Skype is coming to the iPhone, at least according to Skype’s COO, Scott Durschlag. Mr. Durschlag announced at CES that a version of Skype for the iPhone (and presumably the 2nd Generation iPod touch) is under development.
Apple has banned iPhone VoIP software from using cellular data connections up to now, since such services could cut down on the amount of talk time users buy from AT&T each month. The VoIP software that is available for the iPhone is limited to Wi-Fi connections.
Presumably, the same would be true of Skype for the iPhone.
We’ll file this under “coming soon” rather than ‘fat chance” for the time being, but it somehow seems unlikely that Apple and AT&T Wireless would want to allow such a widely-used service to horn in on their lucrative iPhone calling plans. And, since Apple controls what programs appear in the App Store, it could do what Microsoft and other smartphone OS companies can’t – block Skype from offering competition for voice service.
As for us, we’d welcome Skype on the iPhone in a big way.
