Skype for Android is available(skype.com)
skype.com
Skype for Android is available
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-mobile/download/skype-for-android/?cm_mmc=m104
12 comments
Not sure I agree with you there. I had the opposite experience with google talk: I started messaging on my laptop, then left the laptop thinking I could continue the conversation on my phone. But no, it apparently helpfully decided that the messages should only go to my laptop, so I never got them on my phone. A small annoyance of getting too many messages far outweighs not getting them at all, imho.
I'm with pilif on this one, when someone sends a skype message, all my devices ring (two laptops, one desktop and three mobiles). This happens for every message. It's so infuriating I log off Skype on every machine apart from the one I'm currently on.
You can continue a Jabber conversation by just sending a message from the device you moved to. As far as I know, all subsequent messages will go to that one. It's also great for preventing snooping when you leave one device on at work and chat on another at home.
You can continue a Jabber conversation by just sending a message from the device you moved to. As far as I know, all subsequent messages will go to that one. It's also great for preventing snooping when you leave one device on at work and chat on another at home.
I think their (skype's) basic thinking was right but the implementation sucks.
I want all messages to appear on all devices. I want to be able to close the laptop, get up from the couch and continue the conversation seamlessly on the desktop or phone - with all context being present.
It's just the little notification sound that needs to be handled smarter.
Ideally skype would only ring the notification on the device that you have been last active on (skype already detects that anyways). Also let me select a default device that becomes the noisy one when all clients have gone idle for a while.
Unfortunately the impl is a far cry from that. As it stands skype doesn't even reliably deliver all messages to all clients for me. When I leave my desktop-skype running over night and open the laptop in the morning then sometimes I'll receive the messages from the night - but usually not. I literally have to walk around and check any open skype clients (including the one at work that I forgot to shutdown over the weekend..) if I want to ensure I didn't miss a message.
I want all messages to appear on all devices. I want to be able to close the laptop, get up from the couch and continue the conversation seamlessly on the desktop or phone - with all context being present.
It's just the little notification sound that needs to be handled smarter.
Ideally skype would only ring the notification on the device that you have been last active on (skype already detects that anyways). Also let me select a default device that becomes the noisy one when all clients have gone idle for a while.
Unfortunately the impl is a far cry from that. As it stands skype doesn't even reliably deliver all messages to all clients for me. When I leave my desktop-skype running over night and open the laptop in the morning then sometimes I'll receive the messages from the night - but usually not. I literally have to walk around and check any open skype clients (including the one at work that I forgot to shutdown over the weekend..) if I want to ensure I didn't miss a message.
This is a bit debatable, to prevent snooping, but I agree. They would probably hit the sweet spot if they notified all the devices, initially, and then stop the notification on all but the active device as soon as you replied. I think that would be the best implementation.
You are right, the details are debatable. What I really want is a handful toggle switches to configure the behaviour to my liking - which may very well change, e.g. during a vacation.
It's not exactly rocket science and I sometimes wonder what those skype engineers are doing all day. ;-)
I haven't noticed any functional advancement in ~3 years. Only some minor GUI polishing.
It's not exactly rocket science and I sometimes wonder what those skype engineers are doing all day. ;-)
I haven't noticed any functional advancement in ~3 years. Only some minor GUI polishing.
small annoyance? If I'm running skype on my phone, it's basically constantly vibrating while I'm in a conversation.
Well, it seems that could be fixed by only having the phone vibrate for the first message. Even if I'm using the phone, I don't really need it to vibrate all the time...
There are lots of things that Skype "could" fix. The point that I am hearing from the GP is that they do not CHOOSE to fix them. You should see the Skype 5 beta for Windows. What a UI cluster that thing is, and has been for quite some time now.
And I just tried Skype for my HTC Desire on 2.1 and yikes, he's right: it's a usability nightmare.
And I just tried Skype for my HTC Desire on 2.1 and yikes, he's right: it's a usability nightmare.
> On Android, while still possible, it's a really big tour through nearly every screen the OS can throw at me before I finally can close down the application for good.
What are you talking about? The Skype client itself has the option to either go offline or sign out completely, which stops the service altogether.
What are you talking about? The Skype client itself has the option to either go offline or sign out completely, which stops the service altogether.
Heads up: Do read the fine type at the bottom. For example, currently its only available over Wifi in the US. Does anyone know why? Surely if it works on 3G at other places, its not a technology problem?
Sidenote: So skype is now available for many major platforms including iPhone, Symbian and now Android. Does anyone know if Skype (and not skype-lite) is available on blackberry?
Sidenote: So skype is now available for many major platforms including iPhone, Symbian and now Android. Does anyone know if Skype (and not skype-lite) is available on blackberry?
>> or example, currently its only available over Wifi in the US.
Can you link/quote the part that says that? I can't see it.
edit: Sorry, I read your post wrong. I thought you meant, "skype over wifi is (a feature that) is only available in the US". Rather, I see now you mean, "Those in the US can only use skype over wifi (not on 3G networks)".
I just went through the whole process of skyping myself from phone to laptop, and back again (and getting some nasty feedback!) before realising what you meant!
Can you link/quote the part that says that? I can't see it.
edit: Sorry, I read your post wrong. I thought you meant, "skype over wifi is (a feature that) is only available in the US". Rather, I see now you mean, "Those in the US can only use skype over wifi (not on 3G networks)".
I just went through the whole process of skyping myself from phone to laptop, and back again (and getting some nasty feedback!) before realising what you meant!
Here is a blog entry from Skype:
http://blogs.skype.com/en/2010/10/android.html
On the bottom you can find the following disclaimers:
* Skype is not available in the Android Market in China or Japan.
* Skype has been tested on HTC and Motorola devices with Android OS 2.1 and above. It may work on other Android phones, but we can’t guarantee full functionality or compatibility.
* We’re aware of some problems with the Samsung Galaxy S, and we’re looking to address these in the future.
* It’s free to use Skype in a WiFi zone. If you use Skype with a mobile data connection, operator charges may apply, so we recommend an unlimited data plan.
* In the US, you can make calls only over WiFi.
* A fair use policy applies to unlimited subscriptions.
On the bottom you can find the following disclaimers:
* Skype is not available in the Android Market in China or Japan.
* Skype has been tested on HTC and Motorola devices with Android OS 2.1 and above. It may work on other Android phones, but we can’t guarantee full functionality or compatibility.
* We’re aware of some problems with the Samsung Galaxy S, and we’re looking to address these in the future.
* It’s free to use Skype in a WiFi zone. If you use Skype with a mobile data connection, operator charges may apply, so we recommend an unlimited data plan.
* In the US, you can make calls only over WiFi.
* A fair use policy applies to unlimited subscriptions.
Since I have Android 1.6 and live in Japan, this announcement destroyed the little hope I had for using Skype on my phone in the near future.
On the other hand, I finally taught my parents how to call me from GMail (not exactly easy, with me being 10k km away and without remote desktop control), now I can receive their calls via SIP, even in Pidgin.
> Since I have Android 1.6 and live in Japan, this announcement destroyed the little hope I had for using Skype on my phone in the near future
Welcome to the wonderful world of proprietary software.
Welcome to the wonderful world of proprietary software.
I haven't used it on my own phone or anything, but I have several friends that use Skype on their Blackberries for IM and calls. I assume this is Skype and not skype-lite since it can make calls, such as on Verizon's Storm.
Skype is available on Blackberry on Verizon. I'm not sure about availability outside of that.
The client is pretty packed. Apparently you can't use it on wifi though, but otherwise it's a full-blown Skype client.
The client is pretty packed. Apparently you can't use it on wifi though, but otherwise it's a full-blown Skype client.
I would guess that it's because of the Verizon deal. Skype probably had to promise to make it only work for them.
Maybe because U.S. "3G" is very slow in most areas?
More because US carriers are deathly afraid of anything competing with them for voice calls, ie, to prevent people from buying just a data connection and still getting voice calls over Skype.
Hey Skype,thanks for letting me know. Actually, you came pre-installed on my Droid. Wish you had given me the chance to decide if I wanted you or not. Seems like I can't even uninstall ya, either. So looks like we've taken part in a shotgun marriage.
Ironically, I envy you because Verizon users are the only Android/Skype users in the US that can make Skype calls over 3G. I would love to be able to use Skype anywhere I go, rather than being limited to using it by a WiFi hotspot...
yep... and city ID, amazon mp3, (if verizon: my verizon mobile, and most laughably - vz navigator which costs $9.99/month and is no doubt worse than google nav)
Says "unavailable for your mobile" when trying to install on Samsung Galaxy S.
Hm.. Here's an APK, although i'm not sure whether it'll run or no http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4650425/com.skype.raider.apk
It runs on my Froyo firmware (JPK), however, the voices are very robotic (you can barely understand what's being said).
Here's to hoping they fix the version for the Galaxy S soon.
[Edit: hm wait, this might be my provider limiting VOIP bandwidth :S]
Here's to hoping they fix the version for the Galaxy S soon.
[Edit: hm wait, this might be my provider limiting VOIP bandwidth :S]
See my comment below linking to the skype blog. They say they are working on fixing some issues on Galaxy S so i guess it will be released for your phone once they fix it.
What fragmentation?
They've now added that to the product description in the marketplace. That's quite a disappointment.
Said so too for my HTC Desire, even though that one of the two thy display in their site.
It checked the App Market and it showed up there instead - now I've got it up and running !
oh boy oh boy oh boy !
oh boy oh boy oh boy !
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At last.
The "Lite" version was virtually useless, and fring recently droppped Skype support, so Android was left skypeless.
The quality on a nexus one running froyo is significantly better than land line; almost as good as desktop, both wifi and 3g. enormous step up from sipdroid. Australia now has a year long plan for 120 aud that can effectively replace voice service from the carrier entirely. (three.com.au)
This is completely off topic, but do you know if I can install Vanilla Android on devices that come with Sense? I'm getting a Desire HD and I'm curious if I can just remove the entire HTC thing and install the plain Google one if it comes with too much crapware.
Does everything work, or do vendors have too much integration to install the vanilla OS?
Does everything work, or do vendors have too much integration to install the vanilla OS?
You'd have to root it. However, HTC Sense isn't too bad - I actually enjoy it. There's a few apps you can't get rid of, which is kind of annoying, but you can just remove them from your desktops and never think about them again.
Thank you, I was hoping it would be good. What's rooting? Is it like jailbreaking? I thought Android phones were open?
They're generally more open than iPhone, but the exact configuration is dictated by the carrier and manufacturer.
As for rooting, see here. http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Why_Root
As for rooting, see here. http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Why_Root
Thanks, that looks like a good resource, which I'll definitely need.
I find the call quality the same as Sipdroid, if not a little worse. Sipdroid is far too complex to get going but works fantastically once you have it setup.
What's the point of Skype on Android if you need to be in WiFi Zone? In that case you can skype with your laptop in the first place.
... what's the name of the alternative that actually works over 3G?
... what's the name of the alternative that actually works over 3G?
Sipdroid works with most generic SIP accounts and also works over 3G.
Do you find Sipdroid usable? I tried it and my call quality was horrible, even over wifi. The lag was seconds and the sound was totally garbled. Was entirely unusable on my Nexus/T-mo.
I don't use Sipdroid to make calls - but I use it to receive calls from a geographic number that I've set up via SIP.
I've found the quality to be pretty good - but I do only use it via wifi.
I signed up for a free geographic number from Sipgate, and set up sipdroid to automatically answer any calls that are made to it whenever I have connectivity.
I've found it's a fairly nice solution, as missed calls (e.g. when I don't have connectivity) are automatically taken care of by Sipgate's free answer service (and I'm sent the message as an mp3 via email).
I'm using it with an HTC Desire.
I've found the quality to be pretty good - but I do only use it via wifi.
I signed up for a free geographic number from Sipgate, and set up sipdroid to automatically answer any calls that are made to it whenever I have connectivity.
I've found it's a fairly nice solution, as missed calls (e.g. when I don't have connectivity) are automatically taken care of by Sipgate's free answer service (and I'm sent the message as an mp3 via email).
I'm using it with an HTC Desire.
It works on 3G in countries other than the US.
It works on 3G in the US on the iPhone.
Is there some sort of workaround for root users that can fool it into thinking it's on WiFi?
Is there some sort of workaround for root users that can fool it into thinking it's on WiFi?
A lot if you're travelling outside of your home country.
I think an alternative that works on 3G is FriendCaller and Fring.
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There should be a QR-COde for easy download!!!
Finally, Skype-Verizon exclusivity is over. It was really annoying how Verizon dictates the availability.
skype is poison software and is antithetical to the hacker ethos of open systems.
use at your own caution
(I'm probably going to get downvoted for this because it always seems to be that any negative comment about skype == downvotes on HN.)
:edit: a hacker I've been following for a some time has a blog and writes about emerging open voice+video standards. I think that Thiago Camargo expresses many points very well. http://xmppjingle.blogspot.com/
use at your own caution
(I'm probably going to get downvoted for this because it always seems to be that any negative comment about skype == downvotes on HN.)
:edit: a hacker I've been following for a some time has a blog and writes about emerging open voice+video standards. I think that Thiago Camargo expresses many points very well. http://xmppjingle.blogspot.com/
as 99.5% of the world aren't "hackers" and quite like the idea of calling people on the other side of the world for free, perhaps the success of Skype shows your ideals are out of touch with the world around you. Who, then, is more likely to be wrong?
Neither.
Ideals aren't about convenience, that's why they're ideals. While I love Skype, I can appreciate the fact that it's stifling innovation and killing interoperability, since you can't use it with SIP...
It's as if we had email, and then a proprietary protocol which everyone used. Countless services would never have been created.
Ideals aren't about convenience, that's why they're ideals. While I love Skype, I can appreciate the fact that it's stifling innovation and killing interoperability, since you can't use it with SIP...
It's as if we had email, and then a proprietary protocol which everyone used. Countless services would never have been created.
except Skype works with SIP now:
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/business/sip/overview/
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/business/sip/overview/
Wow, this is great news, thanks!
EDIT: Wait, this just converts your SIP phones to work with Skype, it doesn't allow you to call other SIP phones. E.g. I can't use it to call Truphone/Gizmo users with it. It's a two-tier phone service, same as IM clients. This is why the GP's ideals are a good thing.
EDIT: Wait, this just converts your SIP phones to work with Skype, it doesn't allow you to call other SIP phones. E.g. I can't use it to call Truphone/Gizmo users with it. It's a two-tier phone service, same as IM clients. This is why the GP's ideals are a good thing.
Would you enlighten me how it is supposed to call Truphone/Gizmo unless the owners of those services specifically want to connect them trough SIP gateway? Is Skype supposed to go out and find every standalone SIP setup in the world and connect to it?
Can't you call a Truphone user from Gizmo, since they both use SIP?
My point isn't about what is popular, it is about what is right.
anyways I don't like making predictions, but I can't see skype lasting 10+ years if they continue to pursue a closed architecture. it just will not happen.
What is most uncomfortable about skype to me is the fact that they are the single provider of their service; for example if you wanted to use another service you wouldn't be allowed to use that other network to contact a skype user. This is an example of a choice I consider to be wrong.
anyways I don't like making predictions, but I can't see skype lasting 10+ years if they continue to pursue a closed architecture. it just will not happen.
What is most uncomfortable about skype to me is the fact that they are the single provider of their service; for example if you wanted to use another service you wouldn't be allowed to use that other network to contact a skype user. This is an example of a choice I consider to be wrong.
I can't see skype lasting 10+ years if they continue to
pursue a closed architecture. it just will not happen.
Skype (in terms of the functionality it offers) is basically a branded form of SIP VoIP.
You can obtain similar functionality using a generic SIP VoIP account purchased through a reseller .. which will be free from the negative restrictions mentioned.
You can obtain similar functionality using a generic SIP VoIP account purchased through a reseller .. which will be free from the negative restrictions mentioned.
Skype isn't SIP, Skype is a proprietary P2P protocol. Which is one of the reasons it works so well going through firewalls etc. - Skype had to make it work and could change their implementation at will. (Although most of the magic was already in KaZaA/FastTrack, which the Skype P2P network was based on AFAIK)
Okay, a good point - but does Skype offer much more than you can obtain from a SIP account?
My understanding is that there's a benefit to choosing SIP over skype, because the technology is interoperable and non-proprietary.
I suppose, my point is that people don't need to rely on Skype to be able to call people for free. In my opinion, Skype isn't the only - or even best - choice.
My understanding is that there's a benefit to choosing SIP over skype, because the technology is interoperable and non-proprietary.
I suppose, my point is that people don't need to rely on Skype to be able to call people for free. In my opinion, Skype isn't the only - or even best - choice.
Skype is easier to set up than SIP, doesn't require firewall configuration, or server addresses. You install it, create an account, add people to your list, and insert money when you want to call a POTS line.
not sure why you're being downvoted on this, you bring up a very good point.
Facetime on iphone 4 uses open standards including SIP, STUN and ICE. These are mature p2p technologies heavily used and deployed and are the same used in xmpp jingle specifications. open standard p2p already won this battle which skype will persist to fight.
Facetime on iphone 4 uses open standards including SIP, STUN and ICE. These are mature p2p technologies heavily used and deployed and are the same used in xmpp jingle specifications. open standard p2p already won this battle which skype will persist to fight.
I suppose there are people reading the comments, who really _really_ like Skype (although not enough to explain their reasoning).
"Which is one of the reasons it works so well going through firewalls etc."
I don't understand why the fact that Skype's proprietary makes it 'work [..] well going through a firewall'.
I don't understand why the fact that Skype's proprietary makes it 'work [..] well going through a firewall'.
that's the point!
Okay, fair enough - a proprietary solution isn't forced to compromise or be subject to approval from standards bodies or general consensus.
However, I'd argue that the fact Skype might work well with firewall's isn't _because_ it's proprietary. An open-standard could work just as well; it would take more effort and time to achieve it, but I think it would be worth the extra effort because the benefit would be more universally felt.
In my opinion, this shouldn't be a primary reason for preferring a proprietary solution over an open standard. If it was, Microsoft's early efforts to introduce proprietary tags into HTML markup wouldn't have been so universally deplored.
However, I'd argue that the fact Skype might work well with firewall's isn't _because_ it's proprietary. An open-standard could work just as well; it would take more effort and time to achieve it, but I think it would be worth the extra effort because the benefit would be more universally felt.
In my opinion, this shouldn't be a primary reason for preferring a proprietary solution over an open standard. If it was, Microsoft's early efforts to introduce proprietary tags into HTML markup wouldn't have been so universally deplored.
> perhaps the success of Skype shows your ideals are out of touch with the world around you
I can't imagine what kind of confusion would cause somebody to type that.
I can't imagine what kind of confusion would cause somebody to type that.
"skype is poison software and is antithetical to the hacker ethos of open systems."
What sort of BS is that. For most people, it solves a real world problem very well.
What sort of BS is that. For most people, it solves a real world problem very well.
a controversial statement designed to elicit discussion.
I am of the opinion that for a site called Hacker News, most people here seem complacent to emprofit a company that locks you into their walled garden, meanwhile giving the finger to choice enablers that do the same exact thing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_ethic
I am of the opinion that for a site called Hacker News, most people here seem complacent to emprofit a company that locks you into their walled garden, meanwhile giving the finger to choice enablers that do the same exact thing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_ethic
"use at your own caution" It may be a closed system, but hackers would have discovered if it was sending all your calls to the government.
My caution is not of eavesdropping, but of lock-in.
I'd like to be able to contact friends/family/business partners using a service of my own chooising.
I'd like to be able to contact friends/family/business partners using a service of my own chooising.
Just installed this on a Telus Milestone/Droid here in Canada. Calling works great. Doesn't seem to support SMS, though?
"Not found - The request item could not be found." after clicking the link to download. Great
This could be an issue with the protocol itself, but it's still annoying.
When I am running Skype on my iPhone or now on Android and at the same time having a conversation on the PC, my phone will notify me for every incoming and outgoing message happening on the PC.
Now, on the PC, a conversation is something happening quickly and in abundance. This basically leads to my phone constantly vibrating.
Jabber, even back then, recognized this. When you log in multiple times, it registers multiple presences and once you send a message from one location, all other clients will not be notified any more until you start a new conversation on that device.
This is a requirement as always-on mobile-clients are appearing.
Now, on the iPhone I can at least quickly start Skype, make a call and close it down using the easily accessible task manager.
On Android, while still possible, it's a really big tour through nearly every screen the OS can throw at me before I finally can close down the application for good.
Also, Android Skype insta-crashes the WhatsApp beta and seems to be constantly sending/receiving data (the background sync icon is constantly on until I uninstall Skype).
Unusable. Sorry.