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Skype app - First impressions

redman042

redman042

macrumors 68040
Jun 13, 2008
3,063
1,657
I'm not a Skype expert but I imagine the strategy for using Skype (especially while overseas) would be to have callers email or text you to let you know they want to talk. Pre-arrange a time to be on Skype at a Wifi hotspot. Then boot up the app and make the call. Use computers on both ends if possible (then it's totally free except for any hotspot fees).

Skype will not make a voice call over 3G. You can only use text chat. You have to be on wifi to make a call.
 
D

diesel

macrumors 6502a
Aug 3, 2007
807
25
redman042 said:
I'm not a Skype expert but I imagine the strategy for using Skype (especially while overseas) would be to have callers email or text you to let you know they want to talk. Pre-arrange a time to be on Skype at a Wifi hotspot. Then boot up the app and make the call. Use computers on both ends if possible (then it's totally free except for any hotspot fees).

Skype will not make a voice call over 3G. You can only use text chat. You have to be on wifi to make a call.
Click to expand...


Yeah, but if you travel overseas for business the beauty is many hotels offer wifi service for a fee that the company will pick up. Then you can skype all you want. I was in Japan a year and half ago and go to London frequently for work and loved using skype on my laptop to make personal calls and bypass all of the ridiculous hotel surcharges and charges and phone cards.
 
L

LostLogik

macrumors 6502a
Jul 9, 2008
701
4
I'm lovin this. Works beautifully with excellent call quality, my online number is displayed in receiver's caller id, and I get access to my voicemail, so I can pick up my messages when out of wifi. Yep, all in all seems pretty good to me.
 
scottness

scottness

macrumors 65816
Mar 18, 2009
1,368
5
Room 101
yalag said:
jesus, you can't get called. you can only make calls, I thought that would be pretty obvious considering you can't have background apps
Click to expand...

Jesus needs an iPhone?

You can receive calls while the app is open--I've tested this. It would be even nicer if it did run in the background, though! Kinda sucks that it doesn't, but ok if you're expecting a call and open it up. Much, much better quality than Fring.
 
scottness

scottness

macrumors 65816
Mar 18, 2009
1,368
5
Room 101
FearNo1 said:
So the way the skype on iphone works, if someone is trying to call you via skype, the app has to be running in order for you to receive the phone call? Or does it have some form of push notification you are being called?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the app needs to be running. Might change in 3.0 and and updated Skype, but for now, that's the way it is.
 
A

affenage

macrumors newbie
Aug 16, 2008
25
0
Works great, BUT

Everything went great with the free minutes, quality was awesome and no crashes. Now I have been trying to buy Skype credits to call out (actually I am trying to put in for the monthly unlimited plan at $2.95 but I can't get the skype website to work. It seems I keep getting redirected to a page in Chinese, then when I try and access the English version it re-routes me to a page selling skype ready phones (and in Chinese). Has anyone had any issues with the Skype site, and have any solutions? I'd like to be able to use this!!

tia
sue
 
S

str1f3

macrumors 68000
Aug 24, 2008
1,859
0
With skype, do we need a phone plan?

Seth Weintraub, from ComputerWorld, brought up an interesting point. With Skype is there really a need for a cell phone plan? We would be saving at least $50 a month because of this. The phone company forces you into a cell plan. With all the garbage lawsuits out there, this seems to be entirely legitimate. I can't wait for the first class action lawsuit to separate the AT&T cell plan from the data plan. It would be a new age where the customer would have the advantage against the telcos! Thank you skype for a great product!
 
P

pbateman

macrumors 6502
Jan 9, 2009
296
20
Can anyone confirm on the chat if the app needs to be open for you to get messages? i had mine closed and I could almost swear i got a message while it was closed and i saw it once i opened it. Could it be the chat messages get queued and show up once you open it? or was i seeing things and maybe the message came in while the app was open just in standby mode?
 
S

stujmac26

macrumors regular
Mar 4, 2009
119
0
speedracer3000 said:
if you look at the app store reviews so far, a good number of people are having crash issues (50% or more). It's crashing on both my wife's 1st gen 2G and my 3G iphone. We are both on 2.2 but people on 2.2.1 are also experiencing crashes. Not happy here.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't assume that 50% of people are having issues just because 50% of comments were negative - the incentive to log on and comment when all's working fine is much less than the incentive to rant when you have a problem, so what you're seeing is adverse selection of users...
 
Luap

Luap

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2004
1,259
759
I tried it and so far its working 100% perfectly :cool:

The people experiencing problems mostly seem to have a hacked/jailbroken iPhone. In which case, don't blame Skype for the hacks that you chose to use which have compromised the stability of your phone.
It kinda irks me that stupid people have left it bad reviews on the App store, when their hacks are largely to blame :rolleyes:
 
Small White Car

Small White Car

macrumors G4
Aug 29, 2006
10,972
1,468
Washington DC
Has anyone figured out how to use the Address Book contacts?

When I open the Skype keypad I see a "+1" which I can then type a phone number after. So I get "+1555-555-5555." Everything works great, I make the call and I'm happy.

But if I go to the contacts list and pick a person, the "1" is erased! Let's say I picked my wife's cell phone, I get something like "+555-555-5555" and when I try to call that, it won't connect!

So the address book function is pretty much useless. You have to manually type numbers to make calls.

Am I doing something wrong?
 
I

iphoneCDN

macrumors member
Jan 10, 2008
47
0
redman042 said:
I'm not a Skype expert but I imagine the strategy for using Skype (especially while overseas) would be to have callers email or text you to let you know they want to talk. Pre-arrange a time to be on Skype at a Wifi hotspot. Then boot up the app and make the call. Use computers on both ends if possible (then it's totally free except for any hotspot fees).

Skype will not make a voice call over 3G. You can only use text chat. You have to be on wifi to make a call.
Click to expand...

You can make Skype calls over 3G now. It requires a jailbreak, but it's so worth it. http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/tips-tricks/how-to-use-skype-over-3g-on-your-iphone/
 
I

itouchaddicted

macrumors regular
Apr 2, 2009
138
0
hey guys i am new on skype. i was just wondering if i need a skype online phone no. of the receiver to make calls because i just have his username. Plz help. thanks:)
 
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psywzrd

macrumors 68030
Feb 6, 2008
2,837
35
Small White Car said:
Has anyone figured out how to use the Address Book contacts?

When I open the Skype keypad I see a "+1" which I can then type a phone number after. So I get "+1555-555-5555." Everything works great, I make the call and I'm happy.

But if I go to the contacts list and pick a person, the "1" is erased! Let's say I picked my wife's cell phone, I get something like "+555-555-5555" and when I try to call that, it won't connect!

So the address book function is pretty much useless. You have to manually type numbers to make calls.

Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...


Same problem here - they need to figure out a way to fix that. Either they need to automatically add a "1" when you import the number from your address book or they need to allow you to dial out using +555-555-5555. They also need fix to a couple of other things. The iphone's screen doesn't always turn off when you put your phone to your ear while on a skype call. This is causing me problems because SBSettings keeps popping up while I'm on a call (those who jailbreak know what SBSettings is). Also, none of my skype calls are transferring to my bluetooth headset automatically and I don't see a way to force it manually. Once they fix all of the bugs this app will be incredible!
 
T

TonyL08

macrumors regular
Sep 25, 2007
108
0
It's great except that my contacts are always reported as online, even when they are not. The Windows and Mac version report them correctly, but the iPhone app always has them online with the green S.

I'd like it if putting the device to sleep didn't put the call on hold too. I have mine set to stay awake for 5 minutes for other reasons and just manually sleep it when I need to. I wish I could establish a call and press the sleep button but it puts the call on hold.
 
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