Skype on iPhone - An average hit

Just two days within the launch of the Skype Voice over IP telephony service for Apple’s iPhone, it is now one of the biggest hits among all innovative iPhone apps. However, the service is yet to be on hand with all its entire functionalities as it still lacks on account of video streaming and some more.

The Internet telephony company Skype with over 450 million registered users is eying to exert a pull on the ever-increasing VoIP communication service. An exceptional number of users have so far downloaded Skype, topping the chart of App Store.

Skype software on iPhone enables users to call other Skype users on desktop or supported mobile handset 'free' if they are connected to Wi-Fi network. Even users can make calls to landlines or other mobile phones by just paying a very nominal fee. However, as Skype allows users on computers with video calls, there is no such service available at present.

Moreover, users are not allowed to make VoIP calls over 3G connections. This is not a fault of Skype as Apple has given concession to the mobile network operators as cheap VoIP calls over 3G could drain them out from the market.

Another glitch is that whenever you are on an out-going Skype voice call and in between a mobile call comes in, the third person doesn’t get any engaged signal and you too don’t get option to put the Skype call on-hold. In that case, you have to choose only one.

Despite the absence of some popular functionality such as video calls, or the alternative to chat with a third party service like AIM and Yahoo Messenger, Skype has successfully generated huge interest, especially for its voice service i.e. of high quality.

Coming back to its Chat option, some users may face sort of problem while not finding a particular friend when he is online until s/he sends a message; however, this might be a temporary network error. Few may find some complexity while chatting with multiple persons, though it’s not a big issue as long as there is the chat icon. On the whole, the chat is as simple as its desktop version.

No doubt, Skype on iPhone is a part of eBay’s broader strategy as the company is yet to get the benefit of its 2005 acquisition, when it had eyed for bringing together ecommerce and communication for its buyers and sellers through Skype. The company is now venturing into mobile in search of a catalyst to its business.

Even so, Skype can be handy for someone who is for VoIP calls over Wi-Fi network, and also due to the fact that it scores high voice quality over several VoIP clients available on the iPhone, including Fring, Truphone and Nimbuzz. There is certainly much improvement need to be done.