Skype releases Android app to the public: the pros and the cons

Tuesday, popular instant messaging and VoIP chat client Skype officially launched its Skype application for devices running Android 2.1 and up. While Skype is one of the most popular VoIP clients, bringing it to the Android platform has been quite problematic. With this release, we see those problems have persisted.

Affordable solution for international calling

Skype has proven to be an affordable solution for international calling, and is therefore very popular in Europe and Asia. Prior to the release of Skype for mobile devices, users could only place calls on their PCs. It wouldn't be uncommon, for example, to stay in a youth hostel and find lots of young travelers chatting loudly into their notebook computers with friends and family back home. With the application on their phones, it becomes a more natural and convenient experience.

Because Android is meant to cater to the needs of device manufacturer and carrier alike, the option to block VoIP applications is left open to the carriers, just as it is on the Apple iPhone.

Andy Rubin, co-founder of Android and Google's Vice President of Mobile Platforms made it clear that it wasn't Android, it was the mobile carriers that were forcing Skype and other VoIP apps to be Wi-Fi only solutions.

Early in 2010, U.S. carrier Verizon approved unlimited Skype-to-Skype calling over 3G, for Android and BlackBerry users. So Verizon Android users have had access to the Skype application for nearly 8 months, and customers of other carriers who use this application will only be able to place VoIP calls over Wi-Fi.

The Skype application right now

Device support looks to be especially problematic for the Skype application right now, as well. Many users have reported that there is no support for Samsung Galaxy S phones, and Skype UK blogger Peter Parkes said devices need a minimum screen resolution of 480x320 pixels, so devices like the HTC Wildfire and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini are not supported.

Skype users in areas of dense Wi-Fi coverage, users who don't mind having to be locked into a hotspot, or users where VoIP-over-3G is allowed can all enjoy a reliable and surprisingly high-quality voice calling service.

The most popular VoIP clients

hile Skype is one of the most popular VoIP clients, bringing it to the Android platform has been quite problematic. With this release, we see those problems have persisted.