Tag: skype

Skype on iPhone: a complete arse

Can’t use over 3G. This is a complete arse. I get an excellent 3G connection most places I go to, I never use over my minutes and therefore I’m hardly going to abuse it. So, Apple, O2, what the fuck? Lack of Push Notification. It would be lovely if Skype would implement this so that … Continue reading “Skype on iPhone: a complete arse”

  • Can’t use over 3G. This is a complete arse. I get an excellent 3G connection most places I go to, I never use over my minutes and therefore I’m hardly going to abuse it. So, Apple, O2, what the fuck?
    IMG_0788
  • Lack of Push Notification. It would be lovely if Skype would implement this so that when someone contacts me on Skype, it tells me and gives me the option of answering. As an outgoing-only solution, it’s a complete arse.
  • Lack of multitasking. Why is this a problem? Two words: Incoming call. When someone calls my mobile number, the frontmost application quits. This is okay if it’s music or a game I’m playing but it’s a complete arse when I’m mid-Skype. Also means you can’t do anything else when in a call.

A workaround for some of this?

  1. First of all, get a MiFi (a 3G router). I have one from Three (3) and it means we have WiFi everywhere. Three don’t give a damn about you using Skype over their network.
  2. Consider an iPod touch (or put on Airplane mode and then switch WiFi on). This will remove the annoyance of an incoming call.
  3. Leave Skype running. Constantly. This may mean getting a second iPhone. Or alternatively just use your bloody computer.

Related posts:

  1. BarCamp WiFi Disaster
  2. Skype Frustrations
  3. iPhone. 4.
  4. Compromise: pull and background

Carrier Canute

MacRumors writes: T-Mobile in Germany, however, threatened that it may take action to prevent its customers from using Skype on the iPhone. On the flip side, an open-Internet advocacy group is asking the FCC to see if AT&T and Apple are violating federal rules by restricting Skype to just Wi-Fi. This is serious. On one … Continue reading “Carrier Canute”

MacRumors writes:

T-Mobile in Germany, however, threatened that it may take action to prevent its customers from using Skype on the iPhone. On the flip side, an open-Internet advocacy group is asking the FCC to see if AT&T and Apple are violating federal rules by restricting Skype to just Wi-Fi.

This is serious.

On one hand we have carriers moaning that they don’t want to be relegated to being a dumb pipe and on the other hand they’re screaming and shouting and pulling their hair out trying to stop the future.

It’s that obvious. They’re trying to stop the future.

The future is data. It’s web, it’s email, it’s RSS, it’s Twitter and it’s Voice over IP. While the carriers hang desperately onto their precious voice minutes, limited texts and capped data plans and try to block voice data (like Skype) and SMS rebroadcasts (like Twitter) but the writing is on the wall.

Carriers need to look out. The Future called. We’re coming for you.

Related posts:

  1. Skype Frustrations
  2. Compromise: pull and background
  3. iPhone. 4.
  4. Muni WiFi: escape the Dialup Dark Ages