Skype for iPhone
The Ultimate Mobile Phone Tools Free Download
Skype for Smartphones and Handhelds
Skype for iPhone is the ultimate smartphone app. All smartphones and handhelds are now required to host Skype phone software. We have come to expect our mobile communication tools to give us access not only voice, but also video, presence, IM and file sharing. As a result, Skype has become the number one brand in free smartphone apps. It's significant because smartphones are now the fastest growing niche in mobile communications and wireless phone services are discovering that free phone tools are the perfect mechanism for capturing high spending customers.
The Skype Phone Service Threat
The Skype online phone service attracts tens of thousands of new users every day. They are attracted by cheap or even free online phone calls, Skype Voicemail
, Skype video conferencing, conference calls, Internet call forwarding, personal online numbers,
free instant messaging ... The advent of Skype for iTouch or iPhone massively accelerated the trend, but unless used from WiFi zones there are costs related to using wireless networks.
Most wireless phone carriers initially perceived Skype as a threat and did their best to discourage the use of Skype over their networks. That attitude is rapidly changing. There are too many smartphone users wanting to use VoIP applications over wireless networks and once a major carrier offers an innovative package combining Internet phone hardware and reasonably priced data plans the others will have to follow.
Deutsche Telekom the German mobile operator recently announced that it's lifting a ban on mobile VoIP. The parent company of T-Mobile will waive the restriction subject to the payment of a $14 a month fee. Already there are rumblings from Vodafone PLC that it may follow DT's example and levy a surcharge in return for loosening restrictions on the use of Skype and other VoIP smartphone apps.
Skype Security - the Clincher
Personal privacy has been under massive attack by government agencies since 9/11. There are few if any channels of communication that are not susceptible to monitoring. A possible exception is Skype. The Skype protocol is proprietary and the company has until now played hard ball with government agencies requesting access to back doors. Similarly there are no reported cases of successful Skype hacking. As a consequence the Skype phone for Mac is possibly the most secure mobile phone tool currently available.
