[MW Forums]

SoonR has come to the iPhone, allowing users to view documents stored remotely on their computer and even work with Skype. more

[oka]

Is EDGE really enough for Skype?

[hayesk]

I'd like to know how they got microphone access from a web page on the iPhone. I didn't think this was possible. Plus, to play any sound you have to tap to go to an external player and tap again to play the sound.

[nmpike]

Quote:

---

Is EDGE really enough for Skype?

---

I'd say no... i Love my iPhone.... but Edge is terrible... its awful... its the only bad thing about the iPhone which really sux because the iphone is great and edge is not the fault of the iphone.

[Netizen_Kane]

The Skype capability is probably for use with a WiFi hotspot, not the EDGE network. Now if they only came out with a WiFi-capable but phoneless version of the iPhone, I'd buy in a heartbeat. Screw AT&T.

[d00d]

It is, but it's irrelevant when it comes to this product. The way this works is that Skype is running on your computer which then calls your phone and the person you are calling. This isn't Skype on your phone.

[sigma8]

To add to what d00d said, there is some cost associated with this.. You run the SoonR client on your desktop machine, and you communicate with it via some webpage (to start a chat). It will then make a SkypeOut call to your cellphone--at whatever charge that may imply. If it connects with you, it will then make a call to your "buddy", and conference you.
So it's not free, but ironically, the "cost" is not in calling your buddy...it's from calling you.
Although, presumably, if you tried to reach a buddy who was already a "skypeOut" call, that would mean two skypeout calls: one to you, one to your buddy.
Of course, if you're on an iPhone, and they were at a phone, you'd probably just call them directly. The double-skypeout approach might still be cheaper for international calls, though...in which case it would be more expensive to do in this way with the iphone compared to a phone that supported Skype on the phone itself.

[alansky]

Amazing, isn't it, that our technology can send rockets to the farthest reaches of the solar system (and send back pictures!) but can't build a battery capable of decent performance on a 3G cellular network? It really is ridiculous for the brilliantly-futuristic iPhone to be running on AT&T's pitifully-inadequate EDGE network. iPhone + EDGE is like a typical Hollywood marriage: It will never last.

[veggiedude]

I'm sure EDGE is just temporary. AT&T is probably working hard to accelerate its 3G network.

[oka]

Quote:

---

I'm sure EDGE is just temporary. AT&T is probably working hard to accelerate its 3G network.

---

I hope soo, but the iPhone needs support for it too.

[sigma8]

Well, irrelevant for this product. The connection between the PC and the iPhone is via the GSM network. The PC automates a call to you using Skype's VoIP-to-landline/cell features.
I may have to give this one a whirl, the rates for domestic Skype look pretty cheap.

[d00d]

Quote:

---

I may have to give this one a whirl, the rates for domestic Skype look pretty cheap.

---

Why would you do this for domestic calls? In order to use Skype, you pay for the minutes you're on the phone and the minutes you're using Skype. If you make a normal call, it's just the minutes you're on the phone.