Skype Hits Android Market, Demoed

[phandroid]

Skype has released a Lite version of their software for the Android Market that is now available for download. For those not familiar with Skype, it is software that uses your internet connection to make phone calls, messaging, file transfers and video conferencing. In 2005, Skype had nearly 75 million user accounts, was purchased by [...]

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[Halloway]

According to The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/09/skype_lite/):

"Skype has announced an Android version of its mobile VoIP service, and hinted that an iPhone client is in the works too - but anyone expecting proper mobile VoIP on Android will be disappointed with Skype Lite.

Officially still in beta, the Skype Lite service works in the same way as Skype's UK offering with network operator 3. A voice channel is used to make a local call which is then converted to VoIP back at the office, with one essential difference: Skype Lite users pay for that local call.


Remarkably Skype has managed to spin this into a feature: "Call on Skype wherever you are - no WiFi or 3G required", as though the ability to make phone calls over the phone network were something new. There are, of course, savings to be had for long distance and international calls, especially if those called are logged on to Skype."


So you are still making a voice call, albeit to a local number. This is not the Skype we know and love from our PCs. Even if you call another PC you are still going to incur a charge or use some of your free minutes.


There's also some question as to whether the application will run in the background. If it will not then there's little likelihood that you will be able to receive incoming calls through Skype.