Recently in Mobile Phones Category

Microsoft has banned several applications for it's new Windows Marketplace for Mobile app store, including VoIP. Guess Apple isn't the only VoIP crippler in town. Perhaps this is an opportunity for Google Android to surpass BOTH Apple and Microsoft within the mobile phone space. After all, Google's philosophy is do no evil.

As I wrote yesterday:

... when carriers like AT&T pull crap like forcing Apple to only allow VoIP over WiFi and not over a 3G data connection, it's no wonder why mobile VoIP growth will be stunted by anti-competitive tactics. Then you have countries like Canada which outright block Skype on the iPhone. Fortunately, avid mobile phone users aren't taking this lying down. For instance, you can jailbreak your iPhone and run VoIP over 3G no problem.

Why do we have to put up with this crippleware? I get that AT&T is a business and needs to make money. If they're worried that flat-rate data plans that run VoIP over it will drastically hurt their voice revenue, then change your business model! Keep the flat-rate data plan, but install packet-inspection technology that detects voice packets and charge a few cents for VoIP calls. If the flat-rate data plan's business model is outdated, which it seems to be, then change it.

Microsoft is playing catch-up to Apple and they could have potentially garnered more new mobile customers by allowing VoIP applications. When will the mobile phone software vendors get it that they should develop products that customers want to buy? Forget about ticking off the carriers. With SIM cards and prepaid cards that are industry-standard, Microsoft could bypass the carriers by allowing customers the "choice" of using VoIP over a pre-paid voice/data card and buying the phone online from Amazon or elsewhere. Screw the Verizon and AT&T retail stores that won't carry phones that support VoIP over 3G! Sure, most people don't use prepaid cards, however, technically savvy folks that want VoIP over a 3G data connection would kill to have a good smartphone that has this capability. Microsoft could build an avid/loyal core customer base, which would eventually force the carriers to respond.

It's time for one of the mobile software operating system creators - Apple, Google, or Microsoft to throw down the gauntlet and not kowtow to the carriers. Stop kneeling before Zod. C'mon Microsoft, you used to be Superman, invincible to all comers. Now you're playing it safe and being beat by the likes of Apple and Google. Where are you Superman?

Check out the full list of prohibited application types for Windows Marketplace for Mobile below. Listed at #4 is the blocking of VoIP apps. So no Skype on the Windows Zune phone for you! Even worse, you can't change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device. Nor can you customize the default dialer, a popular thing to do on current Windows Mobile devices. Way to go! That'll entice developers to develop software apps for your mobile operating system.

List of 12 banned apps:

1. Applications that are or distribute alternate marketplaces for content types (applications, games, themes etc.) that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.
2. Applications that link to, incent users to download, or otherwise promote alternate marketplaces for content types that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
3. Applications that promote or link users to a website, or contain functionality within the application itself, which encourages or requires the user to purchase or pay to upgrade the application outside of Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.
4. Applications that enable VoIP (Voice over IP) services over a mobile operator network.
5. Applications that sell, link to, or otherwise promote mobile voice plans.
6. Applications that display advertising that does not meet the Microsoft Advertising Creative
Acceptance Policy Guide http://advertising.microsoft.com/creative-specs.
7. Applications that replace, remove or modify the default dialer, SMS, or MMS interface.
8. Applications that change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device.
9. Applications with an OTA (over the air) download >10 MB.
10. Applications that run code outside Microsoft runtimes (native, managed, and widgets)
11. Applications that publish a user's location information to any other person without first having received the user's express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user a means of opting out of having their location information published.
12. Applications that publish a user's data from their mobile device to any other person without first having received the user's express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user a means of opting out of having their data published. A "user's data" includes, without limit, contacts, photos, SMS or other text communication, browsing history, location information, and other data either stored on the mobile device or stored in the "cloud" but accessible from the
mobile device

They put at the bottom of this list, "Microsoft reserves the right to update these policies as needed to protect the Windows® Marketplace for Mobile service or the users of the service." Yeah, sure. "protect the users of the service" alright.

Gartner, a respected research firm located just a stone's throw from TMC said today, "mobile VoIP poses a huge challenge for traditional mobile voice providers." You don't say? Hmm, I would have never guessed such a thing. Ok, other than stating the obvious, the research does have some fascinating points, including claiming that ore than 50% of mobile voice traffic will be carried using end-to-end VoIP by 2019 - or basically 10 years from now.

"Mobile portal voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offered by third-party application-based providers poses a huge and direct challenge to the $692.6 billion global mobile voice market", according to Gartner, Inc. Gartner predicts that over time traditional network-based mobile carriers face the real prospect of losing a major slice of their voice traffic and revenue to new non-infrastructure players that use VoIP.

But Gartner doesn't paint an entirely rosy picture for VoIP. Gartner said "that despite this significant potential, conditions for the rapid expansion in the use of mobile VoIP are not yet right and are not likely to become right for at least five years and perhaps as long as eight years."

Yeah, well when carriers like AT&T pull crap like forcing Apple to only allow VoIP over WiFi and not over a 3G data connection, it's no wonder why mobile VoIP growth will be stunted by anti-competitive tactics. Then you have countries like Canada which outright block Skype on the iPhone. Fortunately, avid mobile phone users aren't taking this lying down. For instance, you can jailbreak your iPhone and run VoIP over 3G no problem.

Why do we have to put up with this crippleware? I get that AT&T is a business and needs to make money. If they're worried that flat-rate data plans that run VoIP over it will drastically hurt their voice revenue, then change your business model! Keep the flat-rate data plan, but install packet-inspection technology that detects voice packets and charge a few cents for VoIP calls. If the flat-rate data plan's business model is outdated, which it seems to be, then change it.

Yeah, sure customers may not like the idea and certainly it seems that our culture today expects "something for nothing", but hey, it's business folks. I'd rather have the capability of making VoIP calls using a SIP provider or make Skype calls and pay a few pennies than not be able to use VoIP over 3G/4G at all. I'm sure if AT&T did try and charge money for VoIP calls running over a data connection that customer advocate groups, the ACLU, and people who think they should get something for nothing will run to the government and complain that AT&T is charging them money for using VoIP. Perish the thought that a business is charging you money for using their services!

Maybe we should just nationalize all the carriers like most countries have and then petition Congress to pass a law that will force the nationalized carriers to give us free mobile VoIP. Heck, with trillions of dollars being spent on the bailout package, why not free mobile VoIP at the expense of the big bad carriers? Free healthcare for everyone, free mobile VoIP for everyone, it's all free baby! Socialism here we come!

Ok end rant. Back to Gartner...

"Mass-scale adoption of end-to-end mobile VoIP calling will not happen until fourth-generation (4G) networks are fully implemented in 2017," said Tole Hart, research director at Gartner. "Once the basic market conditions are in place, transition to mobile portal VoIP should be fairly rapid because of the inherent convenience and end-user cost savings. In 10 years time we expect that 30 percent of mobile voice traffic will be carried out through third-party mobile portals, such as Google, Facebook, MySpace and Yahoo, which will adopt wireless VoIP service as a voice option to their current communications hub."

A number of third parties, such as Skype, Truphone and fring, which carry VoIP traffic using a mobile phone, have cropped up in the past couple of years, offering access to voice services via Wi-Fi and/or the carriers' wireless voice networks. This has been the most efficient way to offer the service to date because of the inconsistencies of voice services over third-generation (3G) data networks. However, with the advent of 4G networks (WiMAX and Long Term Evolution [LTE]), and increased use of smartphones with open operating systems, it is conceivable, perhaps even inevitable, that wireless voice services will be run completely over VoIP.

"Ten years from now, more than half of mobile voice traffic will be carried end-to-end using VoIP," said Akshay Sharma, research director at Gartner. "Carriers will adopt voice services because of the increased capacity and reduced cost of delivering voice over 4G networks. Third parties will adopt a voice option for their communications hub."

Gartner analysts warned that there will also be a number of factors that will inhibit the adoption of third-party, end-to-end VoIP services, including the delay in rolling out 4G networks because of current economic conditions and also the general plan to put 4G only in the main cities and build out from there. Nevertheless, in five to 10 years time, as 4G networks become common, mobile VoIP services will have a strong impact on the communications market.

Competing with mobile portal VoIP will be wireless carriers that offer circuit and VoIP voice and data services, and resellers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that also offer services off the carrier networks. Gartner expects this opening of the VoIP channels to spawn a number of voice services from companies that offer voice services to communities using voice as a communications link. This means that the biggest competitors to mobile VoIP may be text messaging and e-mail, as people may prefer to use these types of communication because of their non-intrusive, less emotional and less time-consuming nature.

Although the impact of the technology shift will be gradual as 4G networks roll out, Gartner advises carriers to start thinking now about how the transition will occur and how they might cooperate and partner with other types of service providers. Third-party providers, such as Google and Yahoo, should look to offer voice services today using the carriers' networks and Wi-Fi to leverage their portfolio of services. Mobile social communities, such as Facebook and MySpace, which benefit from messaging traffic as it keeps eyeballs on their sites, should also have a voice option.

3 UK is opening up its network to allow anyone with a 3 SIM and a compatible handset to have unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls and instant messages without ever having to pay. 3UK announced that on May 1st users with a 3UK SIM and a 3-provided Skype-enabled handset will be able to use Skype for free. Additionally, previous deals for free Skype required a monthly topup of £10 on pay-as-you-go and there will be no data charges. Thus, Skype will be 100% free, subject to their fair use policy of course. There is just a one time fee of £1.99 for a SIM card.

Anyone with a compatible unlocked 3G handset in the UK, can take advantage of free Skype calls, whether or not their phone is from 3. This is a huge barrier-busting move by 3 that changes the game. Forget about using AT&T on your iPhone who is preventing Apple from allowing Skype to run over the 3G data connection. Simply get an unlocked iPhone, stick in a 3 SIM and enjoy free Skype calls! Of course, this "free" calling deal only applies to the UK. Why do the Brits get all the fun? No worries, I'm sure this is just the first step before the U.S. gets in on the free Skype calling action. I wonder if there might be some synergies with the new Skype for SIP program (of which I'm a beta tester)?

According to 3 UK, "By removing these key barriers to Skype-to-Skype calls, 3 UK is creating a compelling reason for new customers to join 3 and to enjoy all the products and services available on the UK's biggest mobile broadband network."

According to 3 UK:

We've been working with Skype for over two years now and we've learned a lot about how our customers use the service. We know that a keen mobile Skype user is an instinctive, active communicator. They want to take full advantage of free mobile calls.

Increasingly Skype use is linked to other internet communications activities, such as Facebook, Twitter and a host of other services for which our customers will happily pay a fixed fee for unlimited use.

While others have looked at Skype as a potential threat to voice and text revenues we see another advantage. Did you know when you call a friend on a different mobile network their network will charge your operator a fee for carrying the call? This is called a Mobile Termination Rate or MTR and is currently charged at around 4.7p or more for every minute of the call.

This fee is regulated by the industry regulator Ofcom but we think they're still too high. Without these fees we'd be able to offer our customers much better value and that's where Skype comes in. With Skype, MTRs don't apply so we can give our customers all the minutes they like without over charging them.

At 3, we believe our customers should be able to choose how they communicate because that's mobile as it should be; simple, useful and always good value.

Kevin Russell, Chief Executive Officer of 3 UK, said "Communication through the internet is exploding. Internet calling or VoIP, social networking, instant messaging and email are used by millions in the UK every single day. They are open to all on their PCs and laptops. We want people to be free to communicate from their mobiles in the same way as they do from their PCs.

"In future you will be able to buy a 3 SIM for unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls for less than the price of a cup of coffee and talk for as much as you want without ever paying us another penny. We won't ask you for a top-up or a monthly commitment. If you want to talk on a mobile for free, just join us and give it a go. This is for everyone."

Josh Silverman, President of Skype said, "Demand for mobile access from our users has never been higher. The introduction of unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls and instant messages across all 3 price plans is a really exciting move from a key partner. 3 UK clearly understands the desire for people to use Skype wherever and whenever they want. This is the first mobile network to show this kind of innovation to enable their customers to access Skype.

"We believe this is how the future looks for the Internet on mobile. With this bold move 3 UK has again shown their willingness to be the customer champion for mobile services in the UK."

Currently, 3 UK's growing Skype community enjoys 1.5 million minutes of free Skype-to-Skype calls every day. The launch of the first 3 Skypephone in October 2007 really kick-started the growth of free internet calling on the 3 network. With over 433 million people registered on Skype worldwide, the new free Skype-to-Skype offer from 3 opens up a world of free calling.

Two years experience of providing open access to Skype-to-Skype calling has enabled 3 and Skype to better understand the behaviour of mobile Skype users. Success with an easy-to-use Skype experience on more specialised internet-enabled handsets, such as the INQ1 and the 3 Skypephone collection; has proven to 3 that enabling customers to make free Skype calls to other Skype users on their mobiles or PCs is a real benefit.

3 UK has found that regular Skype users:

• Are less likely to churn than non-Skype users
• Use more traditional voice minutes than non-Skype users in addition to calling their Skype contacts
• Use Skype IM, but also send more SMS than non-Skype users
• Are more likely to browse the internet on their mobile
• Are higher margin customers
• Are twice as likely to access social networking sites as non-Skype customers

"Today we are moving in a clear direction towards making Skype-to-Skype calling available to all UK mobile consumers," said Mr Russell. "We know that Skype users are instinctive communicators, keen social networkers and mobile internet users. They love the things that we are building the UK's biggest mobile broadband network for.

"Our network is built to deliver the benefits of the internet to the mobile. That's why we're removing the conditions and restrictions from our current Skype offer and opening up the opportunity to try free internet calling to all UK mobile users, whether they are currently with us or a competitor network."

The Plantronics Voyager Pro is the successor to the much-loved Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset, which goes on sale today, although, Best Buy started selling its stock a bit early. I have a review unit which I plan on testing and giving my thoughts/opinion on in the new few days. I reviewed its predecessor, the Plantronics Voyage 510, which had a cult following. I was a big fan of the Voyager 510 and have one on my desk. It is an excellent headset and one of the first to feature PC audio support via a Bluetooth dongle allowing you to use the headset on your mobile phone or your PC, supporting all your PC sound applications, including VoIP apps such as Skype.

The new $99 $84 Voyager Pro is pretty similar to the 510, though it is clearly targetting the Jawbone 2, with their AudioIQ² technology which Plantronics claims results in superior sound quality which combines noise cancellation and wind reduction. I heard a few people that had early units say it's sound is even better than the Aliph Jawbone 2. Can't wait to test and see if that is indeed the case. [Note: the Jawbone Prime is newer, so will have to compare with that as well]

Plantronics stated, "Today's headset users expect great noise cancellation and Plantronics Voyager PRO delivers it with AudioIQ² and a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom. While other headsets deliver noise cancellation at the expense of overall audio quality, the boom provides the advantage of capturing your voice close to your mouth so the AudioIQ² technology can more effectively remove ambient noise, while still maintaining the natural sound of your voice."

Plantronics Voyager PRO features three layers of WindSmart technology. Dual external stainless steel microphone screens and acoustic fabrics that surround the microphones together help to eliminate wind noise. The AudioIQ² DSP algorithms also intelligently decipher your voice from the wind to enhance the sound quality.

The Voyager PRO also features a custom speaker that delivers full-spectrum audio so conversations are richer and more vibrant. It sports an adaptive 20-band equalizer that helps eliminate distortio in the audio and automatically adjusts sound levels based on the noise level around you. It sports a talk time of 6 hours and a standby time of 5 days.

Specifications

• Bluetooth technology: Version 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• Bluetooth profiles: Hands-free v1.5 (HFP), Headset v1.1 (HSP)
• Range: Up to 33 feet (10 meters)
• QuickPair technology: Supports initial pairing with Bluetooth phones
• Multipoint technology: Supports an active connection with two Bluetooth devices
• Headset controls: Power on/off; volume up/down; call answer/end; mute function; quick battery check; call reject; last number redial*; voice-activated dialing* (*if supported by phone and phone provider)
• Voice prompts: Mute status on/off; battery status for low/recharge battery
• Battery type: 3.5V Li-ion polymer rechargeable
• Charge connectors: Micro USB connector and AC/DC 100â€"240V
• Charge time: 1.5 hours for full charge
• Weight: 17.5 grams (0.62 ounces)
• Talk time: Up to 6 hours
• Standby time: Up to 120 hours (5 days)
• Warranty: 1 year limited warranty

Price:
The Plantronics Voyager PRO is available at Best Buy for $99.99 and at www.plantronics.com, but will be available in other retail and wireless carrier stores in late May. You can also now purchase it on Amazon.com

GVdialer is an intriguing mobile application for Google Voice, supporting iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Microsoft, and Symbian. GVdialer enables you to use Google Voice with your mobile phone while enabling some cool features. For instance, you can present your Google number as your Caller ID on outgoing mobile calls, thus keeping your mobile number private. This also gives you a one number identity to share with people.

Using the app installed you can dial directly from your phone's contacts, speed dial, call log or keypad, and GVdialer will automatically connect the call using Google Voice.

Even cooler you have Google Voice feature access including instant access to Google Voice's voice mail, Inbox, and GOOG-411.

As seen in the iPhone application, GVdialer lets you configure when GV would be used, i.e. on all calls, international calls, domestic calls, or ask on every call.

It costs $9.99, but definitely worth checking out

The KIRK 2010 WiFi DECT VoIP handset launched today. This is the latest edition to the Polycom KIRK Series. I wonder if Captain Kirk is aware that Polycom is trying to copy his copyrighted 'communicator'?

Then again, Kirk's communicator didn't have a numeric keypad. Just turn the dial and instantly talk to the Star Trek Enterprise's bridge (hundreds of miles away) with seemingly no latency either. You can compare the look of it here:

Or this closely resembling USB-based Star Trek communicator:



They definitely kept it simple, by going with a black & white screen, but they no doubt kept the costs down. The pricing for its brethren is certainly pretty expensive, i.e.:

The list price for the Polycom KWS 300 is U.S. $360. The KWS 6000 list price is U.S. $1,200 and includes a server and one base station, which supports up to 30 users. With the scalable nature of the KWS6000 it can also be set up for more users. The KIRK 5040 handset sells at a list price of U.S. $310.

I couldn't find pricing info online for the KIRK 2010, but certainly businesses are looking for affordable WiFi & DECT VoIP phones.

Update:
I accidentally assumed this was a Wi-Fi phone. It is not. It's a DECT phone. I'm going to assume the base station has an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection that does the SIP registration. Since last I checked, wireless DECT doesn't connect to Ethernet!

Features and Benefits of the KIRK 2010

• Black & white LCD screen (3 lines of text/icons)
• Internal/external ring pattern, volume control and silent modes
• Telephone book with room for 40 numbers
• Speech/stand by time > 12/150 hours
• Weight incl. battery: 120g
• Size (LxWxH): 124x47x31mm

IPEVO's S0-10W Skype Desktop Phone is a pretty neat Skype phone, that unlike most Skype phones, was designed for your desk, not to carry around. That includes the IPEVO Wi-Fi Skype phone, I recently reviewed. While the IPEVO Wi-Fi Skype phone was designed to be portable and carry around, Skype phones like these are small which means a very small speakerphone (or none at all), resulting in limited or no hands-free speakerphone capabilities. The IPEVO S0-10W Skype Desktop Phone solves that problem.

Rather than sporting an Ethernet connection, however, it uses a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, so you could carry this around the house / business if you wanted to (still needs power, so would have to plug it back in). The S0-10W offers the normal feel of a desktop phone in usability and appearance, but features a built-in CPU for computer-free Skype communication. The S0-10W features an adjustable 2.4-inch color LCD three user-defined speed dial keys, an LED light indicating incoming and missed calls, as well as new voicemails, and a hands-free speakerphone button with echo cancellation.

It's too bad this desktop phone doesn't have an embedded webcam so you could do some Skype videoconferencing. Now that would make this an even sweeter product! Add internet surfing to the mix and we're golden.

"IP calling no doubt offers a financial benefit to consumers, however as with any unfamiliar technology, some may be hesitant to try something new," said Royce Hong, CEO of IPEVO. "That's why we designed the S0-10W Desktop Phone. By offering consumers a similar interface to the landline desktop phone most people currently use, we feel confident that families and businesses alike will have the confidence to make the switch for their everyday communications needs."

The IPEVO S0-10W Skype Desktop Phone is now available at the MSRP of $169.99, but Amazon has it listed for less than $136

Related: Check out other standalone WiFi & DECT Skype phones

Fellow VoIP blogger Luca has launched a new endeavor called Tweefind, which is a rank-based twitter search engine rather than a simply timeline search on keywords.

Luca explains:

How is the Tweerank calculated? Behind the scenes there is a sophisticated algorithm which analyzes how users use Twitter and calculates their rank accordingly. The rank is obtained taking into account a certain number of different parameters in a certain timeframe:

• # followers
• # following
• # of tweets
• # of RT he/she receives
• # of replies
• # of distinct users who reply
• # of distinct users who retweet
• # of RT he/she makes
• # of links the user shares
• much more...

Luca explains that a twitter user's ranking can change daily, depending on how much they use twitter, and other variables. It's an interesting model. Read his post for more details.

I just tried it out on various keywords, including voip, skype, iPhone, and others. It's pretty fast. It must preload several pages of search results, because when I click the paginate/next page button at the bottom, it instantly loads. It appears to max out at 7 pages of results, so that may explain why it loads so fast.

Interestingly, there is no submit or 'Go' button to submit your search. You simply hit enter to submit. Still for people that are not keyboard-centric or don't know you can simply hit 'enter', a submit button would be nice.

It's too early to tell if I'll use this regularly, but I'll have to bookmark tweefind and try it out over the next few weeks to see how well it works vs. my usually twitter searching.

I learned that the Skype for iPhone app is unavailable to our Canadian friends across the border in the Apple iTunes App Store. I contacted Skype for comment and their representative told me, "There are some patent-licensing issues which prevent us from offering it there."

I then asked if other countries were affected or if it was just Canada and was informed it was just Canada. When asked whose patent it was or what category it involved (i.e. mobile VoIP), the representative told me, "I can't go into many more details other than it's codec related."

Sounds to me like their was some sort of patent settlement which Skype can't talk about. Sorry my Canadian brothers. "No Skype for iPhone for you!"

Update: 12:45pm
There is a workaround to get Skype for iPhone working in Canada. What you have to do is create another iTunes App Store account without a credit card. Without a credit card and address verification, there's no way for Apple to know where you live.

Here's the steps you need to do:

1. Pick your country from the pop-up menu at the bottom of the iTunes Store homepage.
2. If your country also has an iTunes Store, you'll need to navigate to the App Store by clicking on the "App Store" link from the menu on the left.  If not, proceed to step 3.
   
   
    
3. Important: Before proceeding to the next step you must purchase a free application by clicking 'Get App'.
   
4. Click create new account.

   

5. Click Continue.
6. You'll need to read and agree to the iTunes terms and conditions, make sure you check the box next to where it says "I have read and agree to the iTunes Terms and Conditions." Click Continue.
7. Enter in your email address, create your password, continue to create and answer your security question, then enter your birthday. Click Continue.
8. Select None as the payment option.
   
9. Continue to fill out the required name and address fields.
10. You'll then see a screen that says 'Verify your Account'. Click Done and then check your email for a verification email from "iTunes Store."
11. Open the mail, and click on the phobos link enclosed in the email to activate your account.

    

12. Once you click on the link, iTunes should then prompt you to sign in with your account name and password.
13. You'll then see a "Congratulations" screen. Click Done to be taken to the App Store home page

Now you should be able to download and install the Skype app. Enjoy!

H/T to Andrew Hansen who posted a comment to my Facebook.

Also, check out this related story:
Skype over 3G on iPhone

Gigaom's Om Malik was right about Skype launching a native Skype app for the iPhone. The WSJ and CNet are confiming Om's scoop today. When I say the news hit the wires, my initial reaction was "I hope Om go credit for breaking this story last week. He's one of the premiere bloggers and deserves credit from the mainstream media and other tech journals".

Alas, I was sorely disappointed that they didn't give Om credit. Reminds me of the major Skype outage story that I broke, how I predicted that Windows Update was to blame, and no mainstream media outlet cited me, while tons of bloggers gave me credit, including Om.

In any event, a native Skype for iPhone app is great news for iPhone users. Some caveats though. First, it doesn't do videoconferencing. Though you can take a photo from within Skype to serve as your avatar image or pull a picture from your photo gallery.Though you can takw a photo from within Skype to serve as your avatar image or pull a picture from your photo gallery.

Secondly, as I suspected, it only works over WiFi and not 3G. You can blame Steve Jobs and/or AT&T for that one. Will a native Skype app be a compelling app for users over alternatives like Nimbuzz or fring? It's hard to say, since Nimbuzz and fring not only work with Skype, they work with other popular IM/VoIP networks, such as AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, and others.

So why switch? It does offer a nice iPhone skinned interface and it supports group chat and conferencing, so those might be compelling features for some. Supposedly, the voice quality is better than fring or Nimbuzz since it is a P2P app that does the transcoding instead of centralized servers like fring and Nimbuzz.

Also, check out this related story:
Skype over 3G on iPhone

Images credit Phil Wolff