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Skype was updated yesterday for the entire iOS platforms. Skype now has support for Bluetooth headsets on iPad 2. Plus, the program supports both iPad and iPad 2. The Skype for iPhone/iPod touch also enables Bluetooth support on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and fourth-gen iPod touch. Also there is image stabilization and emoticons that are now also part of the picture. Image stabilization works only when using your rear camera. Here is the link to download Skype.

NOTE: To update the Skype app, please delete it first by pressing and holding the app icon on your iPhone, and click the ‘X’. To re-install, return to the AppStore, and install. This will prevent potential syncing issues.

What’s new

* Bluetooth support for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4th Generation, and iPad 2
* Incoming emoticons; outgoing emoticons displayed when entered in text form
* Enhanced video through image stabilization
* New easy-to-use interface
* Advertising will be shown to users that do not have Skype Credit, a calling subscription or premium subscription
* Bugfix for security vulnerability.

Skype finally launched version 3.0 of its iPhone app for iOS just a while back. You can now make video calls using an iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, or fourth-generation iPod touch. People using any of these devices can share real-time video between themselves and people using Skype clients on Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux. If you are using an iPad or third-generation iPod touch you can receive video from the other clients, but since you don’t have a camera you won’t be able to send video.

Here are the list of new features:

- Make Skype to Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G*
- Call Skype desktop users (Mac OS X or Windows) and other iPhone users.
- Two-way video calls supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen.
- Receive only video supported on iPad and iPod touch 3rd gen, with no camera.
- Make video calls in portrait and landscape.
- Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.

According to All Things Digital, Facebook and Skype will soon announce a significant and wide-ranging partnership that will include integration of SMS, voice chat and Facebook Connect. This will surely make Skype iPhone app more powerful with Facebook contact list appearing on Skype contact list as well. Might happen with Skype version 5.0 for iPhone. And Facebook’s goal is to mesh communications and community more tightly together and add more tools to allow users to do so.

The move by the pair–which have tested small contact importer integrations before–is a natural one for the social networking giant, which is aiming to be the central communications and messaging platform for its users, across a range of media. Since it was not going to create an Internet telephony service of its own–kind of like not creating a mobile operating system–Facebook has apparently turned to the Web’s Internet telephony leader.

Check out this screenshot. This will be available in Skype’s newest version, 5.0, which will emerge from beta in few weeks from now:

[via - All Things Digital]

Skype updated their iPhone app sometime back. Few new features have been added. Skype is available for free and can be downloaded from this location:

New features include:

- You can now disable IM alerts.
- The dialpad is now more responsive.
- The behavior of the volume, when Skype interacts with other Apps, is now much better.
- When your status is set to Do Not Disturb, notifications are not shown when Skype is in the background.

Multitasking is available only with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod 3rd Generation running iOS 4. Its recommended using Skype with iOS 3.1.x if you own an iPhone 3G or iPhone 2G.

You can now run Skype in the background if you are on iOS. Skype was updated a few hours back with this cool feature. You can receive calls and messages when is push in the background. VoIP on Skype will rock from now. Another important announcement from Skype brings free 3G calls very soon. Here is the App Store link for those who havent yet downloaded.

What’s new - Version 2.1
- Run Skype in the background with multitasking in iOS4. Receive Skype calls and IM while other apps are running or when your iPhone is locked. You can also continue your call while you switch to another application. Multitasking is available only with iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

Skype 2.0 version for iPhone has finally managed to allow its users to make VoIP calls over any 3G network.  They are also offering free mobile Skype-to-Skype calls until the end of August after which users will be charged a small monthly fee to avail of the service.

Its currently available to download for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G will be free for a trial period which will run until the end of this year. Details of pricing will be announced in the coming months and Skype-to-Skype calls over Wi-Fi will still remain free.

Yesterday AT&T confirmed that it has informed Apple and the FCC that it will permit VoIP functionality on the iPhone over its 3G network. Awesome news for all cellular users in the US and at the same time iPhone users all around the world will start benefiting from VoIP apps that will flood App Store.

AT&T today announced it has taken the steps necessary so that Apple can enable VoIP applications on iPhone to run on AT&T’s wireless network. Previously, VoIP applications on iPhone were enabled for Wi-Fi connectivity. For some time, AT&T has offered a variety of other wireless devices that enable VoIP applications on 3G, 2G and Wi-Fi networks. AT&T this afternoon informed Apple Inc. and the FCC of its decision.

Macrumors also covered this news and had this to say:

The announcement covers traditional VoIP services and does not address the issue of Google Voice, which is not strictly a VoIP service, although it provides some functionalities similar to VoIP. But it remains unclear whether AT&T has ever actually opposed Google Voice on the iPhone, as the company claimed that it played no role in the application review process.

[via - AT&T]

Skype iPhone app was updated over the weekend to V1.2. This is a major update. V1.2 includes performance and audio quality improvements on Skype-to-Skype calls and allows users to set up call forwarding from their iPhone. For those of you who havent yet download Skype for iPhone, pick it up from this App Store link. Costs nothing.

Version 1.2 Feature List:

- Set up call forwarding from your iPhone – forward Skype calls to a phone number when you’re not signed in.
- Improved performance and better audio quality on Skype-to-Skype calls.
- Even easier to send text messages (SMS) – Send SMS from the Call tab.
- Calls are connected much faster.
- Status of your contacts is updated more often.
- You can now decide whether you want to stay online/offline when the iPhone is  locked. We’ve added this into settings.
- Contact groups are now supported, making it easier to see who is online and separate your saved phone numbers.
- You can now edit the name of your saved phone numbers.
- Added support for skype: URL schemes in Safari.
- When creating a new account the country in your Skype profile is taken from the language used on your iPhone.
- Group chat profile pictures are now shown.
- You can now remove your profile picture.
- Added a ‘Help’ link to ‘Forgot your password’.
- Improved support for proxy configurations.

Skype [Free, App Store] for iPhone has been updated to V1.1 and now has brings Skype voicemail and SMS text messaging feature. You need to subscribe to Skype for the voicemail feature.

Version 1.1 Features:
- Support for the following languages:
English, German, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Spanish, Norwegian, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Italian, French, Polish and Japanese.
- Send text (SMS) messages using Skype credit.
- Voicemail support.
- Improved dialing help when calling phones.

If you are on a Jailbroken iPhone and love using the new Skype, dont update it to the latest Sykpe version. And if you have done that, you will start seeing this warning:

Found this on iClarified:

Skype for iPhone has been updated to version 1.0.2 and now warns that jailbroken phones are not supported.

It is likely that Skype has included this warning due to the many incompatibilities with jailbroken applications that do not use MobileSubstrate. You can find more information on how to correct these problems and why they happen here

[via - iClarified]

iPhone user base rocks!!! Skype seems to be shocked to receive a whopping response to its iPhone native app release last Tuesday. Over 1 million downloads were registered in just 2 days flat. This is the power of AppStore guys… Blackberry, Nokia, Samsung, wake up – its not just making fancy phones, its all about creating platforms to intice and enrich your user base!!! Here is what Skype had to say in its blog:

In less than two days, Skype for iPhone has been downloaded more than one million times – around six downloads every second. This is a phenomenal performance, and we’re confident that it’s one of the fastest-downloaded iPhone apps ever. We’ll be back next week with an update, but for now, Skype on

[via - Skype Blog]

These tweaks are applicable only if your iPhone is jailbroken. So you are on a jailbroken iPhone and have installed Fring and Skype apps on to your springboard. But gosh, you cannot make any calls using these 2 apps simply because Apple doesnt want you to make calls via 3G or EDGE and insist on having WiFi to make calls to mobile or landland, right? Here is a cool shortcut that will tweak your skype or fring app to make calls using your iPhone 3G or EDGE connectivity. Thanks to iPhone Tips & Tricks for this shortcut

Steps to run Skype over 3G or EDGE:

1. Launch Cydia under the System section you will find the VoIPover3G package. Make sure to install SSH server if not done yet.
2. SSH into your iPhone with Fugu (Mac) or WinSCP (Windows)
3. Open /Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/VoIPover3G.plist
4. Add com.skype.skype as a bundleitem (see pic, via plist editor)
5. Save VoIPover3G.plist
6. Reboot your iPhone, just to be sure
7. Done! You should be able to make phone calls via your 3G connection.

Note – Skype seems to crash every 30-40 seconds when installed on jailbroken iPhones. here is what needs to be done – If you have a jailbroken iPhone, and just want to use Skype normally (No VoipOver3G support), you must upgrade the MobileSubstrate file, so it stops crashing.- Just load Cydia and update the MobileSubstrate file.

And here are steps to run Fring over 3G or EDGE:

1. In Cydia under the System section you will find the 2.7 Kbytes VoIPover3G.
2. Install VoIPover3G and Restart your iPhone.
3. Launch Fring and use dailpad to make calls while on 3G or EDGE.

The SIP voice call (with a VoiceBuster account) over a slow flatfee GPRS connection is allowed by Fring after installation of VoIPover3G. The voice quality remains good. The delay is mostly not a problem but hey, international calls to landlines are mostly free!

[via -   iPhone Tips & Tricks]