Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

lsbuffs

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 5, 2009
175
47
Now that Skype will soon be able to allow VOIP from the mobile network (vs. currently being restricted to wifi only), wondering how much data usage a call may take. Not a concern in the US, but thinking more of overseas travel. If I was in the UK in roaming mode, where data is $19.95/mb and I made a 10 minute phone call using Skype, any idea how much data usage that would take? With regular rates at $1.29/min from the UK to US, interested in the cost comparison.
 
How much data will Skype consume? The same as the average call. The only difference between Skype and your Phone.app is that both connect the same way via different servers to provide the same service.
 
Now that Skype will soon be able to allow VOIP from the mobile network (vs. currently being restricted to wifi only), wondering how much data usage a call may take. Not a concern in the US, but thinking more of overseas travel. If I was in the UK in roaming mode, where data is $19.95/mb and I made a 10 minute phone call using Skype, any idea how much data usage that would take? With regular rates at $1.29/min from the UK to US, interested in the cost comparison.

There isn't a chance in hell you'd want to use skype overseas UNLESS you add an international data plan.

For a 10 minute call you could easily be looking at appx $100 for a call that you could just make roaming for a LOT less.
 
There isn't a chance in hell you'd want to use skype overseas UNLESS you add an international data plan.

For a 10 minute call you could easily be looking at appx $100 for a call that you could just make roaming for a LOT less.

Find a wireless signal, put phone in airplane mode, turn on wireless and use skype, no charge.
 
I believe what the OP is asking is what the bitrate for skype calls is. From what I've read, that depends on the speed of your processor and your connection, and ranges from 7kb/s up to 18kb/s.
 
If I was in the UK in roaming mode, where data is $19.95/mb and I made a 10 minute phone call using Skype, any idea how much data usage that would take?

Skype will apparently use whatever bandwidth it can get. Reportedly from 10-50 MBytes per hour. That could be extremely expensive.

How much data will Skype consume? The same as the average call. The only difference between Skype and your Phone.app is that both connect the same way via different servers to provide the same service.

Not sure what you're trying to say.

At least for now, and despite the efforts of some companies to move to IP based backhaul, carriers still use time division slots dedicated per user. That's why carrier calls are still charged per time, not per byte.

This is mostly because of concerns over voice quality. Carriers are in the business of providing voice communications, first and foremost.
 
I believe what the OP is asking is what the bitrate for skype calls is. From what I've read, that depends on the speed of your processor and your connection, and ranges from 7kb/s up to 18kb/s.

Exactly..what is the bitrate for Skype call data usage. Sounds like if it takes up to 18kb/s, that's just over a mb per minute which would make it far more expensive than the $1.29/min roaming rate for UK to US calls.
 
\
Not sure what you're trying to say.

At least for now, and despite the efforts of some companies to move to IP based backhaul, carriers still use time division slots dedicated per user. That's why carrier calls are still charged per time, not per byte.

This is mostly because of concerns over voice quality. Carriers are in the business of providing voice communications, first and foremost.


Data. All voice calls use data. However, because that voice-data goes thru a different server, it is calculated as air time instead of data consumed. VoIP is in essence the same thing; however, the difference lies in that Skype's app connects to Skype's servers to initiate a call, where as the Phone.app in the iPhone connects to an AT&T server determined by the carrier settings and SIM card.

Hence, Skype's usage is calculated by data used, not minutes. Ultimately, VoIP is going to be as good as your data connection is.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.