Since its launch in August 2003 Skype has developed its brand through “free” calling for Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls as well as chat. However, whenever they launch a revenue generating offering, users need to experience the actual feature before paying up. Recently Skype has come up with a couple of ways to have a free user experience of a feature.

Experience Skype WiFi

Skype WiFi is a “last resort” offering that allows nomadic Skype users to make calls when traveling from over 1 million access points worldwide at airports, restaurants, hotels and coffee shops amongst other “road warrior” locations. But at a cost that is country dependent but about 20 cents/minute in the U.S.

Yesterday Skype announced free Skype WiFi over the Christmas period (December 21 to 27) at 50 U.S. airport locations. Provided your battery is charged or you have access to a waiting room power outlet, you can not only make Skype and SkypeOut calls but also check your email and surf the Internet for up to one hour. (You can also access Skype WiFi on your iPhone or iPad if you have installed the Skype WiFi app.)

Experience a Simulated Group Video Call … and have some social fun at the same time

Skype’s Group Video Calling requires a Skype Premium subscription; however, through Skype’s Facebook page you can experience how Group Video calling works while sending birthday greetings or Happy Holidays wishes via a Skype Facebook application: Say It With Skype. Skype has worked with several bands to create melodious greetings that can be sent via a friend’s Facebook wall, a URL or embedded into an email message. Click on the tabs to see the progress.

The resulting video is a simulated Group Video call where each member of the band selected is a separate Group Video Call participant. And, if you elect to record, your own video is added in. Not quite a full Group Video Call experience but you start to get a feel for it. On the other hand the couple of recipients to whom I have sent these have appreciated them; it’s one way to have a bit of fun with Skype.

For a complete Group Video Call experience the 7-day trial remains available.

Personally I have been on a weekly Group Video Call that has participants in three continents across nine time zones for the past five months. When you consider that a Skype Premium subscription also incorporates Skype Out calls to U.S./Canada and Live chat support, at $4.49 per month for a one year subscription, it’s a no brainer.

Recently a couple of acquaintances who were leaving for Europe asked me whether they could use Skype for iPhone for “free” calling. The bad news: with high data roaming charges when outside the country on “foreign” 3G/LTE carriers, using Skype for iPhone  has the potential to double the cost of their trip and create “bill shock” on returning home. The good news: put the iPhone (or iPad) in Airplane mode and take advantage of the rapid and pervasive growth of WiFi access points worldwide.

Skype for iPhone (and Skype for iPad) over 3G/LTE uses the carrier’s data, not voice, channel. At a minimum of $3.00/MB (if on a roaming data plan), one needs to make use of the stealth carrier, WiFi. And, if free WiFi is not available, use a service with a per minute connection charge without any data limit.

But how to find a WiFi access point?

Hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, airports, train stations and offices will tend to have WiFi access points. Some will be free, some will require a subscription service such as Boingo and some hotels may charge daily fees for WiFi access. Some airports will provide access via wireless services, such as T-Mobile WiFi at Frankfurt and Munich airports, at an hourly or daily rate.

One alternative, if you are a Skype user and have bought Skype credit, is to check out the availability of a Skype WiFi access point (formerly called Skype Access).

The bad news – yes it has a charge starting at US$0.06/4p/€0,05 per minute (may vary by WiFi operator) but you are only charged for connected minutes with no limits on the amount of data transmitted. Instead of being charged for 20MB of data for a 10 to 15 minute Skype call at, say, Rogers’ @$5.00/MB data roaming charge (total $100), you can pay as little as under $1.00 for the same call.

And Skype WiFi can also be used to check out Twitter, Facebook or some web browsing activity.

But where does Skype for iPhone/iPad come into play? Skype has announced the launch of an iPhone/IPad application, Skype WiFi, which will provide access to Skype WiFi access points at the same rate. Skype WiFi, the application, is available via the Apple App Store. Simply login and Skype WiFi is active; you will see a notification if you are near a supported access point – along with the charge for using the access point.

As stated by Skype WiFi Product Manager, Shadi Mahassel:

With the new Skype WiFi app, you can go online on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch (running iOS 4.1 or above with multitasking) at over 1 million WiFi hotspots around the world, including hotels, airports, train stations, convention centres, bars and restaurants. And with Skype Credit you only pay for the minutes you use. So, there’s no need to buy an hour or day WiFi voucher if you’re only looking to check your email or make a quick Skype call.

One caution: be careful to only open Skype for iPhone when you really need it; otherwise, especially if you have a large number of Skype contacts, you could drain your battery in 3 to 4 hours. (With experience to date, battery drain has not been an issue when using Skype for iPad.)

Bottom line: The service now called Skype WiFi (formerly  Skype Access) provides not only a “last resort” WiFi access service but also can significantly reduce the cost of making “otherwise free” Skype-to-Skype calls while bypassing wireless carrier roaming charges. The iOS application called Skype WiFi extends this access service to use on iPhone and iPad.

Note that from 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, August 19 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, August 21 you can try out Skype WiFi for 60 minutes at no charge. Otherwise you will need Skype credit to use the service.

When will we be seeing a similar application for Android phones?

And with a 6GB per month data plan, I’ll continue to use Skype for iPhone or Skype for iPad on my “home” Rogers 3G/HSPA+/LTE service.

In a press release associated with its participation at Mobile World Congress Skype has announced an expansion of its Skype Access service to include eight additional hotspot operators. According to the press release:

With one click, Skype users can connect to the Internet through a WiFi operator partner in over 500,000 hotspots around the globe including 500 airports, 30,000 hotels and numerous cafes, trains, planes, offices buildings, and convention centers.

Rather than paying costly per day or per hour Internet access fees, Skype Access allows you to pay per minute using Skype Credit to control your costs at rates starting at £.04 /€.05/$.06per minute [including VAT]. All you need is a connection to a Skype Access compatible hotspot and the latest version of Skype for Mac or Windows.

Skype has arranged for free use of Skype Access across Spain (including at this week’s Mobile World Congress) for the week of Feb. 14 to 18, 2010 (using CET time zone). It would be interesting to know how many iPhone users are making Skype video calls to/from their colleagues attending the conference and the resulting load on the WiFi network.

At rates as low as £.04 /€.05/$.06 per minute Skype Access over these operators appear to be offering significantly lower than the $0.19 cents per minute charged for using Skype Access over Boingo with its over 200,000 WiFi hotspots worldwide (Boingo’s continued participation as a Skype Access partner has been confirmed).

The new Skype Access provider partners include:

• BT Openzone – The UK’s largest WiFi hotspot provider with a network of two million hotspots
• Fon – The world’s largest WiFi network with over 3.35 million Fon Spots across the globe
• M3 Connect – WiFi provider in Germany with hotspots in many hotels, fairgrounds, airports and places like the German Stock Exchange
• Row 44 – Provides the world’s leading in-flight broadband platform to commercial airlines around the world
• Skyrove – WiFi hotspot solutions for Guesthouses, Hotels and Coffee Shops throughout South Africa.
• Spectrum Interactive – Specializes in offering WiFi for the travel and media sector including airports and hotels across the UK
• Tomizone – WiFi provider in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific
• Vex – Offers WiFi services in thousands of locations around the world including South America

Bottom Line: Whereas the rates for using Skype Access over Boingo tended to make it a “last resort” WiFi access service (while avoiding costly carrier roaming charges), Skype Access has become a more accessible and reasonable cost alternative to travelers worldwide. On the other hand, when at a specific location, you usually have only one choice for WiFi carrier. At hotels and airports it represents an alternative to “daily” charges for short term access sessions during a stopover or brief hotel stay. Most importantly the WiFi “Unregulated Stealth Carrier” experience is now available to Skype users at over 700,000 locations worldwide.

Related articles

• Skype Can Now Get You Access to 500,000+ Wi-Fi Hotspots (mashable.com)
• Skype buys a week of Wi-Fi for Spain (skypejournal.com)
• Skype launches global WiFi hotspot program (gizmag.com)

In the past I have written about how WiFi is becoming the de facto unregulated stealth wireless carrier; I have also mentioned Boingo as a service that provides significant convenience when on the road, with its 125,000 access points at airports, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and other public locations worldwide.

Over the past year Skype has added Skype Access as a feature of the latest versions of both Skype for Windows (4.2) and Skype for Mac (2.8) which provides another WiFi access option at the same 125,000 Boingo access points. It’s what I would call a “last resort” option in that its convenience also comes at a premium price starting at over $0.20 per minute. Obviously it is limited to work over PC’s, whether Windows or Mac.

Today there is a new option for Apple iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch owners only: purchase “Boingo WiFi Credits” via the Apple App Store. For $1.99 you get one hour of iPad, iPhone (or iPod Touch) connectivity over WiFi. Ideal for those who do not have a Boingo mobile account but occasionally need WiFi access at an airport or hotel to make a Skype or Truphone call. From the press release:

Consumers can purchase the $1.99 Wi-Fi credits in advance or at the time of connect simply by confirming the purchase using their iTunes account login. The credits can be redeemed for 60 consecutive minutes of Wi-Fi access at a single Boingo hotspot, and can be used at any of the more than 125,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide.

Apple mobile device owners can purchase as many credits as they want. Those users who buy credits in blocks of ten will be rewarded with an additional free credit.  The credits are good for up to one full year after purchase.

Available under “Boingo WiFi Credits”, initially on the U.S. and Canadian Apple App Stores. An interesting alternative for those who do not need the ongoing access available through Boingo’s Mobile WiFi offering.

To summarize the various Boingo offerings:

• For PC’s: Boingo Unlimited Americas, Boingo Global (subscriptions) or Skype Access (occasional use)
• For iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch:  Boingo Mobile (subscription) or Boingo WiFi credits (occasional use)
• For all other WiFi enabled smartphones: Boingo Mobile (subscription).

Bottom Line: one more option to connect via unregulated wireless access.

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• Apple’s iPad: Why iAttaché Would Have More Cachet! (voiceontheweb.biz)
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• Skype for Mobile – Now Focusing a True Skype User Experience (voiceontheweb.biz)

Three weeks ago Skype made available the “Gold” release of Skype 4.2 for Windows. In the interim I have had the opportunity to experience many of its new features, several of which I have found improve the call experience in somewhat subtle but very beneficial ways.

Call Quality Indicator

This is what I have found the most useful new feature; it simply provides quick access to determine the conditions under which a call is being made. Before a call you can check your audio/video setup; click on “Check Settings” to bring up the device bar; click on a device to check that each of the mic, speakers, webcam (only if the Contact has a webcam) and computer speed are appropriately configured for making a call.

During a call you can continue to track call quality in the Call Bar; the network quality indicator on the right will also become active:

Should network connection conditions change the network quality indicator will turn orange or red and the number of bars will reduce. If you get a red exclamation mark you have a serious issue with your setup that most likely needs to be addressed. (The call in this case was to Skype Test Call; thus the gray “video” icon as Skype Test Call does not have a webcam.)

Note also that, at the end of every call, there is an opportunity presented to report on call quality. Responding, especially with less than best quality calls, certainly helps Skype to get a statistical handle on their performance.

But there’s one other unannounced feature associated with the Call Quality Indicator; click on the drop-down arrow to the right of the volume control in the Call Bar and you’ll find a menu that can lead to assistance with call diagnostics.  Select “Call Technical Info” and a separate window will open up with a wide range of diagnostic information including the other party’s SkypeID, codec being used, jitter, packet loss information and, for some calls, the version of Skype being used by the other party. Some of this information has been readily available in previous 3.x versions of Skype; however, in earlier versions of Skype 4.x it always operated in a “flicker” mode which made it difficult to read. Only a portion of the information available is shown here; the “24000” sample rate means the call is taking full advantage of the 12KHz audio bandwidth supported by Skype’s SILK codec.

Skype Access

Skype Access was first introduced on Skype for Mac 2.8; now it’s available in Skype for Windows 4.2. When you enter a WiFi zone supported by Boingo (there are over 100,000 125,000¹ worldwide with the SSID’s shown at this link), a window will pop up indicating that Skype Access is available (simply by having the appropriate client on your laptop). While it’s not exactly the least expensive way to connect to the Internet (including Skype) via a WiFi access point, it does come in handy for those 15 to 30 free minutes during airport stopovers or in “urgent” situations where there is no other alternative.

(Full disclosure: the author has a Boingo account which is available at the same locations as Skype Access as it has proven to be a cost saver at hotels that have the alternative of an expensive daily fee or using Boingo. On the other hand even at these locations, the Skype Access window will pop open.)

From time-to-time Skype has a Skype Access promotion; one is occurring the weekend during which this post was published; the promotion offers free Skype Access from 00:01 GMT Saturday, March 20 to 23:59 GMT Sunday, March 21, 2010 (extended to 23:59 Monday, March 22 in the U.K. to assist travelers stranded by the British Airways labor disruption).

Ready for HD Video

Ready, yes, but we’re not there yet; the HD webcams equipped for this feature will not be available until later this spring. However, I have received some test calls demonstrating that Skype 4.2 for Windows does support HD Video calling using appropriately compliant Skype-certified HD video cameras from FreeTalk and faceVsion. To the right is captured a frame from a test call using a faceVsion camera; below is the call diagnostic information from a recent test call using a prototype FreeTalk webcam – 1280 x 720 is the key parameter indicating HD Video support. (Once again, these webcams will only be available later this spring on the Skype Store). That we are all going to love the experience of these HD Video calls is all I can say at the moment. Note the reference to the H.264 video codec that is embedded in the webcam; the associated video compression is done on the webcam itself to reduce the load on the host PC’s CPU during a call and the associated network bandwidth requirements.

Update: While the FreeTalk webcam call reported above was made Tuesday, March 16, Jason Harris reports on an HD Video call from Andy two days later using the same webcam in Coming Soon: High Quality Skype Video Calls With Everyman HD. (I did not want to embarrass Andy by showing the details of his facial stubble in the one frame that I captured during our call; recall that many actresses were wary of HD video when first introduced as it could show intimate details of facial blemishes. I’m sure the make-up industry has compensated by now.)

Call Transfer: Simply stated, Call Transfer, a popular feature of many Skype 3.x versions, has finally re-appeared in Skype 4.2 for Windows.

Brower Toolbars: Since the release of Skype for Windows 3.0 a Skype Toolbar icon for Firefox was available; concurrently there has also been available a Skype Toolbar for Internet Explorer. Basically it uses a Phone Number Recognition algorithm to locate phone numbers within a web page and Skype-enable them (essentially a Click-to-Call using Skype or SkypeOut). With Skype for Windows 4.2 this feature has finally become stable within Firefox (full disclosure – the author has been an external beta tester for this toolbar). In a subsequent post I’ll discuss how it can also be used to Skype-enable Skype contact names within a web page. Suffice it to say it has become a very handy tool, especially with telephone directory services.

Additional features: The release notes for Skype 4.2 also list several less significant but helpful changes that assist with the user call experience. For instance:

• The video call button remains available even if there is no webcam detected
• Improvements in video quality in low bandwidth conditions
• Improved contact importers, including from GMail, Facebook, Hotmail and Outlook

But it’s still not “perfect”. The Release Notes and Release Notes Document include details of not only improvements and bug fixes but also a list of known issues that the Developer team continues to assess and track down. But there’s one 3.x feature for which I still would like to see support in 4.x – namely Skype Public Chats.

Bottom Line: With three weeks of usage, Skype 4.2 for Windows definitely brings an enhanced user experience, especially with respect to providing diagnostic information to help with call quality issues. Skype Access opens up one more option for road warriors to have Internet access for short sessions at airports or ‘’urgent” situations where no other option is available. And we still have to wait a few weeks for the webcams that will support HD Video support, setting new standards for video calling, but the final outcome will be well worth the wait.

Of course, now that I have a MacBook Pro as my primary laptop, I have joined those asking when the equivalent features (Call Quality Indicator and HD Video calling) will be available in Skype for Mac².

¹Shortly after publishing this post I received my monthly email advising me that Boingo is now supporting 125000 access points worldwide.
² I can continue to use Skype for Windows on my desktop PC or via Windows 7 running as a virtual PC on Parallels for Mac.

Full disclosure: In Store Solutions, producer of the FreeTalk HD Video webcams, has become a client of Denali InterConneXions, publisher of Voice On The Web, building on the author’s previous business development experience with establishing partnerships that can assist with the promotion of a primary vendor’s offerings. A more complete statement will follow shortly.

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Announcement of the Skype – Verizon agreement certainly has generated buzz around both the Mobile World Congress and the blogosphere. Last Wednesday morning, one day after the announcement, several bloggers and mobile ecosystem players came together on a CalliFlower-hosted SquawkBox conference call to discuss both the triggers for the agreement and the implementations.

Co-hosted by Carl Ford and myself, participants on the call were Andy Abramson (who had been listening to the jungle drums on-site at MWC), Hudson Barton, James Body, William Volk, Alec Saunders, Thomas Howe and Moishe Maier.

Topics covered included:

• Verizon’s history of invoking VoIP; the “game” for Verizon (Carl Ford 00:30)
• Why Verizon finally had no choice but to do the deal. (Andy Abramson 02:15)
• What were the competitive drivers? (Andy Abramson 03:20)
• How does Verizon benefit from this agreement? (Andy Abramson 04:20)
• Who are the real winners (and losers) from this agreement? (Andy Abramson 05:00)
• How does this differ from what 3 is doing with Skype in nine countries (Andy Abramson 06:50)
• Lost in the announcement: final release of Skype for Symbian (Andy Abramson 07:50)
• Applications implications I: initial thoughts from Thomas Howe (08:15)
• Is Verizon missing a market segment through their smartphone offerings (James Body 09:05)
• Is this net neutral and no risk for Verizon? (Alec Saunders 11:00)
• How this agreement is a win for RIM (Andy Abramson 12:50)
• Dumb pipe or embedded intelligence: (Andy Abramson, Alec Saunders 13:50_ [Note that my last question to Russ Shaw was meant to be quoted as “When can I say ’Call Russ Shaw on Skype’?”, not “on mobile” as stated in this conversation; all four carrier friendly points referenced in this discussion can be found here.)
• Perhaps the most informative commentary: Applications implications II: a very interesting perspective on the mobile application store market from William Volk who has several of the top selling games on the iPhone. Backed up with comments by Mr. Mashup, Thomas Howe  (17:25) Terminology: ECPM – effective CPM. Bill makes some very poignant points about the uniqueness of Apple’s app store and why Verizon’s Get-It-Now app store that has no appeal to developers.

Download

Posts referenced during the call or subsequently relevant:

• Carl Ford: Jim Courtney & Carl Ford Converse about Skype & VZW
• Om Malik, GigaOm: Skype & Verizon’s Fear of the iPhone
• Andy Abramson, VoIP Watch: Skype, Verizon (and Andy) In the News
• Om Malik, GigaOm: Skype CEO: Skype Over 3G on iPhone Soon
• Om Malik, GigaOm: Skype-Verizon Deal: More Details
• Andy Abramson, VoIP Watch: Todd Carothers Point of View on Skype-Defining The Battleground

Thanks to Angelo Mandato at RawVoice for his assistance with getting my first “podcast” up and running using the BluBrry PowerPress WordPress plug-in. And, of course, our thanks to all who participated in the call.

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Over the past several months I have written three posts about WiFi’s ever-increasing role as a complement to the wireless carriers:

• WiFi: The Real Threat to the Mobile Carriers
• Is WiFi Becoming the Unregulated Stealth Carrier of the Future?
• Traveling in a Bipolar Mobile Mode

Basically, in my recent travels I have found that WiFi access is becoming more readily available at home, in the office and, as I travel, in hotels, airports and restaurants. Especially when in countries where roaming charges can be excessive, I seek out WiFi access points when on my BlackBerry and iPhone to minimize roaming expense for data.

Now that Apple is allowing VoIP over 3G, this strategy will become even more critical when using the Skype and Truphone applications for the  iPhone where the conversation uses VoIP technology over the data channel. While my home network data plan has sufficient monthly capacity for making these calls from within Canada, I’m not sure I want to be paying $1/MB when roaming in, say, the U.S. for a Skype call.

Brough Turner has built up an immense wealth of knowledge about Internet infrastructure and wireless carriers, not only from the technology perspective but also the business implications, including costs. He has recently published a post, WiFi Offload, not Femtocells, where, while postulating that Femtocell technology is too complex and costly become mainstream, he supports his argument by pointing out the business reasons for relying on WiFi as a primary “carrier” for wireless:

• “most mobile data is destined for the open Internet, not for someplace on the mobile operator’s network” Apparently 96% to 99%. Yet, relative to a direct broadband Internet connection, it’s much more costly per user (and more complex) for a wireless carrier to provide the tower and backhaul infrastructure required to connect a mobile phone to the Internet.
• “the primary sources of mobile data demand are laptops, notebooks and smart phones”. It’s become reality that most mobile devices these days support WiFi in addition to 3G/LTE/4G. And the iPad is a “data only” device. Demand for wireless connections will continue to grow rapidly; carriers need to look at the cost of new towers vs encouraging installation of WiFi access points (for which they have zero cost if the subscriber installs the access point).
• “WiFi access points cost less than femtocells” When end users can set up a WiFi access point for around $100 whereas the carriers’ towers can run $1MM to $2MM per tower and require a backhaul Internet link, it is actually to the carrier’s capital cost advantage to support the build out of WiFi access points, whether private (home, office) or public (hotels, restaurants, airports, etc.).
• “WiFi access points are showing up everywhere”. Yep, see the posts referenced above.

Three instances where WiFi has “bailed me out” recently:

• On both my January trips to CES and IT Expo, I had set up voice roaming with Rogers. Just one complication – over 80% of the calls I received, via roaming partner AT&T, had such poor call quality I had to ask the party to hang up and call them back. But when I called them back it was using Skype for iPhone over WiFi connections to have a more than acceptable call quality. AT&T simply failed, big time.
• At one recent hotel the hotel wanted to charge $14.95 per day per PC or smartphone for a WiFi connection. However, the hotel chain involved also had an arrangement with Boingo. Once I got the Boingo availability reminder I simply upgraded my mobile Boingo plan to a combined plan at $17.95 per month, connected my laptop, BlackBerry and iPhone and bypassed the hotel charges. As a bonus, I was also able to use the plan while waiting for my flights at two airports, amongst other Boingo-supported locations.
• During my trips to Spain last fall I ended up in situations where no public carrier access was available but there was WiFi access – once in an office with no 3G signal and once in a hotel in an ancient building with WiFi but no landline phone. Once again in these situations WiFi was the path to get data and Skype for iPhone or Truphone was used for voice calls.

The Bottom Line: Brough says it best in answering his own question “What should an operator do?”:

Mobile operators need to focus on providing bundles of connectivity, not on whether its 3G/4G or Wi-Fi. They should be encouraging Wi-Fi offload by bundling “free” public Wi-Fi access with their mobile data plans.

In the long term, it’s likely most mobile data bytes will go over Wi-Fi.  The 3G/4G network is still necessary to provide a backup path when no Wi-Fi is available. Mobile operators who recognize this can still come out on top, if they focus on facilitating connectivity for their customers regardless of the technology involved.

Note to Rogers: while Andy makes great use of UMA from T-Mobile’s @Home service during his overseas travels, Canadians would appreciate the same level of support for Rogers’ UMA-based services, which are currently limited to access from WiFi hotspots within Canada.

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All the hype leading up to Wednesday’s announcement of Apple’s new iPad has been complemented by all the post-launch posts and reviews. Many are disappointed that it’s not Apple’s implementation of a “netbook” PC while others for some strange reason think it should include a phone.

But it’s neither – it’s not a PC; it’s not a phone; it simply uses Apple’s technology, content and transaction resources developed for its PC and iPhone to launch a new category of electronic devices. In reality it’s an electronic version of a briefcase (or attaché case) which can contain everything we carry around with a roughly 8.5″ x 11″ (or A4) form factor. Consider the items we would carry around in a briefcase:

• newspapers and magazines
• books
• a binder or notebook containing contact information, appointment calendar, notes, logs, etc.
• business and personal documents
• letters and other mail items/packages
• reference documents such as maps, timetables, schedules, dictionaries
• clipboard
• 8.5″ x 11″ (or A4) notepad (blank, lined or grid)
• writing instruments: pens, pencils
• photographs (often in frames)
• single purpose DVD, Video and audio media players

So when we look at the features of the iPad presented yesterday, it appears a more appropriately descriptive name of the device would have been iAttaché:

• New York Times news media application
• iBooks
• Safari browser to access news, reference content and other web-based information
• email support
• personal information manager (contacts, calendar, tasks)
• Adobe reader
• iWorks (word processing, spreadsheet, presentations)
• Google Maps (3G supported version includes a cellular assisted GPS)
• multi-touch screen incorporating a touch keyboard
• Photo Manager (and serves as a photo frame)
• Media Players (video including YouTube, iTunes – but no Flash player)
• support of third party iPod and iPhone applications of which many include reference information

And for my $0.02 worth, this is where Steve Jobs and the Apple team have found their market niche:

• It’s an application specific device – an interactive electronic briefcase
• It’s not, and was never intended to be, a PC; it’s definitely not a phone (it just takes advantage of many technologies and features initially developed for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices)
• Its 10″ display is a very familiar size for many of the applications mentioned above
• with the either of the two dock options it can sit on a table top as a picture or document frame or or for watching videos conveniently
• It’s developed around Apple’s technology expertise with displays, graphics, multi-touch screens; it’s built around their iPhone OS, iTunes, iPod and App Store resources. However, it continues Apple’s philosophy of providing devices that are real easy for users with little or no technical expertise to set up and use.
• It was never intended to be a smartphone or a PC – it’s an electronic attaché case

The Phone Issue: To Skype or Not To Skype?Many are disappointed by the fact it’s not a phone; however, that issue was best addressed by this photo and an accompanying comment found on an acquaintance’s social networking:

Look at this picture of Steve Jobs holding his iPad. How would he hold it up to his ear to be a phone handset?

The iPad form factor definitely is not appropriate as a phone handset. One does not put a traditional attaché case up to the ear; a briefcase is designed to be carried with the arms down.

However, with the iPad’s built-in mic and speakers and placing it into one of its docks, it is anticipated that it can become a speaker phone where one can make Skype voice calls over a WiFi access point, using Skype for iPhone – given the claim that all iPhone applications are supported. For more privacy the user could also put the FREETALK Everyman headset’s speaker plug into the iPad’s 3.5 mm headset jack. It’s also worth recalling Skype for iPhone’s ability to support Skype chat sessions. (Did anyone notice the absence of iChat support?)

(And we’ll have to see if Skype calls could also be made over the 3G data connection supported by iPad now that Apple has supposedly removed its restriction on making VoIP calls over a (3G/HSPA+) carrier network. But also there may be a caveat.)

The Camera Issue:

How would you hold this up to be either a photo or video camera? iPad comes nowhere near an appropriate form factor for any type of camera. I already have enough trouble holding my Canon Digital Elph steady to do an HD video; that’s why I have a tripod.

And cameras on mobile phone handsets and other handheld mobile devices are largely a compromise when it comes to more than low quality photos suitable for web use. iPad lets you do your photography on dedicated cameras, which produce high quality results, and then process and store them on your electronic attaché case which incorporates a high quality display.

Bottom Line : iPad is a misleading name for this device; it should have been called iAttaché. Why?

• It’s designed to create an entire new device category and the “pad” analogy only represents a portion of what it really is – an electronic briefcase or attaché case
• It actually positions the product much better with the target consumer market, especially as a prestige device deserving of a premium price. Definitely “iAttaché” has more cachet in the prosumer market.
• Whereas the iPhone is primarily an information delivery device, the iPad does add the ability to create documents but then a briefcase will often hold pen/pencil and paper for the same purpose.
• Third party applications along with the Safari browser will often serve the same reference function as items such as maps, schedules and timetables but incorporating much more intelligence and, obviously, a worldwide range of content
• How many times will the names iPad and iPod cause confusion, especially when dealing with Apple for both purchases and support?
• There would be no jokes about association with certain feminine products.

Update: iPhone games publisher Ethan Nicholas has a guest post at Tech Crunch: Why My Mom’s Next Computer Is Going To Be An iPad:

The iPad is a computer for people who don’t like computers. People who don’t like the idea of upgrading their 3D drivers, or adjusting their screen resolution, or installing new memory. Who don’t understand why their computer gets slower and slower the longer they own it, who have 25 icons in their system tray and have to wait ten minutes for their system to boot up every day.

Read on…..

And it’s not just my Mom who used to expend hours of my time with these issues.

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The past six months, with three trips to Europe, have given me the opportunity not only to experience roaming on European 3G wireless services but also the strategies and alternatives that allow me to minimize roaming charges while traveling with both a BlackBerry and iPhone. A key to the achieving this goal lies in the support available for WiFi access points in hotels, restaurants, airports and at conferences that provide robust, scalable WiFi support. But the question outstanding is why would I use both devices? The answer lies in the applications and content.

While one can theorize academically about various low cost scenarios and one attempts to use WiFi wherever feasible, in actual travel, you need access to some form of wireless service wherever you may be. For instance, if lost in a city where you don’t speak the language, Google Maps can often help get you sorted out quickly. Or find the nearest restaurant district (was a big help in Paris, for instance). But you need wireless carrier access to use these services.

So what measures can I recommend?

First step: buy an International roaming package from the home wireless carrier. Over the summer Rogers introduced European roaming packages; here’s the comparison:

The good news about these packages is that the per MB and per minute charges remain the same for any overage over the minimum expenditures. The bad news is that roaming charges are still “huge” compared to the $0.03/MB or approximately $0.10 per minute paid when on my home Rogers network. U.S.-based users should check with their “home” carriers to see if similar plans are available. Rule of thumb and current reality, however: roaming charges remain the last ultra-high margin service for wireless carriers.

So, while relatively expensive, these packages are helpful when away from a WiFi access point; however, as mentioned above, the real saving comes when you set up for using WiFi wherever possible. (In addition I encountered a couple of situations where 3G coverage was weak or non-existent; in these cases access to WiFi became essential.)

Second step: ensure you have installed both Skype and Truphone on your iPhone; you can then make voice calls from WiFi access points at prevailing Skype or Truphone rates. For instance, Skype-to-Skype calls are free while SkypeOut calls are based on using either a Skype Calling Plan subscription or Skype credits.

Third step: buy, at a minimum, a Boingo Global Mobile plan; while WiFi in hotels and restaurants is usually free or has a daily charge, Boingo Global Mobile provides access in over 70 countries at airports and often at hotels where, otherwise, you would pay a daily fee that is usually more than Boingo Global Mobile’s monthly charge.

Fourth step: put the iPhone in Airplane mode but with WiFi access turned on. In this way, no voice calls are received via a wireless carrier; also the iPhone specifically requires proactive user permission to roam on data – leave this turned off. But the iPhone applications, including Skype and Truphone, can all be used when attached to a WiFi access point. (Note: I do not give out my iPhone voice number but do use it for various tests; Google Voice is not yet available in Canada to provide multi-smartphone calling.)

So here is where I use each device:

BlackBerry Bold 9000: email (both BlackBerry email and GMail), BlackBerry Messenger 5.0, Google Maps, SocialScope – still the most comprehensive Twitter application on a smartphone; SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry. Keep in mind that BlackBerry is overall more efficient for handling data due to the data compression provided by the BlackBerry Network Operations Centre architecture for managing data traffic. This ongoing wireless data compression feature is a major reason why I prefer BlackBerry for services such as Google Maps or downloading/uploading pictures in SocialScope as opposed to the iPhone when on a 3G wireless carrier network.

iPhone: main application is Skype, followed by Truphone. Very handy for making calls back to North America from hotel rooms or lobbies, restaurants as well as offices and conferences supported with WiFi access. (But you must have the relevant application open to receive calls and receive/send chat messages.) Other preferred applications include the Safari web browser (faster and more versatile than BlackBerry’s) and Facebook (which has a richer user experience than on BlackBerry) and a few applications that are unique to iPhone. Also comes in handy if the BlackBerry battery has died and I need immediate access to, say, GMail or a browser.

Bottom line: the feature that continues to dominate my preference for BlackBerry over iPhone is the keyboard; it’s a real time two-way communications device whereas the iPhone, with its superior browser capability, continues to be an information delivery device but works best for one way communication. My use of its touch screen keyboard tends to be limited to entering user names and passwords.

A few comments:

• There’s one major application missing on the BlackBerry – with its full multi-tasking capability the BlackBerry is ideally suited for Skype as a VoIP client. One can have real time chat sessions continue in background while using other applications; we experienced this with iSkoot but at this point one would expect to have seen the Skype for BlackBerry that was announced by Skype around the time of last spring’s launch of Skype for iPhone. And now that Skype for Symbian beta supports both 3G and WiFi and the FCC is supporting for “net neutrality”, the “carrier-support” argument for avoiding VoIP clients over WiFi on the BlackBerry no longer holds water. In fact, Rogers has made it clear that they have no issue with running Skype over 3G networks. Let’s hope that Skype and RIM can get the act together such that we can see a product introduction early in 2010.
• On my most recent trip I only bought the 15 minute voice package; with BlackBerry Messenger and SocialScope (for Twitter) available I found little need to make voice calls while in 3G only mode. Skype on my PC at hotel rooms and conferences as well as Skype and Truphone over iPhone addressed 95% of my voice calling needs. (Now, if I could just learn how to order a taxi in Spanish!)
• I realize most smartphone users will only have one phone. I present this post simply to provide an overview of my experience using both these devices while optimizing my roaming experience when traveling out of the home country. I need to have both devices due to not only their popularity but also the different content exchanged and user experiences for each smartphone.

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At about 5:30 (GMT+1) this afternoon members of the Skype Public Chat discussion learned that not only was there a new beta version of Skype for Windows 4.2 available for download but also Skype had released its first beta version of Skype for Symbian (for Nokia smartphones).

Shortly afterwards, while listening to the final Gillmor Gang panel session at LeWeb, I downloaded, via the event’s WiFi network, and installed the newly available Skype for Symbian beta onto a Nokia E71 that I use on Spain’s Vodafone for emergency calls during my trips to Spain. As an initial test I then sent out a few initial Skype Chat test messages. While there were some long delays I finally did receive responses to these messages..

I then realized that the LeWeb official blogger sitting next to me had a Nokia smartphone and asked her to install Skype for Symbian on her N96. About five minutes later, as Michael Arrington of TechCrunch fame was chiding Apple for not supporting VoIP over 3G networks, I made a successful Skype-to-Skype call between my E71 and her N96. While this call went across LeWeb’s WiFi network, the irony here is that Skype for Symbian is a complete VoIP client on a mobile smartphone and, according to Skype’s blog post:

Skype for Symbian works over Wifi or 3G data connection. We recommend having a unlimited data plan when using 3G connection.

I followed up with a successful Skype call to Andy Abramson at his hotel in Madrid, Spain where the voice quality was excellent in spite of the event’s background audio of the panel session.

My LeWeb deskmate has a Vodafone Netherlands voice and data plan and will let me know when she returns to Amsterdam this weekend if she can make Skype calls over Vodafone Netherland’s 3G network.

Skype for Symbian beta is claimed to be a “limited” beta; however, it supports:

• Free Skype-to-Skype calling
• Call phones with Skype credits or subscription
• Receive calls on your Online Number
• Instant Messaging
• Group conversations
• File sending and receiving

The important bottom line here is that Skype has finally released a mobile smartphone client that supports both 3G and WiFi from a full VoIP client with no intermediary servers as has been used on the 3 Skypephone over the past two years. Its use over the data plans of wireless carriers will test several aspects of smartphone services:

• Will carriers attempt to block VoIP clients’ services that bypass their inherent voice channel?
• Will smartphones have sufficient battery life to support a full day’s use of a VoIP client over a 3G network?
• How much data would be used during an average day’s use of Skype? (While many carriers claim to offer “unlimited” data plans, there are actually monthly caps of 5GB or more.)
• Where does a full Skype client provide an economic advantage over various voice plans, especially when it comes to making calls while roaming?

During my recent trips to Europe I have made heavy use of Skype for iPhone (and sometimes Truphone) over WiFi access points. Given the high charges for data while roaming, Skype for Symbian is still not a service that I would use over a “roaming” 3G network but I would continue to look for WiFi access points in hotels, restaurants and airports to access Skype on the supported phones. However, in my home country I can expect to make Skype calls from anywhere in Rogers 3G coverage areas using their relatively inexpensive data plan at little or no additional cost.

Update: Phil Wolff has more details and some caveats about this initial Skype for Symbian beta version over at Skype Journal.

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Two announcements yesterday, when meshed together, create the setting for Skype to become, de facto, the ‘”unofficial” personal communications software provider for the 2010 Winter Olympics at Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. next February:

Skype President Josh Silverman today posted: “Good Move AT&T”:

Since launching our iPhone application six months ago, people have downloaded and installed Skype on 10% of all iPhone and iPod touch devices sold – making it clear that people are extremely interested in taking Skype conversations with them on the go.

All of us at Skype applaud today’s announcement by AT&T (in an FCC filing to be published shortly – update, it’s here in PDF format) that it’ll open up its 3G network to Internet calling applications such as Skype. It’s the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skype users and the Internet itself.

Bell Canada’s Mobility service and Telus yesterday announced both the launch of their new joint-venture HSPA+ network across Canada next month and their agreement to be selling Apple’s iPhone amongst other 3G/GSM phones such as Nokia’s line. In fact, as shown on the right, the existence of the new network, with the identifier “302880”, can already be detected via the iPhone’s Carrier settings .

The implications of this announcement:

• Bell Mobility and Telus expect their HSPA+ network to completely replace their current CDMA/EV-DO network within five years.
• Bell Mobility and Telus will be providing direct competition to Rogers who, to date, has been the sole GSM carrier in Canada and will be able to offer a full range of 3G GSM phones – not only the iPhone but also Nokia’s GSM-exclusive line of phones.
• As a benefit of their current monopoly Rogers has also been the only carrier offering Apple’s iPhone since its Canadian launch in July, 2008. Canada now becomes one of the few countries with multiple carriers offering the iPhone.
• As another benefit of their GSM monopoly Rogers has been the sole network available for roaming by visitors from outside the U.S. and Canada as well as AT&T and T-Mobile customers from the U.S. Since athletes and visitors coming to the Vancouver Olympics from outside North America will have GSM phones, Bell Mobility and Telus will now be able to draw away from Rogers a significant portion of the roaming business that otherwise would have accrued by default to Rogers.
• Bell Canada is the “official” communications carrier for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Bell Mobility has built out their new HSPA+ network from the Telus network connection in Vancouver along the Sea-to-Sky highway to Whistler, site of the alpine and cross-country skiing events as well as bobsleigh, luge and skeleton “sliding” races.
• Additional communications capacity between Vancouver and Whistler has been built by Bell Canada for Internet communications, the 35 to 40 Mbps voice and data backhaul required for each of the wireless towers and the HD 5.1 surround sound television coverage that will include all events. No doubt a lot of fibre has been installed as BC Highways rebuilt the Sea to Sky Highway over the past few years to meet the Olympics’ inherent demands both additional vehicle capacity and enhanced safety. Being the “official” carrier this will benefit Bell Canada’s revenue stream also.

This raises the question of whether an HSPA-only service can run on the iPhone or BlackBerry Bold both of which currently only support 3G. The answer is Yes; HSPA will support 3G devices.

However, an HSPA+ network can only fall back to a 3G network capability when full HSPA capability is not supported by a device. But the iPhone and BlackBerry Bold also support 2G/EDGE networks.

As a result should a Bell Mobility or Telus customer leave an HSPA+ coverage area, there is no EDGE available for fall back when outside these areas. For example,when we drive the freeway from Toronto to Ottawa, we see EDGE for most of the trip except near Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa where Rogers 3G coverage exists. Either Bell and Telus will require roaming agreements with Rogers to provide non-urban service or they will not be able to offer as complete coverage to their customers.

Of course, those landlines will be able to support Skype on laptop PC’s using Ethernet or WiFi connections. But combining the two announcements along with Skype for iPhone’s recent availability in Canada, can Skype become the overall de facto “unofficial” personal communications software provider for the 2010 Olympics? Questions to be answered:

• Will Skype release a version of Skype for iPhone that supports both WiFi and 3G as the underlying wireless protocols prior to the Olympics?
• Will Skype finally release Skype for BlackBerry? (to address Phil’s desire for Skype on a multi-tasking smartphone)
• Will we see execution on Skype’s agreement with Nokia?
• Will the various communications and “Internet cafe” rooms for athletes and press be equipped with enough power sources to keep the various smartphones charged conveniently?
• Will Bell Canada have the same policy re Net Neutrality as Rogers who has publicly stated their primary business in providing Internet access and not managing applications or specific customer uses?
• Has Bell Canada signed the appropriate international roaming agreements with carriers around the world?

Certainly it’s within the realm of current technology to support Skype over wireless networks, whether WiFi or wireless carrier. Bell Canada touts their 2010 Olympics commitment as being “The first all-IP Olympics”. The question that remain:

• To what extent will the Skype ecosystem actually be able to execute on, and take full advantage of, this underlying IP-based communications infrastructure?
• Will Skype’s popularity, ease-of-use and combined voice/chat/video feature set make it the de facto “unofficial” voice, chat and video personal communications software provider for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics?

Call it Skype Everywhere by Stealth…. but can Skype execute on the challenge?

Disclaimer: Bell Canada, including its Bell Mobility wireless business unit, is the official communications services provider for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Skype is a software application, with over 500 million registered accounts worldwide, that uses these communications services for the purpose of voice, instant messaging and video conversations; however, Skype is in no way affiliated with, or endorsed, by the 2010 Winter Olympics Committee.

Full disclosure: For over thirty-five years the author has personally observed the growth of Whistler from a small and remote “boutique” ski area with one tragically slow 4-person per cabin gondola lift and a few double chairlifts into North America’s number one rated ski resort covering two mountains and capped off last year by the opening of a 4.4km peak-to-peak gondola that takes riders as high 436m above the valley floor. Concurrently the Sea-to-Sky highway has grown from a twisty, up-and-down adventure (and risky) roadway with some sections on wooden platforms on stilts anchored to rock walls over canyons to a safe multi-lane, yet still scenic, roadway. (I still consider it one of Canada’s most scenic highways.)

• A fully redundant fibre-optic network between Vancouver and Whistler to support essential broadcast traffic. Bell has successfully laid fibre to the front door of every major Olympics and Paralympics venue, and will ultimately connect all of the 130 competition and non-competition venues to our dedicated Olympics network
• Bell’s fibre-optic network will provide all voice, data and broadcast services for fans, media, athletes and officials from around the world, and will be the backbone that enables all Olympics and Paralympics connectivity. This includes 400,000 private radio calls, 10,416 hours of dedicated TV broadcast coverage to more than three billion viewers, timing and scoring results delivered in the blink of an eye, and more
• The highest level of reliability and redundancy and the most up-to-date technology for the full range of Olympics telecommunications services, including voice, data, broadcast video and audio, wireless PCS and private radio
• Provision of all hardware, cabling, logistics and support staff
• An unprecedented level of support to the Rights Holding Broadcasters, in particular the Broadcasting Service for the Olympic Games
• Internet portal services enabling an interactive, multilingual window to Canada and the world
• The first all-IP Olympic Games
• All built to minimize environmental impact by co-locating equipment to minimize footprint, coordinating construction schedules to reduce waste and using IP-based technology to dramatically reduce cabling and infrastructure needs

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Canadian iPhone and iPod Touch users will be able to celebrate all 9’s day (today is 09-09-09) by participating in Skype conversations from their iPhone. At 12:01 a.m. the Canadian Apple App store will be making Skype for iPhone available.

Breaking news (12:04 a.m. Sept. 9): I have just successfully downloaded Skype for iPhone from the Canadian Apple App store and sent my first chat message to the Skype 5.x Public Chat session.

When Canadians woke up on the March 31 worldwide launch date of Skype for iPhone they learned they could not be amongst the over 6 million iPhone users who have since downloaded Skype for iPhone from Apple App stores worldwide, except, of course, in Canada. A shock to the country where Alexander Graham Bell made the world’s first long distance call to Brantford, Ontario across a six kilometre wire from a nearby telegraph station back in 1876.

The Canadian launch of the Skype for iPhone was delayed while Skype and Apple Canada’s licensing teams worked out “ambiguity” issues related to Skype for iPhone’s use of the G729 codec in Canada. In an interview with Skype personnel yesterday I was advised these issues are now resolved with the Canadian launch set for 12:01 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009 when they will be able to download the recently released Skype for iPhone 1.2.

From the press release:

“We are delighted to bring the Skype for iPhone application to Canadian iPhone and iPod touch users as it opens up new ways for them to stay connected with family, friends and colleagues for free or minimal cost,” said Tom Yeung, Skype’s director of market development, Americas. “With more than 6 million downloads from the App Store so far, the Skype for iPhone application is one of our most popular mobile offerings so we’re delighted to say that Canadians can now also carry their Skype conversations with them wherever they go.”

Where can it be used: All Skype for iPhone features are available at any WiFi access point on both the iPhone and iPod Touch; however, when an iPhone is on a 3G wireless carrier the voice application is not available to be in compliance with the terms of Apple’s Software Development Kit licensing agreement. However, chat and presence activity can continue over a 3G carrier’s network.

To review Skype for iPhone’s feature set:

• What’s free:
  • Skype-to-Skype calls (only via a WiFi access point)
  • Skype IM: presence information and chat sessions between individuals or across groups
• What’s requires payments:
  • Calls to landline or mobile phones using either a Skype Calling Plan subscription or “pay-as-you-go” Skype Credits (requires WiFi access; connection fees may also apply)
  • Receiving calls at a Skype Online number (requires WiFi access)
  • Voicemail retrieval
  • Call Forwarding: (new in version 1.2) when the Skype for iPhone is not open on the iPhone, calls will be forwarded to the iPhone’s mobile number under the same terms as calls to landline or mobile phones.
  • SMS outbound messaging (new in version 1.2)

How useful is Skype for iPhone? when I was at a business meeting in Spain in early July, I found two North Americans using their Skype for iPhone as a “walkie-talkie” to communicate with each other while on the hotel property using its WiFi connection. Neat actually. With the rapid spread of WiFi access points as an alternative to using wireless carriers iPhone users should find many public and private (home, office) locations where they can use Skype for iPhone.

Rogers is ready to run Skype for iPhone’s voice calling over their 3G network whenever Apple removes their licensing restriction on VoIP applications employing 3G protocols. (But AT&T in the U.S. is probably nowhere near being able to handle the data traffic load that would result from lifting this restriction.)

Skype for iPhone suffers from one limitation of the iPhone: the lack of background processing. You must have the application open, not only to send and receive voice calls, but also to follow chat sessions. Hopefully the previously announced Skype for BlackBerry will address this issue where the BlackBerry supports background processing.

Bottom line: with Skype chat as over 80% of my Skype activity I look forward to being able to track chat sessions while riding buses and commuter trains (but not while driving a vehicle – text messaging while driving becomes illegal in Ontario this month). And making Skype voice calls from my home as well as hotels, restaurants and other myriad of locations with a WiFi access point.

P.S. – Is it coincidence that Skype for iPhone became legally available to Canadians so soon after the announcement that 17 million Canadians will have a shareholder interest in Skype? Probably not.

• Globe and Mail: Canadians, rejoice: Skype for iPhone is here
• CBC.ca: Skype finally hits iPhones in Canada includes a more detailed discussion about the licensing issue.

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On a recent trip to Spain, where I turned off my BlackBerry Bold’s and iPhone’s  mobile carrier network connection except when really required, I was able to use WiFi connections at my various hotels quite effectively to keep up with my “data” activities on these devices. (Except in a situation mentioned below I used Skype on my PC for voice calls.) But there were two situations I encountered during this trip which really hit home the message that WiFi is becoming as important as mobile carrier offerings for wireless smartphone communications:

• In one instance, two Canadians, who had stealthed Skype for iPhone onto their iPhones, used a Spanish hotel’s WiFi service to make Skype voice calls between each other, almost as if their iPhones were “walkie-talkies” while on the hotel’s grounds. No roaming charges for these calls.
• In another case, I spent one night in a hotel room, in a recently renovated 8th century building, that had no landline. But it had a WiFi service available; I used Truphone on my iPhone to make a couple of voice calls. (The price of staying “legal” in Canada is not to have Skype for iPhone installed.)

The trip, combined with my WiFi experience during a March vacation trip to South Carolina, significantly reinforced my belief that WiFi is becoming the potential “stealth” carrier in the smartphone communications business. But what does that portend for the future?

Friend Andy Abramson, in a post Rumored New Apple iPod Touch Will Be Huge for VoIP, Multimedia, has pointed to the rumors of a new iPod Touch that will include a camera, a built-in microphone and 64GB of memory:

This is awesome news for the likes of Skype and client Truphone and will likely start a flood of “me too” applications from the likes of Cablevision who operates a WiFi hot zone in the New York area, Clearwire and Comcast who are chasing customers in the Portland area with WiMax and elsewhere as the WiFi capability of the iPod touch means its a mobile phone without the mobile phone bill and contract connected to it, something Jeff Belk, the former Senior VP of Strategy at Qualcomm discussed in Unstrung in February of this year.

And where does he see the disruptive uptake?

…. Within two key categories:

1) Pre-teens who need a phone but can’t afford a contract

2) Travelers who don’t need to be “always on” but want to stay in touch cost effectively.

Who benefits from this? Anyone with a travel router to sell, including Apple. Toss a travel router in your bag, and stay in a hotel with wired broadband to your room, and logging on is a snap.

As pointed out in the introduction to this post, I think I was already well into Andy’s category 2 during my Spain trip. Alec Saunders, in Will the new iPod Touch unleash VoWiFi? I’ll wait and see, sees WiFi as a “backup” to 3G network but pipes into the road warrior discussion with:

Travelling, however, is a different story.  As Andy notes, you can talk for free on WiFi when you’re travelling, versus whatever the outrageous roaming rate that your carrier might charge.  Savvy travelers use products like Truphone and Skype to avoid roaming charges.

Bottom line: users will continue to look for the combination of access and cost that serves their immediate need. While in Canada, I never run over 1GB of data on my BlackBerry Bold and have a reasonable cost voice subscription for voice calls; thus my mobile carrier costs are not a particular concern. But when I leave Canada, I will look to use any wireless service that avoids the last bastion of excessively high mobile calling costs: roaming charges.

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We all know that Skype for iPhone currently requires that you be at a WiFi access point in order to make a Skype call from the iPhone, even though it supports 3G data. So, when highly respected technology reporter Larry Magid, attending today’s D:AllThingsDigital conference, sends out the Tweet, shown to the right, quoting AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, many questions arise:

• Has AT&T heard that Skype really provides communications software? I think that is the message that Skype President Josh Silverman has been trying to deliver when he states, “software will drive the future of real time communications innovation and efficiencies going forward, not the existing telcos”
• Is failure to allow Skype for iPhone to run over AT&T’s 3G network a tacit admission that AT&T continues to suffer from 3G data network capacity and quality issues? Once again my most recent trip roaming on AT&T in Chicago four weeks ago demonstrated nothing to say service availability and robustness has improved over my previous experiences in PA, WV, VA, NC, SC, CA and NV.
• Is AT&T’s response to SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone (or BlackBerry) one more challenge to, or subtle admission of, AT&T’s network quality and robustness issues. Is the following statement a cover-up for their failings:
  

  “Slingbox, which would use large amounts of wireless network capacity, could create congestion and potentially prevent other customers from using the network,” an AT&T representative said in e-mail to reporters. “The application does not run on our 3G wireless network. Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of service.”

I would invite Mr. Stephenson to Canada where I can demonstrate Rogers’ high quality 3G GSM data network that:

• has robust and reliable 3G data coverage in not only major population areas but also all our major tourist and recreation areas (Whistler, Central Ontario, Tremblant, etc.)
• is always there when I expect it
• has no issue with using SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry (and has made no issue with SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone either)
• Rogers is offering its Rocket Stick mobile data service over its  7.2Mbps 3.5G HSPA network, placing additional demand on their network capacity.

Bottom Line: Sorry, Randall, but AT&T has a long way to go to show that they understand the real potential of, and that they’re serious about, their mobile business.

For more amusement check out John Paczkowski’s report on Walt Mossberg’s Q&A with Randall Stephenson at D7.

Update: Om Malik reports this afternoon at GigaOm: AT&T Moves Up Its LTE Rollout, Admits To Network Issues. Seems that AT&T is finally admitting they have some issues to address.

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I follow several forums about Skype, for instance at LinkedIn and on eCademy. Recently I have noticed a thread on the LinkedIn Skype for Business Group asking about using Skype without a PC. While eventually I intend to have more detailed information in response to such a question in the reference content on this site, let me summarize what is available as of today. The sales channels for these products are largely through the Skype Store (which is country-specific). Unfortunately several players who had good offerings have abandoned their Skype hardware offerings over the couple of years; however, we are starting to see the emergence of new devices.

Mobile Phones

Update: March 1, 2010: Access to Skype on mobile smartphones has evolved to several platforms; there are several posts that provide an update to what is stated below:

• Skype for Mobile – Now Focusing on a True Skype User Experience includes a summary table of options, as of March 1, 2010, for running Skype on mobile smartphones.
• Skype for iPhone: Now Legally Available for Canadians

Update: May 30, 2010: Skype for iPhone now works over GSM 3G/HSPA+ networks:

• Skype for iPhone 2.0 Released: 3G Skype-to-Skype Calling to Require a Fee
• Skype for iPhone 2.0: The End User Experience
• Skype for iPhone 2.0: The Commentary and The Reality

Obviously the most popular is Skype for iPhone. With over 1 12 million downloads since its introduction in late March 2009 earlier this week, the major caveat is that you need either an iPod Touch (with a microphone accessory) or iPhone. In both cases you also need to be at a WiFi access point to take full advantage of Skype’s voice and IM features; however, you can also use Skype IM (presence and text chat) on the iPhone using a carrier’s 3G or 2G/EDGE data plan (but not voice). Currently Skype for iPhone is not available in Canada pending resolution of a patent licensing issue. Skype for iPhone does require that the application be open in order to received messages and Skype calls.

Skype Lite for Nokia has been replaced by Skype for Symbian.

Skype has also been developing Skype Lite for a wide range of Java-enabled phones, including the Nokia N- and E-series phones. Again one can use Skype IM (presence and text chat) for those phones that support a WiFi connection (such as many of the Nokia N- and E-series smartphones). But for voice, one needs a carrier for which Skype is setting up arrangements in ten countries. Skype announced earlier this week that a Skype Lite for BlackBerry will be available in May, 2009.

As mentioned in the first update post above, Skype for Windows Mobile has been withdrawn.

Skype for Windows Mobile has been available for several years, recently released version 2.5 and demonstrated the Skype for Windows Mobile 3.0 beta. They recommend its use via WiFi access points; however, its use on a Windows Mobile smartphone over 3G may have performance limitations, especially with respect to battery life.

If you are in one of the nine countries served by 3 as a carrier, you will find the Skypephone 2 available as well as a few other devices that supports Skype operation. Later this spring Skype will appear embedded into Sony Xperia X1 and new Nokia smartphones.

There are two third party solutions that I have used quite often: iSkoot (BlackBerry, several Nokia smartphones) and IM+ for Skype (BlackBerry, iPhone/iPod Touch, a few Nokia smartphones). On the BlackBerry they can take advantage of the inherent background processing to allow Skype chat sessions to remain active while executing other applications; they also require both a voice and data plan (2G or 3G GSM) in order to complete voice calls; chat sessions are supported over a WiFi connection.

There are several other third party offerings which provide Skype access, including Truphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, some Nokia models), Fring (iPhone, some Nokia) and Nimbuzz (iPhone). Suffice it to say that, while one can carry on conversations via these services while dealing with user interface, performance and/or call quality issues, the best service level is achieved from a service where Skype has full control of the software and network connections.

Skype’s strategy for mobile was recently outlined by Skype COO Scott Durchslag.

Dual Mode Phones

About two years ago several hardware vendors introduced dual mode PC-free phones that allow you to connect to both Skype via a broadband Internet connection and the PSTN. However, currently these devices are undergoing a transition as Skype restructures, the only phone that is readily available today is the Philips VOIP3211 which can be found for several countries via the Skype Store. Update, Fall 2009: The only dual mode phone that is readily available as of fall 2009 is the RTX 3088 Dualphone; feedback here. The one caveat for these phones is that they support voice and presence but have no chat capability.

IPEVO also offers their Skype Desktop Phone S0-10, which only provides Skype calling over an Ethernet connection into a router.

Skype Video Phone

I recently received an evaluation ASUS Eee Videophone AirGuru SV1, which provides support for both Skype voice and Skype video calling along with presence information (no chat). My few conversations with it have been quite satisfactory and the user interface provides easy setup of calls. Basically all operations are done via a five-way trackball where you have up/down/right/left to navigate and a central push button to perform an action. While it is basically a video speakerphone, there are headphone jacks on the rear.

To get started you simply plug it into an Ethernet port on a router or switch with a minimum broadband Internet service and enter the setup routine to provide your Skype account information. Optionally it also supports WiFi access if you are not attached via an Ethernet connection.

WiFi Phones

These are again available via the Skype Store with models provided by Netgear and Belkin that support voice and presence. I have never been a fan of the Skype WiFi phones, especially from a price/performance perspective, as they have very limited functionality and have found them to have battery life issues amongst other problems. But some people seem to like them. More recently IPEVO has offered their WiFi Phone for Skype S0-20.

Others

Skype can be found on the Nokia N800 and N810 N900 small tablet handsets; Sony Mylo and some Sony PSP models. However, these are examples of embedding Skype into a device as part of Skype’s “Skype Everywhere” strategy where conversations become one more feature of a specialty device.

Conclusion

“Skype without a Computer” is inherent in Skype’s new “Skype Everywhere” strategy recently outlined by the new Skype executive team. With the current restructuring of Skype where more mature business processes are being introduced to incorporate product marketing, build partnerships and spread the availability of Skype across many platforms, we can expect to see new “PC-free” Skype hardware coming out in the future. In their visioning statements, beyond mobile devices, they point out that we may see it attached to TV sets, automotive dashboards and embedded into other hardware.

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• Skype for iPhone: What’s the point? (news.cnet.com)
• Skype is Coming to the iPhone. For Real. (mashable.com)

While, being a Canadian where I could not try out Skype for iPhone “legally”, I have followed the coverage and comments across the web. At this point I simply want to provide a summary and links to some of the feedback. In some sense, Hudson Barton’s tweet earlier today, shown above, sums it all up.

First, I should mention, however, that as of the end of its first day of availability, Skype for iPhone was the number one downloaded iPhone application in ten forty countries: U.S., U.K., Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Japan and Australia and thirty others; it was number 2 in China. According to one chat message I observed, there were over 600,000 downloads on Tuesday’s launch day.

The Reviews

Om Malik on GigaOm: Review: Skype for iPhone. Verdict: Awesome

My Verdict: For those of you that use Skype on a daily basis and own an iPhone, this could very quickly become the simplest way to make long-distance calls. And I’m predicting a big upsurge in Skype as an “IM client” with this release.

To Skype developers who worked on this product, I have two words: Great work! Of course, it would be even better if you got it launched on the BlackBerry so that I could use it on my Curve 8900.

Liane Cassvoy on PC World: First Look: Skype for the iPhone

You won’t find a whole lot in the way of iPhone-only features in this version of Skype. You can use your iPhone camera to take a picture to use as your profile photo, or you can upload a picture from your existing photo roll. But that’s about it. Still, if you’re looking for a solid mobile VoIP service for your iPhone, I can easily recommend Skype. Sure, rival services like Truphone have some features that Skype for iPhone lacks–such as the ability to chat via third-party IM services like AIM and Yahoo Messenger. But, to me, call quality is what matters. And Skype wins that battle easily.

Phil Glockner on ReadWriteWeb: Skype for iPhone: It’s Real and It’s Spectacular

Rest assured the interface is slick and the app works as promised. But, I think the real reason why we are all so excited about this release over other Skype-enabled iPhone apps like Fring or Truphone is simply how much it works like its desktop-bound big brother that we know and love. Instant messaging chats just work. Group chats just work. Getting at-a-glance status on your Skype friends just works. The bottom line is, other apps may get the job done, but due to bad interface design, a critical missing feature, or trying to do too much, are not a pleasure to use. This client actually is a pleasure.

James Kendall at jkontherun has done a video of his call to colleague Kevin Tofel attending CTIA; they certainly were impressed.

Dan York, Skype for iPhone – All I Want From It Is …, discusses the power of Skype’s persistent chat feature, especially when it comes to group chats:

MY ONE BIG WISH

While all this is true, I personally don’t really care. Sure, it will be great to be able to receive a Skype call and sure, it be great to be able to make a Skype call (all on WiFi of course). Sure, all that’s great.

But there is one single thing that I am looking for in this Skype for iPhone application that has been missing from Fring, IM+, TruPhone and every other iPhone app that has offered some type of Skype integration. In a word, it is simply this:

groupchats

Over the past several years I have become a huge user of Skype multi-user groupchats. Both for internal groupchats within organizations or companies and also for public groupchats where people have joined together to discuss common topics. They are an incredible communication tool – and no other iPhone app has delivered those for Skype.

On Dan’s point I have to agree strongly. Chat is 90% of my Skype activity. I have used iSkoot on the BlackBerry largely to follow my Skype chat sessions when out of my home office. The biggest issue has been battery drain; it is imperative to recharge at least daily when using iSkoot (and sometimes more often). iSkoot will follow Public Chats but not group chats.

If Skype cannot resolve the Canadian patent-licensing issue, at least offer a Canadian edition that follows chat sessions. One major advantage of iSkoot (or any Skype client, such as IM+ for Skype) on the BlackBerry is that chat activity can occur in background with message notification whereas following chat activity on the iPhone requires that the Skype application be open.

My own experience: Yesterday I did receive, on my Skype for Windows 4.0 client, a call from a Skype for iPhone user in the U.K.; it was a twenty minute call where call quality was fine for a call over the G729 codec. We could carry on a normal discussion. At the end the caller said that Skype for iPhone got the JB Seal of Approval.

Bottom line: I have seen several Tweets and chat messages along the lines of Hudson’s message above, it appears that, in spite of technology limitations, there will be a lot of Skype chat messaging over WiFi, 3G and 2G/EDGE and a lot of Skype calling from WiFi access points.

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Having just come out from behind the rocks of West Virginia and spent all yesterday traveling, I arrived home to find that it has been confirmed that Skype will be launching an application on the iPhone tomorrow. The major point coming out of the announcement, aside from the conversation feature set, is that Skype for iPhone will require WiFi access to the Internet. A masterful stroke on Skype’s part, especially after my experience over the past ten days that involved 3200 km of driving, mostly on U.S. Interstates, and nine nights of lodging. Some key bullets to back this up:

• AT&T is just not a reliable 3G wireless network – full stop. I have reported on this previously involving trips to California and Nevada; Om confirmed it recently when he switched from iPhone and BlackBerry Bold on AT&T to Blackberry 8900 Curve on T-Mobile.
• When the best I can find is one bar (and not always) at a major tourist destination with over 2 million visitors per year, Skype could not rely on AT&T to deliver anything close to the current experience Skype and iSkoot are having on the 3 networks in nine countries.
• T-Mobile actually had more bars than AT&T on Hilton Head Island but only two at best; of course an iPhone will not work over T-Mobile.
• AT&T coverage along the Interstates varied from zero to full 3G, but with the latter only near major cities (as to be expected). It was the intermittent 2G/EDGE coverage along the Interstates that was very frustrating. (I can drive along Ontario’s major freeways with no service interruptions, whether 2G or 3G.)
• WiFi access points are becoming pervasive. Every hotel along the route was advertising high speed Internet connectivity (usually WiFi); most restaurants also had WiFi access, including one at a New York State Thruway rest stop. Our primary lodging had individual access points for each unit.
• I used my Boingo account at one overnight hotel for access without a hotel WiFi charge.

My WiFi experiences during the week (all at no additional cost):

• the major connection for both my Windows laptop and MacBook at our accommodation
• Making Skype video and voice calls from the Mac Book
• Downloading and installing the final release of SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry
• Updating iPhone applications
• Following an NHL hockey game of interest via SlingPlayer on my BlackBerry Bold using my NHL Center Ice cable subscription
• Making Skype calls and PSTN calls via Truphone for iPhone (but with echo cancellation issues on the Skype call and termination issues when calling the PSTN).
• With Boingo, avoiding additional WiFi charges at one of our overnight stops during the trip down.

Not only did WiFi make these applications possible; there were no (Rogers) roaming charges for a Canadian traveling in the U.S. At $6/MB (and when I had an AT&T signal), I limited my use on wireless GSM networks to checking GMail headers, following Twitter via SocialScope and, during our trip home, finalizing a hotel reservation as we neared our overnight destination (and this exercise involved waiting for coverage at some points as we traveled along the I-79 through West Virginia’s mountains).

Boingo will be a major benefactor of this trend; their relationships with major hotel chains, airports and restaurants contribute to this trend and provide an account that minimizes charges. Having clients on Macs, Windows PC’s, Nokia smartphones and, currently in alpha phase, BlackBerry again improves the user experience making the technology transparent to the calling protocol.

One difficulty continues with WiFi: access at high usage locations such as conventions where capacity limitations come into play.  Ultimately it reinforces that WiFi still needs to address scalability issues.

Bottom line: WiFi is stealthing its way significantly into the wireless picture for fixed point access to the Internet by road warriors. Of course its speed and robustness features are additional benefits.

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Yesterday Om put up a GigaOm post, Skype on iPhone to be released as early as next week. While it’s still an unconfirmed “exclusive” rumor (and you can safely bet the eBay PR hounds are looking for any leak source if this is a leak), it does raise the issue of what we should expect the Skype experience to be if Skype for iPhone is released (even as a beta). It also raises the question of what is happening with the overall Skype on Mobile strategy outlined earlier this year by Skype COO Scott Durchslag in a blog post.

What I can confirm is that at the CES press conference back in January, Skype COO Scott Durchslag did say in an interview that Skype was looking to have Skype for iPhone at some future unannounced date. And I did meet the Skype for iPhone product manager at Skype’s CES 2009 reception; he was relieved that he could now at least give out his title, if not details. At the same CES press conference, Skype demonstrated calls made using its Java-based Skype Lite which has been in various forms of beta since last spring.

We’ve seen several attempts at accessing Skype on an iPhone(Truphone, Nimbuzz, Fring). I have also been using iSkoot on the BlackBerry (and at times Nokia N-series) smartphones as well as IM+ for Skype on various devices. Recently I have been able to check out the Skype IM feature of Skype Lite. Using and trialing these services have provided lots of details about feature set requirements for a fully-featured Skype user experience. As a result I have established some criteria for an acceptable “Skype on Mobile” experience.

1. Skype Contacts: bring up a user’s complete list of Skype contacts (regardless of number of contacts); be able to find a contact by typing in the first few letters of a name, see the appropriate real time presence information; launch a Skype chat session or Skype voice call.
2. User interface: I want to look at my Skype contacts, with presence information, and be able to hit the “green” call button on the device to initiate a call to a Skype contact. Hit the red “end call” button to terminate a call. (iSkoot on BlackBerry does this.)
3. Chat messages: I want the device to be able to monitor my Skype IM activity in background, notify me of activity and bring it up at my convenience. (iSkoot on BlackBerry does this.) I also want Skype Public Chat threads maintained as a single session; Nimbuzz treats each participant in a Public Chat as separate “contact” sessions.
4. Receiving calls; I want to be able to receive Skype calls whether I am in the “Skype-enabled” application or using another smartphone application. Receiving calls on the BlackBerry or Nokia smartphone is an option with iSkoot; with any iPhone application you must be in the application to receive a Skype call.
5. Native address book integration: I want to be able to find a contact in the device’s native address book and be able to make a SkypeOut call to a selected Home/Business/Mobile/Other phone number. Truphone has always been diligent about including native address book access; iSkoot also provides this in its more recent releases.
6. Mood message update: while not critical, it is definitely desirable to be consistent with a fully featured Skype service.
7. Battery life management: I want to have minimal battery use; iSkoot demonstrates that handling all the chat and call signaling activity can drain a battery quite quickly, especially if on a WiFi connection. Using BlackBerry’s “push” API’s is one means of addressing this issue. Battery lifetime will be even more important on any potential iPhone application; battery management, including lifetime, has been one of iPhone’s weaker points.
8. Call quality. While certainly limited by the mobile networks’ and smartphones’ inherent audio bandwidth, issues such as echo cancellation and call break-up have arisen with some services. Once again this has not been an issue on iSkoot for BlackBerry calls; however, I have found these issues to occur on calls to Skype contacts via Fring and Truphone on the iPhone.
9. Network quality: I have yet to have a good 3G network experience with AT&T; I have mentioned this in the past during recent trips to California and Nevada. Om has written about it to the point where he switched to using a 8900 Curve on T-Mobile after giving up on Bold and iPhone on AT&T. My vacation location this week only has AT&T 2G service available and, even then, it is minimal reliability. (T-Mobile 2G definitely has “more bars” here.) My only recommendation here can be, if you wish great 3G reliability and reception on a BlackBerry Bold or iPhone, move to Canada and use Rogers where 3G network availability and quality has never been an issue for me.

Here is my current Skype access on mobile situation:

• iSkoot provides excellent call quality as well as chat sessions in background (including content from sessions over the previous day or two). iSkoot’s major technical downside relates to battery drain, an issue that is correctable via newer “push” API’s. Costs will vary by my smartphone location:
  • Within the Toronto local calling area: no charge for voice or data.
  • Within Canada: long distance charges (~$0.25/minute) for voice; no charge for data. It’s still cost effective to use iSkoot.
  • Outside Canada: roaming charges ($0.95/minute in U.S.; much more in Europe) plus long distance charges make iSkoot a very expensive service. Only Skype services on 3 have partially addressed this issue in all the countries served by 3.
• Truphone’s Skype access:
  • Voice: Truphone for iPhone provides unacceptable Skype call quality (serious echo cancellation issues) but can complete calls to Skype contacts over a WiFi access point. The Truphone client must be open to receive Skype voice calls. Truphone Anywhere, which requires access to the carrier’s network for voice, has the same cost considerations as listed for iSkoot above. (To give due credit, a Truphone call over WiFi this afternoon directly to one of my iPhone contacts did not have echo issues.)
  • Chat: The Truphone client can only support IM chat sessions when the Truphone client is open. The content seen comprises only those messages exchanged while in the “current” chat session; all chat sessions are closed when you leave the Truphone application; previous content is not recallable.
• Skype for Mobile (aka Skype Lite) on Nokia E71:
  • As making Skype voice calls is reliant on having carrier relationships, I can only access Skype chat activity via WiFi; in this case previous Skype chat sessions can be recalled. Skype has announced they are working with carriers in ten named countries but no other details have been provided.

While I would expect any Skype on iPhone offering would use the “Skype Lite”/iSkoot /Truphone Anywhere architecture involving use of the data channel for chat and call signaling but the inherent carrier voice channel for voice, recall that Skype Lite is basically a Java application that has been in beta for some time whereas iPhone on Skype would require a relatively new and yet-to-be-beta-tested Apple OS/X application. On the other hand, iPhone 3.0 will address some of these issues.

Bottom line – there are many issues to be addressed to have Skype on the iPhone  maintain Skype’s reputation for providing an easy-to-use, reliable, scalable consumer service. While I won’t totally discount the rumors of Skype on iPhone, my prediction for what Skype may announce next week at CTIA Wireless: carrier agreements related to using Skype Lite:

• First announced last April (as Skype for Mobile), Skype Lite is at the point where Skype needs to announce some carrier agreements to demonstrate that Skype Lite actually has carrier adoption.
• Carrier adoption is critical to the business model for generating revenue from Skype Lite.
• It would be consistent with the Skype for Mobile strategy about which Scott Durchslag blogged during the Mobile World Conference in February.
• This is a major international conference where wireless carriers and vendors do business.

We’ll be looking forward to seeing what announcements do come out next week.

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Skype Access, where a Skype user can go to any Boingo WiFi access point and use Skype Credits to pay for Boingo service on a “per minute” basis via Skype Credits, has so far only been available via Skype for Mac 2.8 beta launched in early January. However, as a St. Patrick’s Day present, Skype announced that they would give away 10,000 free minutes of Skype Access for one week from March 17 to March 23 00.00 GMT. Skype will pick up the first 30 minutes of an individual user’s session under this promotion.

Having failed, shortly after launch in early January, to get Skype Access to work at a local Starbucks, where Bell Mobility has a partner agreement with Boingo, I returned to the same Starbucks (Streetsville in Mississauga, Canada) this afternoon. I can now report that, on launching Skype for Mac 2.8 beta on a MacBook, Skype Access was immediately recognized and a WiFi session commenced.

During this time I successfully made an excellent quality Skype video call to Dan York where the technical specs showed the video to be 640 x 480 @ 15 fps (or slightly greater – recall that Mac webcams do not meet the 30 fps network transmission specifications required for Skype High Quality Video). At 25 minutes I was warned that I only had five more minutes to use Skype Access free; while I certainly went beyond five minutes, I do not see any charges against my Skype Credits when looking at my call history.

Using WiFi at a Canadian Starbucks (provisioned by Bell Mobility) now gives me five options for acquiring WiFi access:

• Skype Access (~C$0.23 per minute using Skype Credits)
• Bell Mobility (C$0.15 per minute via credit card)
• Bell Mobility (C$0.15 per minute charged to my Rogers Wireless account)
• Starbucks Card (free for up to 2 hours daily provided you have used your Starbucks card in the previous 30 days, also available over AT&T in the U.S.).
• Boingo (~C$11.50 per month, suitable for road warriors, provides unlimited access at thousands of North American locations)

Obviously Skype Access is a service that one would use as a last resort in attempting to make WiFi access. For instance, need a quick email check or browser lookup while in an airport waiting room or at a Starbucks between meetings on the road, Skype Access becomes a convenience. Definitely not a service I would use for a two hour meeting requiring Internet access at a Starbucks in Canada.

I also took the opportunity to check out Boingo’s access services. When I booted the MacBook, I immediately received notification that I was at a Boingo access point. Turned on my iPhone with the Boingo client installed; once again I was able to make a connection. However, this required me to navigate through three or more Bell Mobility “login” pages on the iPhone – including having to re-enter my Boingo login data at one point – tedious but I was eventually connected.

I then attempted to access Boingo WiFi on my BlackBerry Bold. Once again the new alpha Boingo client for BlackBerry recognized I was at a Boingo access point; however, i was not able to login successfully. A report is forthcoming to Boingo contacts but I also have reason to believe there is an issue with the BlackBerry WiFi access algorithms on my older, but most recent Rogers, version of BlackBerry firmware in this case.

The key point here is that WiFi access for road warriors is continuously expanding, not only in terms of number of locations but also variety of service options available, even at one location. And Boingo, whose story I have followed since its launch in 2001, continues to expand not only its locations but also the platforms supported.

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Whenever I travel to the U.S. I am careful with usage of my BlackBerry Bold for voice calls; there’s a $0.95 per minute roaming charge for any use of it on the AT&T or T-Mobile network even before any long distance charges are considered. Calls back to Toronto from California will result in a total charge of $1.75 per minute. And, at $6.00/MB for data usage, I try to maximize my data activity via WiFi access points in hotel rooms, airports and conference press rooms. And, when I go to Mexico or Europe I look for any opportunity to make voice calls over Skype and access data services over WiFi; in fact, in Mexico, one is advised to turn off the BlackBerry. Roaming charges will easily clean out your wallet.

Recently a Los Angeles Times reporter was referred to me for more information about how he could avoid “roaming charges billing shock” in the future. He had just received a $400 roaming charge billing for using his iPhone over the Rogers network during a weekend trip to Vancouver, Canada.

At one of Andy Abramson’s famous Blogger dinners, held during a recent conference, roaming charges were identified as the number one cost issue and arbitrage opportunity existing in the wireless services market today.

Today Truphone, who has continuously demonstrated innovation in low cost wireless calling, announced their forthcoming Truphone Local Anywhere service at Mobile World Congress. From the press release:

The introduction of Truphone’s multi-country, single-SIM service will change the current experience of people with an international lifestyle.  Their mobile experience is currently characterized by frustration, brought on by constantly having to juggle multiple SIM cards and mobile phones in order to minimize their mobile costs.

In an interview with Truphone CEO Geraldine Wilson, she highlighted four key benefits of this service. On a single handset a Truphone Local Anywhere subscriber can:

• have a local number whenever travelling in a supported country
• make calls anywhere in the territory of participating carriers at “local” rates
• make international calls at reduced costs
• eliminate or minimize ”roaming” charges at most destinations

But there is also a benefit to people calling to a Truphone Local Anywhere subscriber. Personal and business calls to the subscriber can be made via the subscriber’s “local” number for the location from which the call is being placed.

Other issues:

• All numbers will be “mobile” numbers, capable of supporting SMS messaging and data activity
• The default callerID seen by the called party will be the call destination’s “Local” number but the displayed callerID can be managed to display other numbers available to the subscriber
• calls to other Truphone Local Anywhere customers will have the lowest calling rates

Geraldine was quite specific in stating that the target market includes mobile professionals, travel industry employees, expatriate workers who need a “local” number in both their home country and “on the job”, and international students. According to Geraldine, this “road warrior” market encompasses 300 million today, making over 700 million trips per year.

Why an announcement now at Mobile World Congress? While Truphone has already signed some carrier and service provider agreements for this program, they are seeking out additional carrier and MVNO partners to build out a worldwide network.

As for the infrastructure behind this service:

• the customer will receive one SIM that supports service providers in all countries
• it is a scalable, plug-and-play solution
• a customer will be able to add another carrier or service provider to the SIM over-the-air
• Truphone is seeking out non-traditional distribution channels
• it will have full data compatibility

Bottom Line: if Truphone can pull off a sufficient number of service provider relationships worldwide, Truphone Local Anywhere will have the same friction-free impact for travellers’ mobile communications activities as the introduction of the Euro provided to European travelers, eliminating the need to stop by an “exchange counter” when arriving in every country.

Update: Jon Arnold: Truphone Launches Local Anywhere Service

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