Shape Services, maker of the popular IM+ catch-all mobile instant messaging client, has just announced a public beta of an online Skype service for iPhone. That’s right, folks, voice-over-IP has come to Apple’s baby.
Both Skype’s instant messaging and voice call features are supported by Shape’s IM+ for Skype, and as with the outfit’s other products you get free updates for life once the software has been purchase. However, as the software is currently in beta, the service, to begin with, is free. Additionally, beta testers who give plenty of feedback have the potential to be rewarded with a free license for the service once it’s properly released. Not bad, huh?
To read more about it, head over to the Shape Services site, or straight to http://skypeforiphone.com/ on your iPhone. Oh, and to check out a couple more pics, hit the jump.
(Via LoopRumors)
I can not wait to do VOIP over my EDGE data connection! It will be fantastic! Rocking like it is 1999.
Shape is probably more thinking you’ll use it over the iPhone’s wi-fi connection…
Great. I will then run down to the local Starbucks just to make a phone call! That is rocking like it is 1949.
Okay, we’ll give you that one
Mind you, it has a certain Back to the Future retro vibe going on that we like. Gimme a Tab and a Pepsi Free!
Thanks for the 411, Caspar– I’ll probably give it a try. I assume it uses the same AJAX protocol that beejive uses for the IM client(?)
As for it’s usefullness– in most metro areas (like SFbay, NYC, etc.) you can’t go 10 feet without autodiscovering 8-10 new WAPs. Heck, I just flashed a linksys router with a micro linux client so we could repeat free GOOGLE WiFi here in Mountain View into our corporate offices for streaming audio.
Out in the sticks of NH, though, I doubt you’d even get two cans and a string to work, never mind EDGE reception (and yes, I *can* say that because I grew up there
-Rick
Hi Rick. Cheers for the note. If you try it, we’d be very interested to hear what you think.
Did you read that Facebook has just launched an iPhone-friendly service too? Story is here.
I saw a show once about two medical clinics in Africa where they do actually use big, old tin cans to boost wi-fi signals over more than a mile. They jam an antenna up inside the tipped over can and blast the signal between the two buildings. Crazy!