You've had a lot of questions about the new Skype for iPhone ( download)-how it works and even why anyone would want to use it. Nonetheless, the positive actions of one company are no substitute for a government policy that protects openness and benefits consumers.Updated Apat 11:00 am PT with more questions and answers. It is the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skypers and the internet itself. Skype president Josh Silverman welcomed the announcement but argued that the government still needs to mandate openness: 'We applaud today’s announcement by AT&T to open up its 3G network to internet calling applications such as Skype. AT&T likely fears that Skype users will opt for plans with fewer voice minutes if they can bypass AT&T's voice channel, but that fear seems to have given way to a greater one - new regulations from an emboldened FCC.ĪT&T denied it had anything to do with blocking the Google Voice iPhone app, which, unlike Skype, uses the minutes on a cellphone plan - though it does offer cheap international calls and free conference calling, among other features.įor its part, Apple says it never even rejected Google Voice - it's just still studying it to make sure it doesn't confuse users. Instead, it's just had Apple block the application. In a bit of hairsplitting, AT&T has long maintained it doesn't block Skype - which has uncrippled apps that run on other phones the company sells.

The iPhone store is the only way to install apps on Apple's category-defining device without voiding the warranty, which led the FCC to investigate if AT&T and Apple were colluding to prevent competition.

Skype for iphone international calls