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Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

skypejournal.com

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Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#21

Post by sukuriant »

iamdave wrote: post #3

I'm intensely curious who's pulling the strings behind this, is Skype really to blame or is it the mobile carriers putting pressure on them to collect more ARPU by creating yet another fee to collect from subscribers.

my bet is on the mobile carriers putting pressure on them, especially AT&T. The last I checked, Skype was still plenty free for Verizon. In fact, it seemed like Verizon and Skype took time to make sure their system worked wonderfully together, forcing local calls to go through Verizon themselves, international to have the option of going through Skype, and Skype to Skype going through a special phone number. In fact, I just tested Skype on my Motorola Droid on Verizon's service. It works wonderfully and said nothing of a soon ending of the free service.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#22

Post by what »

mr_november wrote: post #20
pdx wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was discussed here, probably when you brought it up last time. It's the same reason that gift cards expire and properly written NDA's have time limits. Nobody wants to owe somebody something until the universe dies, especially accountants, and especially if the people to whom that debt is owed, are dead or have forgotten about it. It would be insane to carry it on your books until doomsday.

I disagree with this, it's entirely possible for vendors to honour gift cards (and credits) indefinitely. In fact, here in Canada, in most provinces, if not all, it's law and has been for some time: http://www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/News/133713.html

I was looking for that. Business make boatloads from unused, expired gift cards.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#23

Post by ryanhuff »

iamdave wrote: post #3

I'm intensely curious who's pulling the strings behind this, is Skype really to blame or is it the mobile carriers putting pressure on them to collect more ARPU by creating yet another fee to collect from subscribers.

Skype was sold for multiple billions of dollars. The purchasing group must have seen some untapped opportunity to generate revenue that eBay was not able to effectively address. So, I think its realistic to think that this turn of events is tied to the purchasing group's revenue strategy, and not carrier action.

With that said, if this ends up only applying to AT&T, and not other countries iPhone apps, then its clear who's to blame. I didn't see anything in the article that noted this was limited to AT&T.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#24

Post by sukuriant »

ericz wrote: post #11
stcredzero wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Skype has no marginal cost if I make that iPhone 3G call. If I were AT&T and I could start charging Skype for 3G calls, I would do it.

Shouldn't net neutrality prevent AT&T from charging more just because Skype uses a certain part of the internet?

This isn't a net neutrality issue. This is a 'people are circumventing our system through our system and we need to stop them', as well as a "our networks are HEAVY LADEN with traffic because of all these smart phones we didn't quite have the infrastructure to support. We need to start clamping down a little" issue (I imagine)

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#25

Post by Yaggo »

Not fair. I pay my operator a monthly fee for mobile data (10 € for unlimited 384 kb/s including two SIMs / devices, to be exact). Skype pays for their incoming/outgoing data – it doesn't cost extra for them whether the data is originated from mobile network or network. Skype is simply not justified to charge extra based on client's connection type, not even if I used Iridium network to route my bytes to them. Maybe Skype has grown big enough to behave as asshole and they know it.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#26

Post by sliverstorm »

stcredzero wrote: post #6
evanwolf wrote: post #4

Skype will break its freemium promise to Skype users in three months. Skype for iPhone will require a subscription to make Skype-to-Skype calls over 3G/Edge starting in September 2010 according to Skype. This changes things from "Skype-to-Skype calls are free", which they've been saying since launch, to "Skype-to-Skype calls are free over landlines and Wi-Fi unless your Verizon or Three mobile operator subsidizes you…

Skype has no marginal cost if I make that iPhone 3G call. If I were AT&T and I could start charging Skype for 3G calls, I would do it.

this is EXACTLY why I am not all a-fluster about this.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#27

Post by spicyj »

johnrob wrote: post #10

I lost any trust for Skype the first time they emailed me that I had 7 days to use some credit or they would confiscate all of it. How is that not theft?

Although that's partly true, I believe you only have to use one minute of the credit and the rest will stick around for another 12 months.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#28

Post by papersmith »

iamdave wrote: post #3

I'm intensely curious who's pulling the strings behind this, is Skype really to blame or is it the mobile carriers putting pressure on them to collect more ARPU by creating yet another fee to collect from subscribers.

Most, if not all pay-as-you-go plans have an expiration date.

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#29

Post by bruceboughton »

cabalamat wrote: post #17

I'm not bothered by this, because it's their funeral. There are other VoIP programs, it's not particularly difficult to write one, and with Android set to dominate open-architecture 3G phones, something else will dominate VoIP. Hopefully, something open source and using an open protocol. (SIP?) Oh and if you bought an iPhone and can't access the cost-free VoIP solution? That'll teach you to buy locked-down hardware,…

Can you explain what this has to do with the iPhone hardware? Skype is charging for this, not Apple or the telcos, right?

Re: Skype lies, breaks "Skype-to-Skype"calls are free promise

#30

Post by dalore »

cabalamat wrote: post #17

I'm not bothered by this, because it's their funeral. There are other VoIP programs, it's not particularly difficult to write one, and with Android set to dominate open-architecture 3G phones, something else will dominate VoIP. Hopefully, something open source and using an open protocol. (SIP?) Oh and if you bought an iPhone and can't access the cost-free VoIP solution? That'll teach you to buy locked-down hardware,…

What are some good alternative providers?
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