Skype Denies Blocking Fring Amid Bitter War Of Words

A bitter war of words has errupted between VoIP providers Fring and Skype, after the former accused Skype of blocking it from allowing users make video calls on Apple’s iPhone 4, Google Android and other smartphones.

Fring, which has enjoyed interconnectivity with Skype for four years, called Skype “cowards” for allegedly blocking Fring from offering video chat on smartphones.

Rich growth area Skype

Video chat via smartphones is a rich growth area Skype would love to own, the same way it has corralled almost 500 million users for its web-based, long-distance calling and video capabilities on desktops all over the world. It makes sense that Skype would protect its business interests in this vein.

Fring said in a press statement 12 July that it had to cease “Skype interconnectivity following threat of legal action. Skype’s anti-competitive ambush comes in the wake of Fring’s mobile video calling on iPhone 4 launch.”

The huge demand for video calling for all users

“Now that fring expanded capacity to support the huge demand for video calling for all users, Skype has blocked us from doing so. They are afraid of open mobile communication. Cowards.”

Fring promised to soldier on without Skype, providing its users free video calls, calls and live chat on “any advanced smartphone, over any mobile operator, over your preferred Internet connection (3G, 4G, Wi-Fi) from the Fring website here and app stores.”

Skype, whose mobile application is featured and preloaded on the Motorola Droid X that Verizon Wireless will begin selling 15 July, is in good position for uptick of VoIP in smartphones.