Expat Tech: Skype for iPhone Now Supports 3G Calls

By DaVe McComb on in Tech

Skype 2.0 for the iPhone was just released and it now includes the ability to make calls over 3G networks. Previously, you could only make calls over WiFi.

I immediately put it to the test on my jail-broken and unlocked iPhone 3G using Movistar’s pre-paid 3G network. Guess what? It works great and the call clarity was perfect. Now, I’ll be able to make calls to the US while I’m out in Buenos Aires without having to find a WiFi access point first.

Of course, you’ll need to have Skype Credit to make outbound calls to non-Skype numbers, but the costs are pretty low – from $0.021 per minute to $6.99/month for unlimited calling.

The only bad news? Skype over 3G is free until August 2010, but after that date they plan to start charging a “small monthly fee.” Calls over WiFi will not have this charge, but you lose the flexibility of using it anywhere. Questions about a conspiracy with having to pay AT&T are popping up all over the Internet.

BONUS: As of late April 2010, you can now set your Skype Caller ID to be the same as your Google Voice number. That way people you call will see your Google Voice number rather than a random string of numbers that Skype usually displays. To set this, login to your Skype account and click on Caller ID.

I’ll be putting together a future post on the complete phone setup that I have in Buenos Aires, which includes a combination of Google Voice, MagicJack, Vonage and Skype. Stay tuned…

iphone, skype

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http://intensedebate.com/profiles/katti99 katti

Hi,
Can you actually phone with Skype over 3G??? I checked that with Movistar, and they said it is not possible. I can chat, but not call, unless I have WIFI. I have an iphone contract with Movistar, with unlimited internetacces (3G) the only limits I seem to have are calling with Skype… I have asked for this and they told me that if they would alow 'free' calling with Skype, no one would call with Mobistar.
Any suggestions?
- http://intensedebate.com/people/dmccombny DaVe
  
  Yep, it worked fine for me. I am not sure if they can detect the traffic and block it or not, but as of right now it works fine. Download the new version of Skype and add a few dollars of credit to try it out.
http://intensedebate.com/profiles/katti99 katti

Strange, I have the latest update, I have credit, and it says I need WIFI, 3G communications are not permitted due to contractual limitations (or something like that). Can it be because you have a jailbroken?Are you sure you are calling on 3G??
How I want that too
thnks anyway
http://intensedebate.com/profiles/katti99 katti

YES I DID IT!!!! THANKS!!!! YOU MADE ME VERY HAPPY!!!

(I had updated all my programs last friday but this update was even more recent) Great!!
Now let us hope the 'small monthly fee' will nog be too much. And with the new software that is going to be released in july (?) we can be online even when skype is not open, what else do we need??

ps i am sure your connecting problems are temporary-
- DaVe
  
  Congrats! It was just a temporary issue for me. And yes, if the new iPhone OS allows backgrounding of Skype, it will be great. You can get a Skype-In number and receive calls from the States on your Argentine cell phone.
Amy

I'm moving to Buenos Aires next month and will need to get a new cell phone. Can I get the new IPhone here in the US and then get it to work when I come down? So glad to hear how Skype works on the IPhone now. Any words of wisdom for a newcomer when it comes to communication via cell phone in BsAs?
- http://intensedebate.com/people/dmccombny DaVe
  
  Hey Amy, congrats on the move!
  
  Getting the new iPhone 4 in the States without a 2 year contract from AT&T is going to be almost impossible. Your better bet is to get a used iPhone 3GS and use that here. The only problem with this is that there is not yet an unlock available for it (although there should be at the end of the month). An "unlock" allows you to break the restriction that you can only use AT&T on the phone.
  
  Pre-paid phone service will probably be your only option here if you're on a tourist visa, and that can get expensive. I just posted a new entry about how to save some money on that – http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/movistar-pre-p…
  
  If you do not need data, I would suggest bringing an unlocked phone that you may already have. Most carriers will unlock your existing phone if you are out of contract. Another option would be to buy the Google Nexus One phone, which is already sold unlocked.
  
  Hope this helps!
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MichelleBA

Can you tell me exactly where to change the Caller ID to set it with my Google number? I looked at all the options in the app and online in the page but can't seem to find it. Thanks!
- DaVe
  
  Once logged into the Skype web site, go here: https://secure.skype.com/account/caller-id/settin…
Cory

I have been doing a lot of the same things BsAs
skype
vonage
sip
fringe
and cell
- DaVe
  
  Yeah, there are a lot of combinations I use too:
  
  - Vonage at home and to forward calls to my Argentine cell
  - Skype from my iPhone to make calls to the US from my cell (rare)
Laura

I am italian and as i am going to Argentina for a month i would like to know if Movistar or some other mobile opera tor are supporting Skype in 3G. Thank you for the help!