HTC and Skype, Sittin' in a Tree....?

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000473023292/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000473023292/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Sounds like they’re just feeling things out for now, but apparently HTC, the Taiwanese company behind lots of those Smartphones and Pocket PC Phones which end up with somebody else’s logo on them (like the Audiovox SMT 5600, the XDA III, etc), is reaching out to Skype about porting Skype’s VoIP software to the next generation of Smartphones they’re currently working on."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20041215_htc_skype.jpg" /><br /><br />Seems like one of two things could happen here. A) HTC manages to get Skype put on Smartphones/Pocket PC Phone Editions at the factory, and telcos yank it out as soon as they get their grubby paws on them, or B) HTC gets it installed, but it can't be used by 90% of (North American) phone users due to bandwidth constraints. What do you think? Too early?

[JonnoB]

IMO, too early, but I would like to see the attempt made as progress is always made in the process.

[Darius Wey]

Skype certainly is a wonderful technology, but from what I've seen, some major changes need to occur before it is embraced by many. Some people just don't have the ability to sustain a Skype connection due to data rate constraints. Others just don't know enough about it to know how useful it can be. It shows promise but I'm not expecting any major worldwide usage of Skype on mobile devices within the next year or two.

[JonnoB]

One of the things that will prevent adoption is industry thrust based on standards such as sip

[Sven Johannsen]

Skype is a wonderful capability if you are sitting in a WiFi hotspot, and it is either free or you are subscribed to that provider. Even when that is the case though, my cell phone is clearer, and my current plan allows me more minutes than I typically use, including no long distance (US) and no roaming charges. So I'm going to use my phone. If I was making international calls, and the callee had Skype, and was in a position to use it, I can see the benefit. As it is though, I can't imagine being in a position where Skype, or other VoIP options, are viable, and my cell phone isn't. I went so far as to buy a headset/mic for my Dell X50v, to play with Skype and it works quite well. It might be different if Skype were going to save me money, but at the moment it is not.

[adamz]

Yeah, WiFi should have enough bandwidth for Skype. I think the idea is that if you're connect to a WiFi AP, the phone calls come through over VOIP. Otherwise they'll go through your regular mobile phone service.

[Cybrid]

by Pat Logsdon Seems like one of two things could happen here. A) HTC manages to get Skype put on Smartphones/Pocket PC Phone Editions at the factory, and telcos yank it out as soon as they get their grubby paws on them, or B) HTC gets it installed, but it can't be used by 90% of (North American) phone users due to bandwidth constraints. What do you think? Too early?


Why bother removing it? It would simply make sense to leave it in there so that your subscriber base is fooled into "cheap long distance" and purchase a "Not so cheap data plan" :devilboy:

Verizon just introduced EV-DO with 300Kbps optimal speeds which is plenty but @ 80$??? Can't remember... Still too pricey....

[Menneisyys]

B) HTC gets it installed, but it can't be used by 90% of (North American) phone users due to bandwidth constraints. What do you think? Too early?

Skype could be better by implementing a more bandwidth-conservative solution. For example, Microsoft Portrait works over even 2*20 kbps connections (e.g. a GPRS connection with 2/2 U/D slots). Incidentally, anyone interested in Microsoft Portrait is invited to read my review / quick hacks of the program at http://menneisyys.freeweb.hu/PPCmsportrait .

[Pat Logsdon]

Skype could be better by implementing a more bandwidth-conservative solution. For example, Microsoft Portrait works over even 2*20 kbps connections (e.g. a GPRS connection with 2/2 U/D slots).
I asked Mr. Zennström about this when I interviewed him, (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31470) and I doubt that it's going to happen. His response was basically that it worked great on 3G networks:

GPRS is possible sometimes, sometimes not. It depends on how much bandwidth is available. In many cases, it doesn’t have sufficient upstream capacity. With 3g data, Skype works perfectly. I use it myself and it works very very well. Obviously if you have a 3g data plan with unlimited capacity you can talk without any additional fees.
:wink:

[JonnoB]

Skype is just hype unless you use SkypeIn and SkypeOut. There is not yet enough adoption to use standard Skype as a replacement for your phone calls... and when VoIP is used widely enough, it will be done with clients that are based on a standard such as SIP.