Now I don’t use Skype that much so this is kinda kewl. I only really use it to talk to a friend in Brazil every couple months. I sure some of you use it on a daily basis. So, let’s find out!

- Run Skype in the background with multitasking in iOS4.
- Receive Skype calls and IM while other apps are running or when your iPhone is locked.
- You can also continue your call while you switch to another application.
- Multitasking is available only with iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

ScreenShots

Previously, Skype for the iPhone would only let you make calls from the iPhone if it was connected to Wifi. Now you can make them even when on the 3G cellular network. It doesn’t say anything about EDGE so I’m guessing it won’t work there. I even got it to work on EDGE. Check the video below. There are also some other improvements with the recent update including enhanced call quality indicator and improved start-up time. See below for a complete list.

Of course there is a catch to all of this. AT&T is only promising this to be a free service until the end of August 2010, then they may charge a small monthly fee.

Video

ScreenShots

Upgrades / improvements include:
- Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are free until at least end of August 2010, after which there will be a small monthly fee (operator charges for data will still apply).
- Near CD-quality sound for Skype-to-Skype calls using wideband audio (SILK codec) on iPhone 3GS and 2nd generation iPod touch.
- Enhanced call quality indicator.
- Improved start-up time.
- Fast access to the dial pad from iPhone home screen.

fring, an application that lets users communicate and share web-based experiences from their mobile devices, has announced video calling.

“Right now iPhone and iPod touch users can receive and make fring and Skype video calls entirely over Internet connection (for free!) and see the person on the other end. When a front camera is placed on these, we’ll have two-way video calls available here too just as we do on all the supported Nokia devices.”

Video calling can be used over WiFi and is currently only one-way (due to the fact that the iPhone’s camera is on the back of the device). You are able to video call someone on Skype, using fring, but you will only be able to see the other person… they will not be able to see you. This feature is part of the newest version of fring so you will need to update fring in order to use it.

“Now iPhone and iPod touch users can also live video with their fring and Skype buddies, while on the go! The new fring version with video calls support is currently available to users with iPhone/ iPod touch OS 3.0 (only incoming video-stream available, due to the location of the camera on iPhone/iPod)”

Video Demo:

ScreenShots

Press Release:

World’s first Video Calls on the iPhone – only with fring!

fring brings the first ever internet video calls on the iPhone/iPod touch just in time for the holidays!
LONDON, December 01, 2009. fring, the multi-award winning mobile application that lets users communicate and share web-based experiences from their mobile devices, today announces the first ever mobile video calls over Internet for the iPhone.

These holidays, only iPhone and iPod touch users with fring can talk with and also see their family and friends on Skype or fring, from anywhere, for free, over Wi-Fi internet connection. This is the first video over internet service on the iPhone or iPod touch.

This video feature is embedded within the fring application that enables free voice calls from the iPhone and iPod Touch to other fring users, Skype and GTalk buddies as well as friends on regular phone lines via Skype-Out and hundreds of popular SIP services. fring users can live chat, update profiles, share files and talk with friends from several Instant Messaging services like MSN, AIM, GoogleTalk and Skype, in addition to interacting with popular online social networks like Twitter, all from one integrated fring contact list

Avi Shechter, Co-Founder & CEO of fring: “Leveraging excellent video capabilities on the iPhone and iPod touch together with our open internet and social environment, we’re bringing together families and friends these holidays, wherever they are…” Shechter continued, “We were the first to bring mobile voice over internet (VoIP) to mobile devices, the first to bring iPhone/ iPod touch users the choice to make free Internet calls, the first to enable cost-saving mobile twitter over internet, and now we’re proud to continue leading the field of rich mobile-internet communication by bringing users the world’s first fring video calls over internet for the iPhone and iPod touch.”

The new fring version with video calls support is currently available to users with iPhone/ iPod touch OS 3.0 (only incoming video-stream available, due to the location of the camera) and selected Nokia Symbian S60 devices (2-way video streaming is available) . In addition, fring supports thousands of handsets on multiple platforms including Symbian S60, Android, Windows Mobile, J2ME and Linux devices.

Vonage just announced their app for the iPhone yesterday that allows discounted international calls. AT&T’s recent announcement doesn’t seem to have effected the status of the Google Voice application.

Ruth Milkman, Chief
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington DC 20554

Re: AT&T Response to Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Letter, DA 09-1737 (July 31, 2009); RM-11361; RM-11497

Dear Ms. Milkman:

On behalf of AT&T, I am writing to provide you with an update to AT&T’s August 21, 2009 response to the Bureau’s questions about the Apple iPhone. In our response, we explained that AT&T currently offers a variety of devices that enable VoIP applications to make use of our wireless network (including our 2G and 3G capabilities) and the devices’ Wi-Fi connectivity. We further explained that the iPhone currently supports VoIP applications that make use of the device’s Wi-Fi connectivity, but VoIP capabilities were not available on the iPhone for use on our wireless network. We also stated that we were taking a fresh look at the issue and would promptly notify the Commission of any such change in our policies. AT&T has completed its review of the matter and today we informed Apple that, effective immediately, AT&T consents to Apple enabling third-party VoIP applications for the iPhone that use our wireless network, including our 2G and 3G capabilities.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Robert W. Quinn, Jr.

Tonight, Skype was update to version 1.2. The new version adds quite a few new features (see change log below). When you update the app, it adds has a nice little pop-up when you open the application that says, “This version of Skype is only supported on unmodified iPhone OS 2.2 and 3.0.” The application will still work on a modified OS however, they will not support it if you are having issues. So, if you have a jailbroke iPhone or iPod touch, you can update and the app will still work but don’t run to them for tech support… they might turn you down.

Version 1.2 Change Log:
- Set up call forwarding from your iPhone – forward Skype calls to a phone number when you’re not signed in.
- Improved performance and better audio quality on Skype-to-Skype calls.
- Even easier to send text messages (SMS) – Send SMS from the Call tab.
- Calls are connected much faster.
- Status of your contacts is updated more often.
- You can now decide whether you want to stay online/offline when the iPhone is locked. We’ve added this into settings.
- Contact groups are now supported, making it easier to see who is online and separate your saved phone numbers.
- You can now edit the name of your saved phone numbers.
- Added support for skype: URL schemes in Safari.
- When creating a new account the country in your Skype profile is taken from the language used on your iPhone.
- Group chat profile pictures are now shown.
- You can now remove your profile picture.
- Added a ‘Help’ link to ‘Forgot your password’.
- Improved support for proxy configurations.

ScreenShots

Just like the original version created for the iPhone, this is the same special pre-release R&D version with some chat bugs fixed so now you can mobile internet chat & interact in fring-style on your iPod touch (I know I am stating the obvious… but as there is no Microphone the iPod touch…. it means no fring calls as well).

Doug and I also found that this version works a lot smoother for us. He was able to call Skype on my computer, I was able to call his iPhone from Skype on my computer and we were able to call from iPhone to iPhone using fring. Very, very cool! fring is vailable through the fring source.

Below is a video of the developer using fring on an iPod Touch.