoIP over 3G. Here's Skype's Peter Parkas:

Many of you have also been asking when we'll release a version which allows you to make calls over 3G - the holy grail of Skype on the mobile, if you like. We've had a 3G-capable version ready for some time now, but Apple's current restrictions mean that they won't allow us to make it available on the App Store for the moment

Apple enabled VoIP over 3G over a week ago and VoIP application providers like Fring had Skype's service working over 3G almost immediately. Skype is still delaying their service and says it will be available "soon". But there is some good news: For the latest iPod touch and iPhone users (with faster ARM processors) Skype is enabling the SILK audio codec which allows CD-quality sound to be used on Skype-to-Skype calls. We've made some SILK calls and the quality is night and day from normal calls. This will work from iPhone3GS to iPhone3GS over 3G…soon.

Perhaps most interesting is Skype on the iPad. They don't give much information on that besides...

Last Thursday, Apple introduced the iPad, which we’re very excited about here at Skype. David Ponsford, who features in the video above, and his team are reviewing the device and its specs, and you can expect to hear more from us about Skype for iPad in due course.

What does this have to do with calling over 3G? The SDK (Software Development Kit) which Apple provides to developers like Skype has been upgraded for the iPad. The new version, 3.2, removes the restrictions on calling over 3G, which is great news.

Look for Skype to enable its VoIP over 3G "soon" and we'll let you know if/when it is coming to the iPad as well.

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Comments (13)

Dereck (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 10:26am

So they're saying they can't do the update for Skyping over 3G because of what? I thought the current and updated iPhone SDK now has no limitation for calling over 3G? I'm confused.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 1:22pm

I think what he's saying is, they are doing a lot of updates behind the scene.

3G calling will be available in the next update. You'll just have to wait.

taoprophet420 (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 10:33am

Does Skype not have many software developers? The last update came in September for the OSx version and was in beta for over 15 months with only 1 update to beta before it was released as rc version. I think they are full of shit blaming AT&T and Apple for restrictions on 3g saying they had a version ready and now restrictions are gone and have nothing to offer. If they had a version ready why wouldn't they release it then release a quick update when they are done updating it? I hope Google does something good with Gizmo5 because I'm really growing tired of Skype and slow development of their software across different os's.

Luke Bornheimer | February 03, 2010 - 10:37am

Most interestingly, the introduction of the iPad and SDK 3.2 would allow a user to use their iPad as a 'home' phone of shorts, ala the Verizon Hub. Perhaps Verizon saw these products coming and ran for the hills...that, and the fact that the idea of the 'home' phone is all, but dead.

Dave Park | February 03, 2010 - 10:44am

Any chance Apple will update the bluetooth profiles in iPod Touches to allow us to use bluetooth headsets with skype?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 10:48am

bye bye rogers triple digit bills. The countdown for your inane business model is almost over. hear my small violin.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 11:03am

Hint: Not only does it take time to produce and release quality software, it takes adequate resources and good management. Add on the complexities of the marketplace, and it also takes foresight and strategic investment.

I'm not sure where Skype is dropping the ball; in fact, I'm not sure they are - Apple only made this change a couple weeks ago. I don't thing a few weeks lag is a problem at all.

Conclusion: your expectations are unrealistic. It's great that Fring was ready, but my guess is that they simply made a good bet.

Grey, Atlanta (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 11:06am

I have been using VoIP over 3G since last last on my iPhone 3GS. I am using SIP across a VPN tunnel to my Cisco Communications Manager Express (CME). The app I am using for this purpose is Acrobits Softphone (available in the App store). You can use this app with many BYOD SIP providers and as a secondary phone for Vonage. There is alsow a preset profile for Callcentric - one of the best BYOD SIP providers out there in my opinion (after having been with them for over 2 years now). This app can use a G.711 and the iLBC codec. For 3G, iLBC is a better choice (in my opinion). iLBC provides near G.711 quality with less than half of required bandwidth and is very tolerant to packet drops. I am not sure what the bandwidth of the Skype's SILK codec is, but you should be careful with higher resolution codecs if they are using more bandwidth because the bandwidth over 3G is still limited (especially the upstream bandwidth).

JohnnyD (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 11:22am

Having it ready in most software companies, means they don't really have it ready, its just mostly ready. Doesn't surprise me that they have more work to do.
And no, i doubt they have very many programmers.

Hermann Blinkhoven (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 8:00pm

Well, Skype on the iPad with a well designed headset, is the only app that will convince me to buy the thing. And the headset better not come with a dongle or interval plug.

9to5Mac Noob continued (not verified) | February 06, 2010 - 5:17pm

The iPad comes with built-in speakers and a mic, so the only reason you'd need a headset would be for private calls or calls made in a noisy environment. I doub't you're going to be talking into your tablet on the subway, but one never knows! Seeing the bluetooth 2.0 capability means you should be able to pair your favorite jawbone and go.

X Man (not verified) | February 06, 2010 - 5:20pm

iPad comes with built in speakers and a mic so unless you're in a noisy environment a headset is probably not necessary.

That said, seeing as how it will also come with bluetooth 2.0, i suppose it will be possible to pair your favorite jawbone and have conversations with your tablet on the subway :P

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