Skype App coming to iPhone on Tuesday, Blackberry in May

It's legit; Skype is coming to the iPhone on Tuesday, BlackBerry devices in May. While we've seen plenty of Skype-capable apps on the iPhone, the poor, often echo-infected calls should be easily bested by the official Skype App that doesn't need the extra audio transcoding workaround required by the existing crop of unofficial apps. The Skype app works over WiFi only (not over EDGE or 3G data) and supports calls to SkypeOut contacts in addition to many of the other features you've used from the desktop client. iPod touch owners will require earphones with an embedded mic to talk. CNET has a hands-on preview of the App just as long as you can muster the energy required to hit the read link below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 9:03AM]

You know, as good news as this is, it really makes it even more of a shame that there will never be background apps on the iPhone. What use is a VOIP app that people can call you on, if you have to have it open constantly to work? Not even push notifications would work here.

*sigh*

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 9:35AM]

You always have to open any application to work on it. The push version would simply notify you when an incoming call was coming in, and open the app accordingly. Yes, there will be a delay to open the app and connect but I doubt it would be more than the latency on existing cellular calls.

The real pain comes when trying to replace the existing background app: ipod. Being able to listen to streaming music is worthless unless you can send an email whilst doing so. Also, GPS apps take a while to get a lock and this would be another example of where backgrounding is useful.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 9:41AM]

Yeah but I can imagine with multitasking OS, its just like with Windows, where if you're working on Photoshop and someone phones you on Skype, even if the program is minimised and not "open" it would be able to leap to the front and alert you. Its a real shame something like that isn't possible on the iPhone at all.

I haven't really fully understood *how* push works, but the way I've broadly gathered, I don't think it would be possible to have a VOIP call be received via Push.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 10:35AM]

and what about S60?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 7:33PM]

I have a Nokia N82, Skype has been available for a while on S60 devices. Works great. http://www.skype.com/download/skype/mobile/

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 11:33AM]

i hope they make a native app for us CDMA blackberry users

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 1:05PM]

Here here! Seconded!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 11:38AM]

AT&T or Apple must not be allowing to let it work over 3G because it works fine over 3G on WinMo devices.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2009 11:59AM]

PC World guys...not Cnet.

If it was C-net they would be ripping on this because it is an iPhone app.