The cell phone world is not ready for a Skype’s Internet telephone service because of high carrier costs associated with downloading signals to mobile phones, Eric Lagier, head of the company’s hardware/software business development, tells Reuters. Skype uses a broadband Internet connection to place a voice call, cutting out the telephony network for which telecoms operators charge by the minute. Unlike other VoIP providers, Skype uses a peer-to-peer network, and so calls to other broadband-connected Skype users are free, and Skype calls to normal phones are inexpensive. However, with data charges on mobile networks so high the cost would often end up more than simply using the voice part of the mobile service.
The exception is 3UK, which has launched cheap unlimited data plans. Hence Skype offers a service on that carrier…the interesting part is that it apparently doesn’t use 3’s broadband service at all…“it was developed to run on a specific part of the 3 network which requires cooperation from the carrier, Lagier said. “We use a voice channel as the bearer of the call.”
Meanwhile, BusinessWeek notes that some analysts are concerned that Skype’s parent, eBay, has still not reaped the benefits of its purchase. Skype, which has more than 5 million users online at any given time, was acquired by eBay for approximately $4.1 billion in the fall of 2005. Analysts cite unreached performance-based goals, resulting in missed payments, or so-called earn-outs.
Related:
—CES Day 1 Content Newswire
—Skype Goes Mobile With iSkoot