I have heard that there are applications for SKYPE on the blackberry. Now I was wondering what the best skype for blackberry application is?

To my understanding with these skype applications for blackberry, say I have the subscription for unlimited calls to the US and Canada for $2.95 a month and I install the skype for blackberry, can I than call any landline / cellphone from my blackberry using only data and NOT my minutes for my phone voice plan? and I only pay $2.95 a month for this...

Is this correct? As well, how are the quality of calls through skype on blackberry since it's going through the data plan? I have the blackberry 8300 by the way.

Thank you.

Go to the Shape Services website and study how the app works. Calls don't go through data as Skype calls do on a PC or Pocket PC. On a BlackBerry, the app calls your phone to complete the call. Call quality is usually good. You pay for the incoming call and also Skype credits. But Skype texting is free if you have a data plan.

You might want to look at iskoot for Skype too. I have it loaded on my phone but not used it yet.

I use iSkoot sometimes for Skype. I also use truphone and myglobaltalk for third party VOIP solutions. All three have had acceptable quality. THey save me a bundle when calling my office and clients in china.

Would anyone else know of a different VoIP client besides Truphone (not supporting UAE) and Myglobaltalk that could be used on Blackberry for skype.

Alternatively, a SIP client that could be used on Blackberry bold with a Vbuzzer account (which has been proven as the only one so far not to be filtered by local carriers).

Thanks,
Dragos.

Does iScoot for Skype work with the Bold?

Has anyone used iScoot, IM+ for Skype and TruPhone services and compared the services? Which one works better for Blackberry user? Which one works better for the roaming situations? It appears that iScoot is the most flexible, using the Skype account credits while TruPhone is easier to use possibly without requiring any WiFi access.
Please share your experience if you have used these services.
Thanks.

I use IM+ for Skype

I looked at the Skype's Mobile page on their site. They seem to have a mobile Skype client for Windows Mobile and Nokia phones, but not for BlackBerry??! Now that's just dumb...

OK check this out...

FRING apparently makes the software for all devices but BB. I was on my freinds IPHONE. Once connected to Fring over a WiFi network, his skype list opened and he was able to make calls from his phone to that person as if it were PC-PC over the wireless network at no charge !

i really prayed IM+ for skype would offer the same thing, but unfortunately it needs the skypeout client to place calls which are paid for, it wont allow user to user voice connection over WiFi. Does anyone have a solution for this or any other program that lets you make direct voice calls to another skype user over wifi ?!

Thanks

Wirelessly posted

TruPhone will allow you to make free calls to another TruPhone user, but not necessarily using the WiFi connection. We really need a true VOIP application for the Blackberry phones, but I learned from "fring" site that BBs don't support simultaneous recording and playing, and therefore, cannot be supported by fring. Other Skype applications running on BBs, such as IM+ for Skype or iScoot use the "call through" using calling minutes+data to make Skype calls and data to chat. Can BB confirm this limitation?

As of this second there is no true VoIP solution for the BlackBerry.

And I dont expect for a 3rd party implementation soon of it (cuz of RIM API restrictions). The only way I could think about is that RIM works with a company to develop one and gives access to the audio interface. Currently you can just either record or playback audio on the headset speaker =\

I used iSkoot on my Blackberry Bold with my unlimited SkypeOut account. I made a 15 minute long distance call and iSkoot deducted ~20c out of my SkypeOut Credits (you get ~$15 when you sign up for a year). Call quality was better than I expected, awesome for next to nothing long distance from cellular.

Give IM+ for Skype a try. All the features are described by SHAPE Services (the developer) on their website in details. You can start from a trial version.