Future of Skype on Android in Danger
With no doubts, Skype provides the best VoIP service in the market. Their quality of voice and video conferencing is amazing. They have come up with interesting features such as Skype In and Skype Out. They also have a relatively good support for Linux desktop. With all that said, Skype has been my favorite VoIP provider for 6 years. However, I'm not sure if I keep using it as much as I did before, because of their limited mobile versions.
Like any other major company, Skype has developed the mobile version of its software for various smartphones. As an Android user, I was very excited when I found out that there's an Android app called Skype Lite in the market. My huge excitement changed to a major disappointment when I found out you cannot use Wi-Fi when using Skype Lite on Android. Using Skype over 3G doesn't make sense at all to me. The whole point of using Skype is to take advantage of its excellent voice quality, which is only guaranteed on a high speed Wi-Fi network.
As Google came up with the new feature to make free phone calls directly from Gmail(synced with Google Voice), it is very predictable that they will release the Android version in future as well.
If Skype doesn't enable the Wi-Fi option for Android users any time soon, it's going to lose its market share to Google, because of well integration of GV on Android phones. Enabling the Wi-Fi option not only increases the competition in VoIP industry, but also makes Verizon and other providers to reduce their rates to satisfy their customers.
Published On: Sept. 22, 2010 --- Views: 442
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There are 4 comment(s):
On Sept. 22, 2010, Raspute says:
How about learning how Skype works on Android before complaining? It does not use data to make calls. The call is made through your provider, and the minutes you use are negated on your bill by VZW. It *maybe* uses data to negotiate the connection, but that's it. Wireless would make little to no difference.
On Sept. 22, 2010, Mohammad says:
@Raspute: All I and other people care about is using skype over wi-fi. I don't really care if they use 3G Network or makes call through the provider.
On Sept. 22, 2010, kaluka says:
You clearly don't understand how Skype lite works. Everything Raspute says is correct, it doesn't use data to host the call and it has to do it over 3G to set up the call with your carrier and Skype.
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On Sept. 22, 2010, Hooty says:
I don't care about Skype any more. They are a failing company with terrible support for Linux and Android. I now use one of the many great SIP providers out there to make my cheap international calls.