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Well no sooner have Apple launched their preview of version 3.0 software than Ebay (owners of Skype) have come out with a Skype app for the iPhone (and Blackberry in forthcoming weeks). In theory an excellent move. A free VOIP service moving from the laptop to the mobile improving portability.

This is a very quick run through having downloaded it just gone midnight (actually didn’t arrive until 12.25am) and had a very quick play. As with any app, it’s easy to download via iTunes (for free) and install onto the iPhone. It feels a little slow to load up but that may be caused by the fact that it’s the first time of use. Skype for the iPhone features five tabs at the bottom of the screen, displaying contacts, chats, a calling panel, call history, and your profile (with Facebook-style status and an option for you to add your own photo if not already loaded). It uses contacts directly from your phone book and can display their photo (if there is one setup on Skype) and also gives you the opportunity to purchase credit, an online number and voicemail if required.

The benefit of using contacts from your phone book is evident by the contact book on the call page (although landlines / mobiles will incur a charge)

*Please note that I had hoped to put some screen shots up but am having problems with the server so will upload shortly - for the moment, screen shots are courtesy of PCWorld

To be honest, whilst there has been much ‘noise’ in the press about the release of Skype for the iPhone for some time (although why it arrived on the home page of the BBC I’m not sure!), it does little to resolve the outstanding issues - namely the lack of video conferencing, multiple calls (only available if someone invites you), costs to numbers other than Skype and the fact that this is only available on Wi-Fi and not the 3G network (which interestingly is available on the N Series Nokias and 3 Network). According to ITProPortal, O2’s terms and conditions still prohibit the use of applications that “allow the continuous streaming of any audio/video content, enable Voice over Internet (Voip), P2P or file sharing” - certainly including Skype.

These downfalls are a shame and it offers very little more from Nimbuzz, TruPhone or Fring (which also by the way links to you IM network e.g. MSN, Yahoo Messenger). In addition, until Apple resolve the lack of support for background apps, it sort of renders this application useless…..although perhaps a step in the right direction. In reality, how often will I log into the application in the hope that I might just receive a call!?!?

Interestingly, it is not Ebay (owner of Skype) therefore who should take the criticism for this but rather Apple for not moving quickly enough on functionality to support better apps. Don’t get me wrong, the benefits to be had from the forthcoming version 3.0 software (including copy and paste) will be helpful (although many are arguing that these and more are already available on a Jailbroken iPhone) but there is still much to be done to make this the killer phone that it really deserves to be. Whether the new iPhone hardware (expected but not yet announced) solves some of these issues is yet to be seen….

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Technology, iPhone

On 23rd March 2009, BT accounced its super fast broadband sites, with an ability for areas to connect at up to 60Mbps. This followed Ofcom approval of the BT fibre project to bring super fast broadband to the UK in early March.

I’m pleased to say that Chelmsford exchange has been included in one of the trial site areas that will take part in the ‘Fibre to the Cabinet’ (FTTC) trial alongside other locations (29) as listed here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/mar/23/btgroup-broadband.

There will be trials in Muswell Hill and Whitchurch (Wales) in summer 2009 before early roll out of the other trial areas in early 2010 (Chelmsford expected Q1 2010). This will initially serve 500,000 households. This is then expected to expand to 40% of the UK by 2012.

This is hopefully good news for us in Chelmsford, having recently moved across to the ADSL2+ upgrade on existing copper lines (apparently will push maximum speeds to 24Mbps although due to my location from the exchange - more like 6Mbps).

According to the Guardian website: “The “fibre to the cabinet” (FTTC) technology takes hair-thin optical fibre from the exchanges to the same street as the connected homes, though the connection to the home itself still uses standard copper lines… Because the distance from the “cabinet”, where the new fibre-optic system terminates, to the home is so much shorter – measurable in metres rather than kilometres – than the usual connection from the home to the exchange, a higher-frequency signal can be used to carry more data.”

In a nutshell that means a fibre optic cable from the exchange to the cabinet and then copper wire for the shorter distance from the cabinet to the home.

However, it is strange that BT are introducing this in areas which are already have super fast broadband offered by Virgin Media - surely business sense would suggest that you’d go to areas not already supplied (as there is no competition)….not that I’m complaining of course!

It is as yet unclear how much BT Openreach will charge ISPs to use their FTTC although I’m sure it won’t be cheap (BT will have to cover their own costs). Thinkbroadband suggests it’s more likely to be £30-50 rather than the £5-20 we’re currently experiencing with the first generation broadband. We’ll learn more from the London and Wales trial sites in the summer so watch this space….IPTV, VOIP over a better connection could soon be coming our way.

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Technology Broadband, Technology