[Macworld]

Post your comments for Skype for iPhone arrives here

[WarrenS]

Will it work for the iPod Touch?

[Jim Dalrymple]

Yes, I just added that in the story.

[leicaman]

This is great! Now I can call all those girls I met in Brazil. :)

[annunaki]

All I can say is...
It's about time!!!
Hopefully the call quality will be on par with what you get on the computer. The other "Skype compatible" apps have been sub-par to this point. Skype-out better be part of the deal...at no extra cost.

[Jon Seff]

annunaki said:

Skype-out better be part of the deal...at no extra cost.

It's a free app, and Skype-out will cost the same as it does whether you're calling from your computer or from your iPhone.

[annunaki]

Well then, that's good news. Great to see Apple following their word that they will not block VOIP services from their apps. Too bad we can't let Skype run in the background at all times so we can receive phone calls like a regular phone.

[boruchsiper]

Tried searching for it on the app store but found nothing from skype themselves.

[Jon Seff]

boruchsiper said:

Tried searching for it on the app store but found nothing from skype themselves.

The app is actually coming out tomorrow (story was updated about 30 minutes ago).

[jaguaero]

they are indeed pseudo-blocking voip. You cannot make skype calls outside of a Wifi connection.
the article says tuesday and after the launch at the trade show, not sure why you should see it there today

[vfx2k4]

Um- what does AT&T have to say about this other than "WTF?!"

[TheTSArt]

Any word on getting voice mail through it?
That's the main reason I'd want the app.

[needconfchat]

Will this app support conference chats and show the chat topic? I have used Nimbuzz and Fring and you only receive messages from individuals even though they are chatting in a conference.

[bigpics]

It makes one wonder what's going on behind the scenes. This can't be music to AT&T's ears, yet it must not have been specifically prohibited in Apple's contract with them.
That contract, if it is five years as speculated, is btw more than half-way through - which given the runaway success of the iP, puts Apple daily more in the driver's seat, as AT&T clearly needs Apple more than vice-versa. Cell carriers are a dime a dozen (well there's really only about a half-dozen or less that matter), but only one iP.
So this is clearly a forward-looking move for Apple. But forward to what? T-Mobile, a company in extremis is already warily opening itself to Skype - andyabramson.blogs.com/voipwatch/2006/12/manyawriter_a.html and
share.skype.com/sites/us/2009/02/post_6.html - but Apple's flush.
Still, common wisdom is that Apple shares revenue with AT&T based on customer usage of AT&T services, and Skyping will reduce that stream.
Is Apple allowing this app to avoid millions more users jailbreaking their phones and losing their dependence on the App Store? Would Skype have moved that aggressively against Apple in the first place without their blesssing?
Rather than seeing the iPhone on multiple carriers within countries, particularly the US, is Apple, as once speculated thinking of renting bandwith from (a) carrier(s) - as some small cellcos do - to create an Apple-branded Apple-mobile network for iPhones and future iDevices? This could have many effects:
1. Blur the definitions between the iP and iPT as Apple rolls out an expanded line of phones, phone-like and "netbook/Newton class" products, and the difference between these and MacBooks...
2. Once 4G rolls out (which will yes, take awhile), and the world's media content moves more and more to the net, put them not only in competition with cellcos, but by adding cellular chips to all Macs, with Cable/DSL and satellite internet providers.
And significantly reduce the number of partners between users of Apple products and the mothership in Cupertino - and don't forget that "hobby product," Apple TV, which could evolve in many directions and create a home entertainment service that is something blending elements of cable/satellite TV, iTunes, Hulu, YouTube, Skype, etc. on our home screens.
This would simultaneously leverage every Apple business: the Mac, the iDevice line, ATV, Airport, Time Capsule, the iTunes Store, the App Store, etc.
One could blue sky this further, and I'm surely off on the particulars but my point is that this announcement is another indicator that Apple's strategic options are wide open.