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So any word on Skype?
- Thread starter djcraze
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Well, let's split this into 2 parts:
VOIP over Wi-Fi = AT&T very happy. You still have to pay for a minimum amount of their minutes, and you're using their network way less. You're a paying customer who's voluntarily using their service LESS. Good news for them.
VOIP over 3G = AT&T indifferent. Yes, you're using their cell towers and 'net connection, but you're not using their phone network computers to make connections. So it's kind of a draw. You're using a little bit less of their infrastructure, but still paying for minutes. This isn't as great as VOIP on wi-fi for them, but it's not really a loss.
IF you could buy an AT&T plan with 0 minutes, they might get mad when people sign up for that. But they don't, and you can't, so you're still paying them for a certain amount of minutes no matter what.
Anything that means you use AT&T's computers less (yet you still pay them for minutes) is good news to AT&T.
What Steve wants Steve gets... and that's the end of that.
Anyway, if there was any word on a VIOP client for the iPhone then MacRumors would cover it. Since you haven't seen it, that means there is no news available.
It's a loss for at&t for people who often uses up their minutes. at&t can make a lot of money off those overages. VOIP over 3G equals people saving minutes and not going over their limit for at&t to rape them.
You gotta tell me what you are smoking cause it looks good.
VOIP (which ain't skype btw but whatever) = data. If you have a data plan already it means when you make a call via skype you will be paying zero to ATT for voice. ATT wants you to use MORE. you see...MORE for teleco = money.
I don't know about you, but I wasn't given the option to NOT pay for voice.
I pay AT&T for voice minutes whether I use them or not and I don't know any way out of that. Obviously, if I'm forced to pay for them, but then I don't use them, that's best for them, isn't it.
(I concede the point someone made about the overage charges. I never go over my minutes so that's not something I'd thought about.)
The only reason I use VOIP is for cheap international calling. TruPhone ain't cheap unfotunately. Can't wait till Skype gets off their lazy rumps and comes out with an app.
Skype
Check here the current plans from Skype for calling traditional phones:
http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/#uscaSubscriptionTab
They gave you a local phone number so you can also receive incoming calls, for me this is the best service I ever experienced from a VOIP service provider and I had used Vonage (which is expensive in comparison to this) and other ones.
It simply works and is very reliable.
And check here for some already supported Mobile applications:
http://www.skype.com/mobile/
I HOPE THIS HAPPENS SOON:
SKYPE + iPhone 3G = COMMUNICATION FREEDOM
Check here the current plans from Skype for calling traditional phones:
http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/#uscaSubscriptionTab
They gave you a local phone number so you can also receive incoming calls, for me this is the best service I ever experienced from a VOIP service provider and I had used Vonage (which is expensive in comparison to this) and other ones.
It simply works and is very reliable.
And check here for some already supported Mobile applications:
http://www.skype.com/mobile/
I HOPE THIS HAPPENS SOON:
SKYPE + iPhone 3G = COMMUNICATION FREEDOM