SkypeOut on Verizon uses minutes? WHAT?!

[Sokar]

Ok, I just caught wind of this when I was searching for any news about Skype on the Thunderbolt. Please someone tell me this is incorrect.

I cut my minutes down to the bare minimum when I got the Thunderbolt to save on money. My thought was to get a $3/month unlimited SkypeOut (or whatever they're calling it now) to keep from burning up my measly 450 minutes a month.

Now I've just read on a couple of sites that the 'Skype Mobile on Verizon', as it is called in the market now, burns normal minutes when you call a mobile on another network or landline.

Someone please, please, please tell me that I read that wrong. That completely blows my plan apart. One of the main reasons I got this phone (even though I knew Skype was going to be delayed).

If it's true, that's one of the most underhanded, cut-throat moves I've ever seen Verizon make.

Anybody?

 

[PJnc284]

yeah, the Verizon Skype Mobile app isn't voip and is routed over their voice network. There's another skype app that can use wifi, 3G, etc with no video.

 

[Sokar]

I tried the app in the market that was simply 'Skype' and it required me to connect to WiFi before it would work.

 

[Green_Laser]

when I had Skype on my storm, and when it came out, Verizon's and skypes rules were that if u used it to call anyone nationally, then it would use your vzw plan minutes, something like that.
when it was on my storm, I used it for calling pc's overseas and had no probs.

I think that u were unknowingly thinking that VZW wouldn't think of this loophole.
in other words, VZW thought this might happen, that people would reduce their plans minutes and use Skype all day for local calls etc.

don't want to be the one to break it to u, but if u do talk a lot, you'll prob have to up your minutes. unless there's an equivalent app to app like viber etc.

 

[PJnc284]

yeah, skype to skype calls are supposed to be billed as free but anything outside of that is going to eat your minutes.

 

[Effenhimer]

So if Skype to Skype is gonna be free, is Skype with video gonna be exclusive to VZW??...

 

[Sokar]

Oh man, I'm so pissed right now. This totally screws my low-minutes strategy.

I've got to start looking for an inbound/outbound VOIP solution and figure that convoluted mess out fast. Doesn't look like Sipgate is ever going to get any new numbers. I've been researching options and setup instructions on that for a week now and even working in IT, I'm confused as hell.

 

[dhendriksen]

Use Google Voice in conjunction with SipDroid.

I use it all the time.

 

[Sokar]

Use Google Voice in conjunction with SipDroid.

I use it all the time.

Interesting.

Does your method look something like this? This on involves pbxes.org....

Free VoIP Calling Using Google Voice + Sipdroid - Android Forums

I just found that after you mentioned it. Every time I've searched on the subject before, it's always been GV > IPKall > pbxes.org > sipdroid, or GV > sipgate > Sipsorcery > sipdroid, or some other insane combination of services.

This seems much better.

But... of course, more bad news. PBXes.org now requires a paid account if you hook it up to Google Voice.

Sigh...

 

[shaddix]

yeah sipdroid and gv and pbxes would save your minutes, just the lag kinda sucks is all.


POH crap THEY REQUIRE PAID NOW?

 

[Sokar]

Yup.

Looks like the cheapest plan is $5/month.

Sucks man. I was looking at $3/month for Skype when I thought I was going to be able to call landlines and non-Verizon cells with the handset.

Man... Verizon pisses me off.

 

[androidburn]

They aren't that stupid. Give you unlimited data so that you can avoid paying any mobile phone fees? I am with you but don't blame them. I was rather ticked off when I couldn't use Skype with WiFi. That was infuriating.

 

[acmorris]

anyone tried a modified skype.apk to see if that would work?!!