Skype comes to the iPhone

 

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Posted on 16 Apr 2008 at 11:35

Skype has arrived on the iPhone, as Fring announces a version of its VoIP application for the Apple smartphone.

Fring allows users to access Skype, MSN, Google Talk and AIM accounts through one common interface, although the iPhone software is a pre-release research and development version.

Skype has yet to create a version of its VoIP application for the iPhone, citing technical difficulties in getting its protocols to run on the device. Fring works around this by routing Skype traffic through its own protocols.

"Part of the objective here (besides getting you all excited with Fring for iPhone) is to get feedback prior to release of the full-feature version and create a truly superb user experience for iPhone users. So feel free to let us know what you think," says a post on the Fring blog.

Those wishing to install the application will have to have a jailbroken iPhone, as the application is not condoned by Apple.

Although Apple now allows third party applications to be developed on the iPhone, with the recently released SDK, it has previously said that VoIP applications will not be tolerated.

Access to free calls could dramatically cut into the profit margins of the carriers licensed to supply the handset.

Author: Matthew Sparkes