I am a big Skype fan, I preach for them wherever I go, I use it everyday, I recommend it to my family, friends, colleagues and business contacts until I was shocked when i decided to have Skype on my mobile phone. I surfed with high confidence to the mobile section of skype.com in order to find a version for my phone and to be surprised that my phone is not on their Nokia supported devices list.
Here I decided to play the “smart guy” role and downloaded the application based on another mobile which is much older than my device and tried to install it on my phone and to my second surprise it worked very normally and I was so happy.
But got surprised a 3rd time to discover that I can only chat with my skype contacts, but I can not make any Skype calls or SkypeOut call so I started digging until I got to the application help section and read the following question and answer:
Q: Skype and SkypeOut calling are not available on my application (only chatting and receiving calls)? When will it be available?
A: We will continue to add outbound Skype calling to more countries, and your application will be updated automatically when this becomes available in your country. See Skype.com for more information on which features are available in which countries.
VERY FUNNY SKYPE PEOPLE !!!
I was trying to really understand how a company like Skype can launch an application missing the very important part of it and make it available to some parts of the world, as if you are manufacturing a car and exporting it without the engine. I can not understand how other smaller companies can offer mobile application(s) for Skype with full usage options.
So if you live in a country where “The Real Skype” is not fulfilling your mobile phone demand, check the below options from another smaller companies:
fring™ is a mobile internet service & community that enables you to access & interact with your social networks on-the-go, make free calls and live chat with all your fring, Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®* friends using your handset’s internet connection rather than costly cellular airtime minutes.
(fring is a free software)
iSkoot keeps you connected to your Skype community, so you can reach out to friends, family and business colleagues all over the world ANYTIME.
Get Presence: With Skype online status information, you can see who’s available to call or chat, and also change your own online status to let others know if YOU’RE free.
(iSkoot is a free software)
IM+ for Skype is a fully mobile application that enables voice and text communication with other Skype users and provides cost-effective calling to landlines and mobiles.
IM+ for Skype is based on SkypeOut service that allows users to make and receive calls for a low fee.
(IM+ for Skype is a paid software)
The BIC phone is ready to go! It comes with 60 free minutes, the battery charged, and the SIM card already in place. # With the BIC phone, you pay as you go, with a prepaid “mobicarte” refill card. # The BIC phone is easy to use since it focuses on cell phone basics: sending and receiving calls and SMS. # The BIC phone pack will be easy to find. It will be sold over the counter, in major supermarkets and local convenience stores (tobacco shops, newsstands, train stations, airports…), and will be available on 7 August 2008, at a suggested retail price of €49 including tax. The BIC phone will be sold in Metropolitan France only.
Finally, a native push email solution from Nokia. Current email types supported are POP and IMAP. 