Skype iPhone Application Reviewed

Posted by Ant on Apr 10, 2009 in iPhone News

“Skype for iPhone” quickly shot to number one on the free download charts from AppStore after its release in March. and, in spite of device limitations (such as the iPhone’s incapability of running background processes) and restrictive network policies, it seems to be performing well under extensive testing by AppStore users.

According to reviewers, nearly all of Skype’s functionality has been carried across to the mobile platform. Users will be able to edit their profile information and pictures, take part in instant messaging chat over the Skype network and make calls from Skype-to-Skype and also from Skype to outside lines. This will make life easier for anyone who spends much of their time in Wi-Fi rich zones that (regrettably) have no network coverage.

Making calls to non-Skype numbers will cost 2.1cents per minute in the U.S. - or you may decide to invest $2.95 per month for an unlimited package (subject to a fair-use policy up to 10,000 minutes per month).

Making calls is just as easy as you’d imagine. Numbers can be dialled directly using the downloaded dial-pad or accessed via your Skype contact list, or for outside lines you can access your iPhone’s synced contact list.

Unfortunately, there are no plans just yet to extend Skype’s video calling functionality to the mobile download market. Developers have said that this is unlikely to happen anytime soon either- until phones have video cameras of a suitable quality and carriers fortify their networks, at the very least.