Skype Threatens Fring, Fring Drops Skype Support

[AldousSnow]

No reason not to jump onto Qik's bandwagon now.


Skype Threatens Fring, Fring Drops Skype Support (Phone Scoop)

 

[eye4ni]

Not jumping on the Qik wagon, they don't even offer the same functionality... completely different service. There is no way, in Qik, to video chat with someone on their home pc. It is for qik phone to qik phone video chat only... pretty useless IMO.

I will wait it out and Skype will release their own Android video chat app soon enough... hopefully it will be better than Fring.

 

[epbb]

Very disappointing.

Does Fring or Qik offer phone to desktop video chat?

 

[TreyDaPrince]

Just another reason why I think manufacturers jumped the gun with front facing cameras. Great idea but the software isn't there to support it yet. Now you're stuck with a useless capability that may not reach its full potential until your next upgrade. Just like this phone projector madness.

Just my opinion, but then again, who am I?

 

[TreyDaPrince]

AFAIK, Skype still works on Verizon phones, which is probably why they pulled the plug on Fring, due to some exclusivity clause.

This is what happens when there's a widely available free technology on the PC (i.e. Skype) and then different technology companies (i.e. Verizon) start getting exclusivity deals. It holds back everyone and makes all the technology incompatible with all the devices.

Nobody on a PC is going to get Skype just to talk to their Verizon buddies and some other app to talk to their Sprint buddies and another app to talk to their T-Mobile buddies and another app to talk to their AT&T buddies. So you're stuck with phone-to-phone for now.

However, it does open up a market for someone like Qik to make a PC app that will actually work on all devices and allow everyone to talk with every else....

Agreed

 

[Kedar]

Yeah this sucks. The evo was fine with fring until it became available to iphone users.

 

[epbb]

Fring did via Skype, which is why this sucks. Qik only offers it phone to phone, I think.

Right now there is no way that I know of to do a video call to a desktop from the Evo.

Yeah i know. Was using it everyday for my commute home. My 2 year old loved it.

What about google chat? Why is the video chat not an option?

 

[phillysdon04]

Right now our only option is ustream and bambuser. They both support video streaming but they only use the back camera.

 

[lex619]

man this sucks, I would use skype on a daily basis and it ran pretty good on my phone

 

[Insp_Gadget]

AFAIK, Skype still works on Verizon phones, which is probably why they pulled the plug on Fring, due to some exclusivity clause. *snip*

Skype on Verizon's Android phones doesn't offer video chat. It's audio-only.

From Fring, I just got this damage-control e-mail today:

Hello fringsters,
As you may have noticed, Skype has blocked fring. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this Skype policy has unfairly caused you.

As loyal fring users, you deserve an explanation: Last week, following the surge in fring video calling traffic, fring service to Skype was temporarily reduced . Unfortunately, Skype and their legal team demanded not to restore your connectivity to Skype via fring.

Needless to say, we are very disappointed that Skype is now trying to muzzle competition, even at the expense of its own users.

While we regret Skype's decision to block fring, we are committed to continuing to provide you with market-leading innovation, to keep you in touch with your friends, wherever they are.
On fring you can freely use the best mobile over internet communication like video calling, calls and chat anywhere (3G/4G/WiFi) on any advanced Smartphone.

So, if you are frustrated like us with communication barriers, and are just looking for a fun and easy way to stay in touch with your friends on the go, tell them about fring and

invite your friends to join fring here

We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to provide you with great mobile innovations.

Let freedom fring!

the fringTEAM.

I can't speak to why exactly the function was dropped from Fring or whether it's truly being blocked. All we've heard from Skype is that Fring was violating their terms of service, and that Fring dropped the plug-in on their own.

I'm not sure who is telling the truth or how much of either Skype's or Fring's statements are just P.R. damage control. The whole thing is a pissing contest and I'm hoping that they get their collective asses together and fix it.

 

[prodigal27]

I got the same email, it seems like Fring temporarily shut off service to Skype, so they could handle the conferencing services for their own product due to the iPhone surge. When they tried to bring services back online for Skype, Skype denied access. I'm guessing Fring was sort of on a "grandfathered" license with Skype, and when they shut the service off, it gave Skype a chance to cut the connection completely.
After reading Skypes API license, they currently state that unless approved, you can't use it. Reading Frings license agreement, they state that they use a Skype API that is not endorsed by Skype. Which probably means they were on an old API (which didn't include the clause that Skype had to approve of use), and in order make it work with the Iphone, had to move to the newer API. I'm guessing during the changeover, when Fring had to disconnect, then reconnect to Skype, it gave Skype the opportunity to cut the cord.
Bottom line, Fring WANTS access to Skype, but Skype is denying. Fring is a decent competitor now, and Skype doesn't want to give them the chance to grow.

 

[prodigal27]

The whole thing is a pissing contest and I'm hoping that they get their collective asses together and fix it.

I agree, but unfortunately it's going to boil down to how much is Fring willing to pay to have access. Skype used to be a pretty good company, that wanted everyone to talk to everyone. The second they went Verizon only, that all changed. Unless Fring is able to threaten Skypes mobile client base, like the mobile community using Fring instead of Skype, there won't be a resolution. Fring just doesn't have the money to support getting access to the VOIP service.
You can imagine how much money it would take, when you consider Verizon is the ONLY carrier that has decent access to skype.