Mobile Internet communications solutions provider, iSkoot, recently announced iSkoot v1.1 for the BlackBerry, a Skype client that doesn’t require daemon running on your PC.
“We are extremely pleased to bring mobile Skype to the BlackBerry. iSkoot enables BlackBerry users running OS 4.0 or higher to take advantage of the benefits of their Skype accounts without having to rely on their PCs. With this new release of our software, we are bringing another key piece of the Web to the BlackBerry,” said Roy Erez, VP of Business Development, iSkoot. “BlackBerry commands a vast and rapidly-growing customer base, so extending support to this community marks a significant achievement for iSkoot. We will continue to work on ensuring seamless integration and expanding support for Skype across the entire line of BlackBerry devices.”
Right now, iSkoot is in beta and is free of charge. You should be aware, however, that iSkoot does use your phone plan when initiating voice chats and requires SkypeOut credit to receive incoming voice chats.
One of the really cool features is that you can SkypeOut to make calls as well which could come in handy if you are trying to make an international call via your BlackBerry but don’t want to pay the international rates that your carrier may charge.
I’ve just downloaded iSkoot to my BlackBerry 7130e, but, will come back and leave comments after I play with it for a while. You can download by visiting www.iskoot.com. Feel free to leave your impressions in the comments as well.
I just downloaded it on my Blackberry 7130 and there seems to be a bug with the SureType.
Another idea the networks won’t like. When will companies like this get it in to their heads that mobile carriers need cash to run their networks, and Skype like programs on mobile phones is nothing short of theft, using the carriers lines to route reduced rate or free calls through software. Some networks already have a way to block this and as new VOIP providers come in to the fold they will eventually be blocked by the networks.
BBAdmin, how is this theft? They sell you a phone which can be customized and an unlimited dataplan. I can do with the phone/plan what I want with it within the boundaries of the contract I signed. Is it theft when you use Skype or Yahoo calling on your dsl to bypass paying long-distance charges from your land line? Is it theft if someone continuously downloads gigs of data from the internet through their phone’s browser or tethered PC? They are selling you that pipe and that’s it. Its not our fault that telcos are so busy destroying themselves in useless price wars.
If you think that data plans alone make networks money you’re very mistaken – the margins in that arena of very low, and if you try to then dig in to the voice revenue then what is left to sustain the networks? Yes the networks pull in vast sums of money, but networks cost a lot to maintain and if you look where the cash comes from, it’s voice calls. The networks won’t just stand to one side and watch their revenues fall, they find ways of blocking out these features. If you have a data card with T-Mobile for example, they already have the ability to block out VOIP. It’s cat and mouse, but the networks will have the last word, they have to.
This will become a very interesting argument once WiMax starts to become widely available in the US.
BBAdmin…I used to work for a major Wireless Provider and I assure you they aren’t loosing money due to VOIP. They make rediculous amounts of money just from voice and data plans. I recall sitting in a meeting where we were going over numbers and I asked “why do we charge so much for text messaging…why isn’t it part of the unlimited data.” The answer was “because we can and people will pay” The company I was with is having record profits. Also keep in mind most people aren’t going to call China from their mobile anyway because it is so expensive…most people would get a phone card…is that theft for not using the mobile carrier for long distance?
BBA, I can’t help but weep for the poor, disenfranchised multi-billion dollar telecom companies. I mean, verizon is only making a massive amount of income on texting, ringtones and data alone. I’m also sure that other content like music and television are helping extend the bottom line. Keep in mind, these companies are conglomerates and also offer home internet access; so useful for making skype calls from home. Please pardon the simpicity of this post, but I have yet to have my morning coffee, maybe I’ll make my own and take money away from the impoverished coffee house industry.
BBAdmin,
You are an idiot.
whats the point if the calls use the minutes of your plan. The savings are minimum. I would have liked it if you could make skype-out calles through the dataplan you have. This way you save minutes.
I’m still having problems with suretype in ISkoot. Any guesses?
I am AT&T user (originally Cingular user), and been using iSkoot for couple of months without any problems.
Few days back, I installed updated BlackBerry firmware from RIM for AT&T and since then, My iSkoot does not work.
I re-downloaded the software, allowed all HTTP ports bla bla….When I provide username and password, it comes with “Login Failed” after”Connecting to Skype” error.
I checked my ID/Password from PC and it looks good.
Any clues ?
Regards
Yatin Bhatt
MyToGo for Skype allows ANY Phone to gain access to Skype calling services , this includes calling Skype Names for FREE as well as using Skype rates for both local and long distance calling, and does not require any software to be installed on the phone. MyToGo for Skype is FREE as well, for more information please go here:
http://www.testing.onlytherightanswers.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=58
May be im a mourner may be i deserve to do something else.
Need to feel the sense.
I downloaded on my blackberry storm… It worked ok at first, hard to navigate since they never developed a new UI for the storm. Way to buggy, needs extra debugging. Also my alarm doesn’t go off b/c of the missed message alerts that show up with the full damn keyboard on the phone… VERY ANNOYING
Also not to mention this app drains and kills your battery… Avoid!