March 2009

There's been a torrent of news about the new Skype for iPhone client -- it's been a long time coming and now it's finally here.

In case you missed Peter's post on the main blog (with a nice walk-through video), you can now download it here for your iPhone or second generation iPod touch with headset.

My first impressions are pretty similar to what other bloggers are saying -- it's a great way to use Skype on the go. Here's what you need to know:

• You can make and receive Skype calls at any WiFi hotspot (calls don't work over 3G/EDGE, but you can have text chats and set your Skype status and mood message over 3G/EDGE),
• There's great iPhone integration with your contacts (to make SkypeOut calls easily) and camera (to set your photo).
• Sound quality is excellent, and chats work well with individuals and groups.

My favorite thing about the application is how simple it is -- the only icons across the bottom are Contacts, Chats, Call, History, and My Info. There isn't a settings button -- it's not necessary.

One drawback compared to other versions of Skype on mobile phones is that Skype can't run in the background on the iPhone--the application has to be running and active to make and receive calls. Skype Lite for Android, Skype for Windows Mobile as well as the 3 Skypephone and INQ1 phone can all receive calls when Skype is running but not in the foreground. If you receive messages or calls when Skype isn't running on your iPhone, you'll be notified next time you run the app.

Have you tried out the app yet? Share your thoughts in the comments or in the iPhone area of the Skype Community.

Some recent Skype stories:

Gear

• A nice comparison of the 3 Skypephone and INQ1, both of which allow you to Skype very easily on the go.
• Another video review of the Asus Eee AiGuru SV1 Videophone for Skype.
• SkypeSync (which I've mentioned before here) has been updated; here's a good review on Skype Journal.

Soldiers

• National Guard mom surprises son at school--they normally keep in touch over Skype.
• A couple depends on Skype to stay close while one is away with the US Navy.
• Soldiers in Tennessee and Oklahoma talk to young students about their experiences over Skype.

Family

• A father in Poland gave away his daughter at her wedding in the US over Skype.
• Using Skype is a good way to keep a long-distance marriage healthy.
• Electronic apron strings: an American mom is talking to her daughter abroad in Africa over Skype more often than when they lived in the same house.

Business

• Skype helps cross-border telecommuters.
• A hair salon in Boston USA is using Skype for at-home consultations.
• A staffing company uses Skype to interview potential job candidates.
• A company is offering language lessons over Skype.

Misc

• A woman in Maine has helped over 200 sick children get laptops so they can use Skype and educational computer programmes.
• Learning to play the harp over Skype.
• Some tips for ex-pats on using Skype to stay in touch.
• Older women are using Skype and other technologies to enhance their lives.

I've mentioned Skype in the classroom in many of my Gear News Roundups--often it's used to help sick students participate from the hospital, or to connect students from different countries to help them learn language skills.

Here's a great video about a dual immersion program at Marquette University in the USA run by Colleen Coffey. It shares student perspectives about language and culture exchange, and it really shows the benefits that video chatting can bring to the classroom. As Colleen says in the video, "Twenty-one countries speak Spanish, and all of them are on Skype."

Here's a video about the 3 Skypephone that Skype President Josh Silverman used in his keynote at Mobile World Congress last month:

It's great to see so many people using the Skype on the go and saving so much money while doing it.