Skype on iPhone

July 9, 2007
Skypeapple iphoneSoonR TalkI recently wrote Skype on the iPhone was not possible. Well, there is a workaround that will enable you to use Skype on the Apple iPhone. Technically, the Skype client still is NOT running on the iPhone, but instead uses a workatround to enable many of the Skype features on the iPhone.

Essentially, the workaround is to install SoonR Talk, a AJAX-enabled application. SoonR’s AJAX-enabled interface is available now for any mobile phone that can run the Opera Mobile browser version 8.6 and above, as well as Safari, which includes the Apple iPhone. I should mention that unlike WAP-based Skype solutions which require a manual click to refresh your page in order to receive new chat responses, SoonR Talk's AJAX interface will auto refresh when you have an incoming chat. It will also automatically update presence information for your buddies.

As for the voice (VoIP) functionality, the way it works is that the AJAX interface acts as a remote control for your computer where the SoonR service is installed along with Skype. There is nothing to install on your phone because SoonR Talk uses a browser that supports AJAX. You simply login into SoonR website. Your computer connected to the Internet runs a small secure client as a service. This client uses 128 Bit SSL to communicate with the SoonR service. An account with the SoonR server is established, and a mobile phone with data capability is used for submitting requests.

According to SoonR, "SoonR will utilize its transcoding engine and your client PC's processing power to create a unique view that fits your handset. When you log in, SoonR can detect the browser and class of handset that you are using. SoonR can make an intelligent decision based on your browser and handset combination and optimize for your device. When your handset is not available or you are not in a service zone, SoonR can be accessed via a Web browser or through Instant Messaging."

Once you are logged in and connected, you can view your buddies using the AJAX client and then click on the buddy you want to talk to. SoonR Talk will tell your PC to call your mobile phone using SkypeOut. Then SoonR Talk will instruct Skype to call your buddy over the Skype IP network, placing you in a conference. If your buddy is not online, you can still call their mobile phone or landline.

Unfortunately, this isn't a 100% Skype-to-Skype call, since one leg of the call is using the PSTN to call your mobile, i.e. iPhone. Thus, you will be using some of your SkypeOut credits to call one of your Skype buddies. Skype should do what many carriers offer, namely free minutes to 5 family/friends. Really you'd only need 1 number for free minutes - your iPhone. I'm not sure if SoonR lets you dial PSTN numbers. It doesn't appear to offer that feature - only Skype buddy calling. If SoonR were to offer that, then you'd be able you use your iPhone to bypass AT&T's voice network (except for the incoming call from SoonR), and then use Skype's inexpensive calling rates instead.

So there you have it. Skype on the Apple iPhone. Enjoy!

Update:
Per a comment posting below from SoonR, it appears that SoonR Talk DOES support outbound PSTN dialing and not just Skype buddy dialing. Sweet!  

The caveat is that it uses two SkypeOut calls and conferences the two. So you'll use double the SkypeOut credits, but as another commenter pointed out, you can sign-up for Skype's Unlimited Canada/US plan for only $30/year.

Update: I meant to update this post last week to add another solution 8/20/2007
Shape Services lets you run Skype on the iPhone with their IM+ for Skype application. IM+ for Skype, also works on the iPod touch. The beauty of IM+ for Skype is that it doesn't even require Skype to be running on your PC - it leverages the Skype API and servers run by the IM+ for Skype folks (Shape Services). You can find out more info in my Skype on the Apple iPod touch article.

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Comments to Skype on iPhone


  1. Andrew :
    July 9, 2007 1:03 PM

    If you have free incoming calls on your iPhone, and the Skype NA unlimited package (much better than 5 friends !!) you have a free calling solution (less your monthly to AT&T).

    Skype's Unlimited Canada/US plan is only 30$ a year..


  1. Tom Keating[TypeKey Profile Page] :
    July 9, 2007 1:15 PM

    >>If you have free incoming calls on your iPhone, and

    Unless I am mistaken, there is no free incoming calls on the iPhone. Though they do offer free mobile-to-mobile calls.

    Here's AT&T's iPhone plans:
    http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iPhoneCenter.html


  1. Song Z Huang :
    July 9, 2007 3:14 PM

    Hello Tom and thanks for your mention of SoonR. First, full disclosure that I am with SoonR. I wanted to let you know that you can utilize the PSTN with SoonR Talk. You simply type in the phone number in the field provided. The caveat is that you will generate two (2) SkypeOut call. One call will be to your iPhone and the other will be to the non-Skype user. So this may or may not be cost effective, depending on the SkypeOut charges in the country you are callinf from. Be sure and check out all the other great things you can do with SoonR from the iPhone!


  1. John Lawless :
    July 10, 2007 4:22 PM

    I wonder if it was one of the terms in that mephistophelean Apple/AT&T deal that they deliberately not provide VOIP on the iPhone. It's a no-brainer for us consumers of course, and Apple would have nothing to lose by adding it, but it would be anathema to any cellular provider. Jobs is a powerful figure, but he might just have gotten strong-armed on this one.


  1. konrad :
    July 10, 2007 9:01 PM

    So if I am in another country roaming with the iphone, will I be able to use this method to dial friends back home? Meaning will I be charged roaming/min usage for the call SoonR Talk makes to my Iphone?


  1. kevencage :
    July 11, 2007 3:06 AM

    i think skype 30$/year is fine to make calls


  1. Mobiles :
    July 11, 2007 10:23 AM

    "VOIP ... Apple would have nothing to lose by adding it"

    On the contrary, the reason that the iPhone is only available on AT&T is that Apple have agreed a revenue share deal with them.

    Ditto this is the reason why they're still negotiating as to who will get the iPhone in the UK so it's very much in Apple's interests for VOIP not to be available.


  1. Song Z Huang :
    July 11, 2007 1:38 PM

    Sure it'll work as long as you have coverage in that country. But be warned that it's not always cost effective as the roaming fees can vary greatly in many countries.

    Here's another interesting trick. You can actually log onto a normal PC Web browser and initiate the SoonR Talk call. It will ring to your mobile phone.


    Why in the world would you want to do this? You may be in an area where there isn't good data coverage for your phone, but it still has voice coverage. You can use a PC Browser to initiate the call and then take the call on your mobile.

    But again, be mindful of the roaming charges. When we developed this feature, Skype was offering free SkypeOut calling in the US and North America. Because of that, while you were in North America, you could call anywhere in the world for free. It was remarkable.

    Also, it obviously works best (most cost efficiently) when you are calling another Skype user. Doubling the SkypeOut charges is not always good.


  1. Jim Courtney :
    July 12, 2007 6:40 AM

    The reason that no VoIP client if offered on any 2.xG/EDGE cell phone is that latencies in the overall architecture are unbearably long. This is well known in certain segments of the mobile carrier world; several carriers experimented with VoIP for Push-tp-Talk services and gave up. Skype has also recognized it if you read some of the FAQ's on mobile services.

    Also you would tie up lots of resources (unnecessarily), both on the device (CPU especially) and on the data network with a VoIP call. Two services offer a VoIP on the a mobile phone running over a 3G service: Skype for Windows Mobile and Truphone. Both, however, warn you that you may have excessive data plan usage and costs. VoIP on WiFi works beautifully but not over wireless carrier data networks.

    I go back to what I have said for a while now; Give me the IM on the device platform itself but use some underlying circuit switched service to make the calls. Some recent examples are on Skype Journal; search "Skype Blackberry" to find all the posts.

    And the problem I have with SoonR, amongst others, is that you need to leave Skype running on a PC. Sounds great in theory but when I am transporting my laptop in the trunk of my car I also want to make/recieve Skype/SkypeOut calls from my mobile device during my trip (with safety considerations taken into account).

    And in closing, via Mobivox, you can make Skype/SkypeOut calls today from the iPhone. It is a totally speech driven service that accesses a network of "local" POP's and needs no software on your device.


  1. Tom Keating[TypeKey Profile Page] :
    July 12, 2007 10:19 AM

    Great comments Jim.

    Mobivox is pretty cool and like you say it works on the iPhone. In fact, it works with any cell phone as you know. Gave them a recent mention with their 4th of July $10 free offer.

    I've been meaning to test out Mobivox. I wonder what speech-rec engine they use?

    The problem with Mobivox is it doesn't give you the full functionality of a true Skype client on the mobile device, i.e. viewing presence on the phone and IM.

    You did hit the nail on the head when you said, "Give me the IM on the device platform itself but use some underlying circuit switched service to make the calls".

    In this scenario, you could leverage the SoonR AJAX client for the presence info and IM and then use Mobivox's local POPs for actual Skype dialing. Still a bit kludgy I suppose.

    You point out the latency issues with EDGE. Since the iPhone supports Wi-Fi which doesn't have these latency issues, the iPhone "could" have excellent sound quality running Skype natively on the iPhone when in a Wi-Fi hotspot zone. So I think there still is a demand for a native Skype client on the iPhone.

    You also mention Skype for Windows Mobile. Surely Steve Job's ego won't allow Microsoft's mobile platform to be one-up on him feature-wise, right?wink


  1. Nate :
    July 13, 2007 6:39 PM

    So the bonus here is that you can make free/cheap international calls, right? This doesn't make any sense for calls within the US, since you're still using up the minutes on your AT&T plan.

    Also - the SoonR AJAX client must be running in Safari on the iPhone, since you can't install Opera Mobile (or any other 3rd party software) on the iPhone (yet!).


  1. Song Z Huang :
    July 17, 2007 8:34 PM

    Note: I am with SoonR.

    Wanted to respond to the comment above that you have to leave SoonR running to use the Skype bridge. You are correct that it won't work if you don't have a computer running Skype SOMEWHERE. The key to this is that SoonR accounts are free and you can aggregate multiple computers into one account. So put SoonR on your home PC and take your laptop with you on your business trip. You can use your home PC to bridge the call.

    Also want to point out that SoonR does not use the data channel of the iPhone during the call. The callback happens on the regular voice network. This is important because you are not affected by the latencies and speed of the data network of the phone once the call is connected. You are gated by the speed of your home/work PC broadband. For most people, that connection is much faster.


  1. Jim Courtney :
    August 20, 2007 11:30 AM

    Another Skype on iPhone option: last week Shape Services made available for beta testing their IM+ for Skype Software running on an iPhone. What's unique here is that they have developed a web service for their service that previously was available as a client for Blackberry, Symbian (Nokia) and Palm devices. Phil Wolff at Skype Journal has more details as he tried it out. Once again note that the IM (chat and presence) run on the iPhone data channel; however, the voice is done using SkypeOut, Skype Conferencing and the underlying (AT&T) wireless voice service.


  1. Helen Khais :
    August 21, 2007 5:37 AM

    Thanks Jim for the comments.

    I would like to note that IM+ for Skype does NOT require the PC to be turned on and running. So, no workaround involved as opposed to SoonR.


  1. ZOverLord :
    August 24, 2007 11:02 PM

    MyToGo for Skype Allows you to use ANY Phone to use Skype Calling services for both calling your Skype contacts for FREE from any phone as well as to use Skype rates for calling telephone numbers and MyToGo for Skype is FREE. More here:

    MyToGo for Skype


  1. georgi :
    September 28, 2007 4:50 PM

    can someone tell me how to install skype on my IPhone


  1. Max :
    September 30, 2007 2:15 PM

    Hey,

    Sounds perfect.

    Would this solution also work with the Ipod Touch. It also uses the Safari Browser.

    Thank you for your help.

    Max


  1. Song Huang :
    October 1, 2007 2:43 AM

    SoonR Talk will not work with the Touch. You see, the iPod touch doesn't have a microphone to record your voice. Also, SoonR utlizes a callback to your phone. Since the Touch cannot take a phone call, it wouldn't be able to use SoonR Talk.

    However, you can still use the Skype Chat functionality and see your buddy's status.


  1. Best Mobile Contracts :
    November 6, 2007 9:11 AM

    In the UK this will come down to the agreement iphone have with O2. Of course the recent launch of the skype phone from 3 mobile may change the playing field a bit. I guess they will wait and see how that does before considering a similar launch.


  1. Carl :
    November 18, 2007 2:20 AM

    For those of us who travel internationally cell phones become useless. Try this: Dell Axim with blue tooth headset, then you can use Skype for Windows mobile and Yahoo! voice.


  1. UK Mobile Phone Offers :
    November 23, 2007 6:36 PM

    Mobiles :

    July 11, 2007 10:23 AM

    "On the contrary, the reason that the iPhone is only available on AT&T is that Apple have agreed a revenue share deal with them.

    Ditto this is the reason why they're still negotiating as to who will get the iPhone in the UK so it's very much in Apple's interests for VOIP not to be available."


    So O2 got the same deal in the UK that AT&T got then and with the same threats that VOIP could bring.


  1. Vin :
    December 19, 2007 5:52 AM

    Am I the only one to see the evil behind all of these? Today, not tomorrow we have the technology to have free phone calls. How evil does one have to be not to build in a miniscule 1 cent mic into a device such as a the iTouch so people could be free from phone bills forever. With an iTouch (+mic) + Skypout($30 dollars a year) one could talk as much they want for the entire year, not to mention other services similar to Skypeout that charge less than a quarter of that. I just got an iPhone and I'm amazed by how limiting it is. Today we could be free of screwing At&T, Verizon, etc. but because of Apple fanboys we aren't, nobody voices against this (edit swear word) Jobs, by the away by time we wake up he and his (edit swear word) friends will be trying to hold back some other technology that could be helping humanity. Do you think that +$100 bucks for a landline and cellphone is a lot of money to you? Do you have any idea what that means to 3rd world countries? How essential U$1000 a year can be? Everybody was on Gates case and for what? Jobs is the fricking devil.


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