Skype provides an excuse for the delay of the 3G capable iPhone app
by Justin Horn on Feb 3rd, 2010 @ 6:12 pmAs you know we just reported a week ago about Apple finally updating the developer agreement to allow 3G VOIP calls. A couple of apps have come out of the gate already with this feature, but everyone is really waiting for Skype to update their app. Today Skype has finally confirmed they are going to release it “soon”:
Many of you have been asking when we’ll release a version of Skype for iPhone which supports 3G calling. Well, the simple answer is soon.
My problem with this is they have been saying they’ve had the 3G version ready to go for a while now and were just waiting for Apple. Seems like they might not have been the full truth as they provide this excuse for the delay:
You may have seen other apps offering calls over 3G, but we’re holding ours back for a little bit longer. Why? So that we can give you the very best audio quality we can. When our 3G-capable Skype for iPhone app is released, it’ll let you make calls in wideband audio, giving you greater clarity and fidelity – because that’s what you expect from Skype.
Either way let’s just hope soon actually means soon.
Oh, and you can check video from Skype explaining the process of bring 3G to the app
(via iPhoneinCanada)
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You got a little map in your soup
by Justin Horn on Jan 28th, 2010 @ 10:37 amAT&T just released 2 new map myth commercials with Luke Wilson. Basically the same message; talk & surf, faster, more apps…in a different setting. I know AT&T needs to respond to the Verizon attack ads, but these commercials are so cheesy. I understand they are trying to be funny, but I think they need to rethink their campaign…maybe hire Apple to handle it!
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Skype 3G VOIP calls should be coming soon!
by Justin Horn on Jan 27th, 2010 @ 9:00 pmPR Newswire is reporting that Apple has finally updated their iPhone developer SDK to allow 3G VOIP calls:
Apple Computer, Inc. has updated the iPhone developer SDK to allow VoIP over cellular networks. iCall is the first and only VoIP application that functions on the iPhone and iPod Touch over cellular 3G networks.
Back in October AT&T removed this restriction, but it wasn’t until today that Apple has caught up. Skype actually has a 3G VOIP version ready to go and have just been waiting on Apple:
Calling over 3G – as Russ said a couple of weeks ago, we’re waiting for Apple on this one. As soon as Apple removes its current restrictions on calling over 3G, we’ll make a 3G-capable app available. We’ve got one up our sleeves ready for that moment, but for now, we’re being forced to wait.
Let’s hope Skype can get this out really really soon!
(via Gizmodo)
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Rumor: AT&T losing iPhone exclusivity deal Wednesday
by Justin Horn on Jan 24th, 2010 @ 5:36 pmHot Hardware is reporting (via Business Insider):
According to an inside source close to the going-ons involved in all of this, a new tablet of some sort may not be the only thing on deck for next Wednesday though. We have been led to believe by an inside source that AT&T will lose their iPhone exclusivity on the same day, though it’s not yet clear what other carrier (or carriers) will be stepping in to also carry the phone.
There has been talk of this for a while now, but it wasn’t until Apple made a special iPhone for China that I thought it might actually come true. To make the iPhone work with Verizon they would probably have to make a special version just for them as they use a completely different network technology. For Tmobile it might be a bit easier as they would just need to make the iPhone compatible with just one new frequency to enable 3G on Tmobile.
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Apples & Oranges, at&t, iPhone, Speculation
Another Skype update, another day with no 3G calls
by Justin Horn on Jan 15th, 2010 @ 9:39 pm
Way back in October of 2009 AT&T announced they were removing the restriction of voice over IP apps using the 3G network:
AT&T* today announced it has taken the steps necessary so that Apple can enable VoIP applications on iPhone to run on AT&T’s wireless network. Previously, VoIP applications on iPhone were enabled for Wi-Fi connectivity. For some time, AT&T has offered a variety of other wireless devices that enable VoIP applications on 3G, 2G and Wi-Fi networks. AT&T this afternoon informed Apple Inc. and the FCC of its decision.
Skype then recognized this change and said they were going to work on getting it into a future version.
Well Skype version 1.3 was just released and I gave it a test…3G calling is still a no go. C’mon Skype, What’s the hold up?!?
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Apples & Oranges, at&t, iPhone, iPhone apps
AT&T closer to having a 7.2mbps network
by Justin Horn on Jan 5th, 2010 @ 4:41 pmAT&T announced way back in September of 2009 that they would cranking up their mobile network speeds to 7.2mbps in 6 select cites (Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston) by the end of the year. Since the New Year I still am getting about 1.5-2.0 mbps on average so I decided to start asking around. Calling AT&T was pointless as the rep I talked to didn’t really know anything about it and told me to call Apple to find out why I wasn’t getting the full speed…so that was a dead end.
I then hit up AT&T on their Facebook page yesterday and got a friendly no answer:
Hey Justin, will take this up with the network team and try to get you an answer…its complicated stuff…may take a little while to nail this down…hang in there!
About 24 hours later I was still in the dark and just going with my gut feeling I posted to the same Facebook thread:
I assume that it hasn’t been turned on just yet, or it’s going on tower by tower and the towers I’m hitting don’t support it yet.
Turns out my gut feeling was correct. AT&T just put out a press release on the issue announcing the completion of the 7.2 tower software update for the entire nation and backhaul build out for the special cities:
In addition to the HSPA 7.2 software, initial deployment of backhaul is already underway in the six U.S. cities announced in 2009 as initial HSPA 7.2 markets – Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami, with capabilities being turned up on a site-by-site basis beginning last month.
The software upgrade being complete does explain why I’ve been getting a more consistent faster speeds, but nothing over 2.5mbps. So I guess I just have to wait until they beef up the bandwidth at the towers in my neighborhood, but at least I shouldn’t be waiting too much longer compared to the rest of you suckers not in the 6 magic cities! 
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