Skype's smartphone client doesn't do free calls

Product: Skype for Mobile
Supplier: Skype
Web: www.skype.com
Price: Free
Mobile download site: http://skype.com/m
Compatibility: Various Nokias, Samsungs, Sony Ericssons & Motorolas

A VERSION of Skype's popular VoIP software has recently become available for a select set of smartphones. Currently still on beta release, Skype for Mobile (SFM), does offer a decent range of functionality.

The major snag with SFM, however, is an incredibly complex pricing structure the likes of which the INQ hasn't seen for years. This structure was also only revealed through the INQ's own persistence.

What Skype apears to have kept very quiet about is that in order to make any voice connexion, Skype first needs to make a regular voice call. Given that this call is routed to a geographic landline number, the call may be charged out at local or national call rates. With luck, SFM calls will be covered by existing minutes on a standard mobile phone contract, though.

But the charging gets even more complex since for SFM to function properly you also need a live data connexion for Skype's chatting facility and for 'presence' to work. In other words, staying online to establish just which of your Skype buddies are also available will consume serious parts of your data tariff. So don't accidentally leave yourself connected to SFM overniht when there's no need to use the service.

Acording to Skype, the basic principles for charging are straight forward - use your local contract/prepaid phone's minutes to make regular Skype and Skype Out calls. To receive calls to your handset's Skype number or to your Skype In number, you'll be charged at SkypeOut mobile call rates. Hardly free , is it?

Interestingly, 3's dedicated Skypephone handset (and X Series handsets) take the same approach to SFM. The initial leg of the Skype call is carried over GSM using technology supplied by Iskoot. The difference is that with the Skypephone or X Series, that voice call is effectively free. You do have to top up your Skypephone with £10 every month regardless whether or not you have any credit left, though.

The INQ discovered that besides looking at the charging model, the art of comparing the various versions of Skype available for mobile phones lies in looking at their functionality. A good example of this is the version of Skype available to 3 subscribers who own X Series handsets. This Skype client works fine for Skype calls but there's virtually nothing else – not even the ability to chat with other Skypers. The SFM client doesn't even offer file transfer while chatting, for example.

The whole downloading process for Skype for Mobile wasn't exactly easy. The INQ opted to download the software directly to a Nokia E65 using its built in Nokia browser. The alternative is 'side-loading from a PC. Going direct, however, introduced its own problems because the standard Skype HTML site viewed on the regular Nokia browser was hard to navigate. Even when you use the mobile download URL given here. The INQ ended up surfing the same site using a PC to gauge exactly where on the page it was necessary to click to download the client to the E65.

Eventually, the INQ warmed to Skype for Mobile, although with all of this effort it might be just as easy to install a general-purpose app such as Nimbus which offers Skype support plus a load of other IM clients. Nimbus allows you to route Skype calls via Wi-fi, too. If your handset supports Wi-fi of course.

At present, SFM is available for 14 different Nokia handsets along with various Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung models. So it's a bit restricted. In reality, the INQ can't see anyone other than mobile phone freaks bothering with this offering in its current guise. µ

The Good
UI is nice and it works

The Bad
Skype to Skype calls aren't even free

The Ugly
Calculating true costs is nightmare

Bartender's verdict

See Also
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