By 
Earlier last month, I had a chance to meet with the folks at Skype when they launched their mobile app for Android and BlackBerry smartphones on Verizon Wireless. While the entire announcement was groundbreaking, since it was Skype’s first partnership with a cellular carrier, there were some underlying catches. It turns out that the exclusive partnership limited the availability of the Skype Mobile app to just Verizon Wireless customers. Under this contract, current owners of Android and BlackBerry devices on other carriers can not find the application in the app store at this time. While Skype Mobile is a native app, the service only runs on Verizon Wireless’s 3G network. Fortunately, that’s all about to change.
After a quick email exchange with Skype’s PR team, I learned some interesting details. Although their representative was careful not to disclose any specifics regarding the existing contract between Skype and Verizon Wireless, they did reveal some exclusive details on the availability of the Android App for customers on other carriers along with the future of mobile video chat. When I asked about the possibility of Skype Mobile video chat becoming available for the brand new Sprint HTC EVO 4G, the response was exactly as follows:
Skype envisions a world where video plays a larger role in the way we communicate. The next generation innovation involving video calling will not be bound to the computer. We’re seeing a proliferation of video calling shared between all kinds of connected devices. It’s on computers (today 1/3 of all calls on Skype happen via video), televisions (Skype bringing video calls to living rooms via Panasonic, Samsung & LG partnership), and it will eventually be coming to mobile devices too. We’re betting big on video, and we intend to set the bar on mobile video calling, and it’s something we’re going to do this year.
We will be bringing a direct to consumer app to the Android marketplace later this year. This application will be available for all consumers globally to download regardless of carriers. (i.e. similar to how we offer the iPhone app today)
— Brianna Reynaud, Skype PR
Skype’s bold statement was clear on two things: they will be launching a mobile video calling service as well as a standard Android app this year. That’s not surprising considering that they already offer Skype Mobile for Nokia’s Maemo and Symbian devices plus the WiFi-only version for the Apple iPhone. Unfortunately, the current set of Skype Mobile apps all have tragic restrictions. Even Verizon’s Skype Mobile app doesn’t let customers place domestic VoIP calls using Skype’s $3 per month unlimited calling plan (North America). It only offers free Skype-to-Skype voice calls, instant messaging, and discounted international calling rates. I’m definitely excited to see what Skype’s team has in store for this year given a little more freedom, but I truly hope they take full advantage of the potential provided in the latest generation of smartphone hardware and software.
Links: Skype.com
Update 5/28/10 9:41AM: After a quick phone call from Skype’s PR team early this morning, it looks like they may have pulled the trigger a bit too soon with this comment. According to Reynaud, Skype will definitely be releasing a “direct-to-consumer” Android App this year, however the aren’t completely disclosing whether mobile video calling is an included feature.
I will not be purchasing any new phones from Sprint until a Skype mobile product that is useable over Wi-fi is available. I am please to know that there are possibilities that a Skype product will hopefully be coming sometime in the near future. When traveling to areas of the globe that one can’t even access a roaming service it would helpful to still be able to make a call using a Skype mobile via Wi-Fi from one’s mobile phone.
I am also waiting for a WIFI enabled Skype version. My Verizon contract is up within a couple months and I will switch to Sprint. I don’t like the fact that Verizon’s Skype won’t work over WIFI when I am not in North America. I can do this now with a computer. So bye bye Verizon for me. I don’t like the control freak mentality of Verizon. And if there is no Skype Wifi version, I will go to AT&T as I also have a Sprint MIFI2200 which would give me double the coverage in the US and I’d be able to use the iPhone internationally.
I’ve become a Verizon Hater…sad,very sad.
sprint is just as controlling if not more fortunately android is open source and easy to hack to do your will.
@matt
Sprint, controlling? Ha! Now thats a laugh in itself. Sprint is the only major carrier that has mostly everything uncontrolled on their phones. All the other major carriers have many more controls on their phones then Sprint does. Don’t believe me? Why then, can I put a sim card from ANY country into my world phone, while in that country, and it work just fine? If you have a Verizon phone, you will have to have it unlocked first, less you want to pay their international roaming charges.
I doubt you know anything you are talking about, and it is unfortunate that people like you can post uneducated comments such as your’s. My knowledge comes from 10 years of working in the wireless business. Now go get your facts straight before you make another idiotic comment.
they need to hurry up and maka a skype app i got the android evo 4g phone and is very disappointed o yea and i want the i am tpain app too the iphone have it….ugh!!! come on now
You can use Fring on your EVO 4G for now. It lets you make 2-way Skype video calls. It’s not a great looking, but gets the job done.
And no comment on the T-Pain app… ;)
@sahasKatta well skype removed on fring!
Yes, Skype doesn’t work as of today. talk about control freaks, what is the effin problem!? Give us Skype b4 someone else comes up with a better option.
I’m sure a Skype app would be nice, but I use Skype Video chat via Fring for free on the EVO. It works fine.
HI TOm
I have an EVO and I am going to Ireland in August. DO you know if Fring will allow me to call a cell phone via wifi? What you wrote is the most prmosing thing I have found yet. My husband is not techy AT all but can answer a cell phone and we are on the same sprint plan. Not a texter either I’m DOOMED!
What a bunch of losers! “I am waiting…”, “I can`t wait…”, “I want it..”, “would be nice…”, What kind of information does it provide to people reading this thread? Just shut up please if you have nothing to write or no one to talk to!
i just got tha htc evo and i can’t download skype! someone can help me??? send me an e-mail please
Unfortunately Fring pulled it’s support of Skype about July 9 or 10. I got my EVO last week Frin worked great with Skype. Now, that’s no longer an option with no word yet as to when they might bring it back. I have no reason to use Fring without Skype support. That leaves me without video conferencing with Skype users on my EVO.
Fring claims it’s temporarily removed, it should hopefully be back soon! But I completely agree, it was a bad idea to kill Skype support. Although they did it to accommodate the increase of new users, they will alienate many customers!
– Sahas Katta
http://www.fring.com/newsroom/skypeblocksfring.asp
actually, according to Fring, skype is blocking fring.
And according to Skype, Fring is the one causing the problem.
http://blogs.skype.com/en/2010/07/fring.html
It’s a hilarious situation. Sounds like a playground argument. Unfortunately, it leaves customers with no Skype Video Mobile Client.
Skype has an exclusive deal with Verizon, in return for which it gets to use the Verizon wired backbone to deal with a lot of the volume. It looks to me that when Fring brought video calling to the EVO on Sprint, and the iPhone on ATT, and could videoconnect with Skype callers on other platforms, it may be that Verizon became aware of Fring connectability with Skype (especially with the news of the crash) and perhaps told Skype that this is violating their exclusive deal (doing indirectly, through Fring interconnectivity, what they are not allowed to do directly, which is develop apps supporting non-verizon wireless phones), threatening Skype’s use of the landline backbone. I think it looks like fring should develop its own PC videophone app, and then the bandwidth to cover mobile-to-PC VoIP connections on 3G, WiMAX and WiFi
Seems to me that Skype better step up or get the hell out. The days of exclusive contracts and limited service and nickle and dime charges are over. Android changes all of that.
Sprint wanted to charge extra for WiFi hotspot… Android changes that. Verizon wants exclusive video service? Android changes that.
Skype needs to ask themselves, do they want to be a leader or “napster”.
What they did to Fring was STUPID and will come back to bite them.
If Skype doesn’t write the app, someone else will write it for them… and won’t bother to ask skype for permission, either.
This whole ordeal is asinine and it makes skype look like idiots.
yo yo niggas all around the world.. htc is bout to take over we must hide in holes before its to late.. they took my dog.. run and bring a gun boi… dont let htc run ur life.. and never go to iphone.. they took my goldfish and 2 cats.. unless htc gets skype then run ur lil nigga off boi
post ya nigga if u agree wit me
How do I get fring on my EVO? I would like to have it so when they reconnect with Skype I can utilize it.
No use having fring without skype support.
i’m so disappointed.
i am receiving evo next week.
grrr.
THE FRING APP WAS GOOD UNTIL SKYPE MADE THEM REMOVE THEMSELVES OFF OF IT.. THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST FUNCTIONS. NOW IT SEEMS POINTLESS FOR THOSE PPL THAT HAVE IPHONE THAT SYKPE ALSO. I WAS PISSED WHEN I FIGURED THIS OUT 2 1/2WKS AGO..
And @kevin go to the android app market and type in FRING and set it up. Then you good to go…
You guys at Skype seem to have lost the plot by not releasing a client on Android. I am going to look for and then recommend an alternative..
So there is no way to Skype until these asswholes decide when we can??
Anyone wanna qik video chat just to see if it works hit me up (kidd_cashh)
Hey how’s it going? reading through the post hit me up on qik lets see how the video works out, dying to try it johng at 411techhelp.com. I’ll be seeing you!! John
I can’t wait it looks like no phone has true video calling ):
So how about someone in the know publish a roaster of vendors providing mobile video applications for the HTC EVO phone as well as all other Androids. Or direct us to websites that already do.
Power to the people!
how can i video talk with sum one on a computer with my evo 4g?i cant find a way without fring/skype
Has anyone used QIK. it says video chat video messages etc. until skype is figured out for sprint droids could be a good option free app
It’s the silence on this issue from Sprint, HTC, Skype, Fring that SUCKS. It says our consumers are meaningless, who gives a rats @ss what they want, what they want to know, or when they want it. Just ignore them and they might go away. Yeah, your right there, we will go away eventually. It’s a free market after all.
There’s a huge business opportunity out there, since Skype is stucked with verizon. I wonder how long we’ll wait until some developer comes out with another VoIP client for PC and smartphones…
Skype, I hate you so much.i have been a loyal paying customer for years. Now you refuse to let me use skype on my HTC Evo. Go to hell, you jackasses.