Popular internet telephony firm Skype has announced that it will release its “Skype for iPhone” application through the Apple application store later today.
The Skype iPhone app, which will be free to download, will allow iPhone users to make free calls using wi-fi to other Skype users, and also use their Skype accounts to make reduced price calls to traditional landline phones.
A Skype app will be available for the BlackBerry in May.
While mobile versions of Skype are already available for Nokia, Windows Mobile, and Google Android phones, iPhone developers have been clamouring for a Skype app for some time.
“There’s a pent-up demand. Skype software for the iPhone has been the No 1 request among our users,” said Scott Durchslag, Skype’s chief operating officer, in a statement.
Durchslag told the Financial Times that the company aimed to become the world’s leading communications software company.
“The timing of all these product offerings are meant to reinforce each other and get to that point where you can have a communications experience flow across devices like water,” he said.
Skype is attracting about 350,000 new registered users per day, and now has around 405 million users.
Technology writer Ed Baig from USA Today posted one of the first Skype for iPhone reviews, and was generally positive, reporting a “decent experience” on his first trial calls.
But he does highlight one major restriction of the new application.
“Because of restrictions imposed by Apple, you can only be on a Skype call while you have access to wi-fi.
“If you’re in a cellular coverage area and out of wi-fi range, you can only engage in chat sessions with your Skype buddies.
“When I tried to make a call over the 3G cellular network, a message popped up indicating that ‘calls over 3G networks are currently not supported due to restrictions that may be placed on your data plan.’ My assumption is Apple is trying to keep its cellphone carrier partners happy,” Baig wrote.
“Too many Skype calls, which are covered by the iPhone’s unlimited data plan, could cut into [the carriers’] business.”
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