Anyone use Skype on a cell phone?

[RSO 34]

I just upgraded my crackberry and now have one with Skype installed on it. Since I have never used it on a cell before and can't really figure out the costs of international usage I was wondering if anyone here has tried it.

My main interest in it will be while I am in Japan for NSX Fiesta. I have Verizon as the provider and my global capability will mean Verizon will bill me approximately $3 per minute if I use the cell for phone calls back to the States. But I see that if I buy bulk minutes/plan from Skype it may be .03 per minute.

But since I would need to use the cell to connect to Skype to call the States would there in a sense be double charges? I tried to get an answer from Verizon but got tired of being on hold for so long and figured there are smarter people here than anyone answering Verizon's customer service inquiries.

 

[SFDreamer]

I have an iPhone and have skype on it. I used it when I was over in Asia. I am on the $12.95 plan with skype which I think is unlimited minutes worldwide (but don't quote me on that).

If you have a wi-fi connection then you can make calls via skype from your phone and just use "skype minutes" not your phone minutes. If you are on data to use skype, then you'll still be charged the Verizon rate.

Not sure if that was clear enough for you, but hopefully makes sense.

 

[MJK]

I have a BB9650 on Verizon (OS 5.0.0.699), use Skype and travel to Japan/China all the time.

The short version is that Skype will ONLY work on my blackberry while in the US and on Verizon's network.

It won't work from Asia to here on my blackberry, period. This was still true in China, HK and Japan as of last Friday. I have also tried with a 9530 and 9630. None work. Not with Verizon's global blackberry service, not with the phone unlocked and on a local data service (I use China Mobile), not in China, not in HK, not in Japan, not even on on wifi. No combination of the above, no way, no how, NADA. The intentional crippling is REALLY annoying. I get the 'you can't do this' screen every time.

To my knowledge there is no even reasonably elegant solution. I suppose you can tether the BB to the computer using something like PDAnet and then use Skype on the computer. I don't find it worth the hassle.

Skype on a verizon blackberry is only good for two things: messaging and calling to another country from the US. If you are in another country and want to call back to the US, I use Skype on the computer (preferred) or my local cell SIM (backup). Both are WAAAAAY cheaper than Verizon's voice calls.

If anyone with similar equipment has a way to make this work, please post up. I would LOVE to find a way to make this work (whether Verizon approves or not).

 

[nsx1164]

used it awhile back on an old WinMo 3G phone... quality reasonable but not great. Am told it works better over WiFi.

The Skype that VZN BBs use does not do voice over IP (VOIP); it routes IM and Skype-toSkype calls via 3G, and routes the Skype-to-phone calls via the normal VZN CDMA network.

 

[passline]

If you do not need to use the BB and do not necessarily need to see the other party, have you considered renting a phone in Japan using NoCoMo or Softbank international service?

 

[arfnsx]

I have the Droid Evo and I use video chat from my phone to a PC using "Fring"

Using Fring, log into your skype account them call who you want. I can do it over 3 or 4G service.