Skype for Symbian has been updated to version 1.1 and is now available for S60 5th edition devices, either directly on the handset from m.skype.com or as a download from the Ovi Store. The major change seems to be a significant reduction in the amount of RAM that the application uses, now down to a surprisingly small 3MB on the AAS N97.
Read on in the full article.
And facetime = facepalm!
Title of this article should be changed to "Skype 1.1 now out for MOST touchscreen Symbian devices". Running the sis on the i8910 still results in "this phone model is not supported" 😞
Actually it's been released on S60 3rd devices as well.
v1.1 Running fine on my N95 8GB but it does seem to "flash" at you when you go through the tabs.
Noted, I'll adjust Ewan's title etc.
What are the Symbian-based alternatives to Apple's Facetime, and how do they compare - does anyone know? And how long have they been around?
Facetime isn't anything new or special despite the Apple fanboys desperately trying to claim it is, as far as I can make out.
You can try fring. Advantages are:
1) It works off both 3G and wifi as opposed to only wifi on facetime in iphone.
2) As long as both are on fring (which will be easier and more likely than both been on iphone 4) or one is on fring and one on a PC webcam, this should work.
3) No call charges apply for a video call since it works purely on data connection. Could be bad news though for people who are on a very limited data plan. But that rarely is the case these days.
What was the RAM consumption with the earlier version?
What are the advantages to using this over, say, Nimbuzz or Fring? Is there important functionality here that you don't get by using the skype functions on those other programmes?
The Skype 1.1 release targets Sony Ericsson Symbian devices too, according to:
http://blogs.skype.com/garage/2010/07/skype_11_hotfix_for_symbian.html
Not pleased with this latest Skype release. Come on...Fring allows you to do Video calls through Skype, but Skype's own client still can't? I know Symbian development isn't a priority right now for major developers, but when a third party is able to do it, there should be no real barriers to the primary software provider.
Fring is a lightweight install and very smooth all around application for IM and calling. If they could add in Qik and Facebook Connect access, we'd really be in business. But as it is now, it is an impressive application. Fring rightly decided to make the front facing camera the default camera for video calls. The only drawback is you cannot choose the regular camera as an option. But I am sure that will be in a future release...hopefully also supporting S60v3FP1 folks. I sure love it on my N95-4NAM!
As much as I generally respect the author's commentary, I do wish he more be more precise in his pronouncements. After reading this article, I immediately followed the link the the Ovi store and was promptly greeted with the message:
"Sorry, this item is not available for your country.
Browse more great content in the "Related" section below."
We all tend to be ethnocentric, but next time, please qualify to which regions the applications you discuss apply!!!
I think one particular advantage of the Skype software compared to Fring or Nimbuzz is the fact that you can use Skype Credit for text messages.
Being in Germany, we have riduculous text message prices (29 Cents to foreign networks), and Skype lets you send texts for 10 Cents to mobile numbers. And if everything is properly set up, the recipient can reply directly to your mobile number.
And then there's call quality:
I live in an area with no 3G network, so the phone connects with EDGE quality. Skype and Nimbuzz deliver better call quality on EDGE than Fring does on 3G or WiFi. I have no explanation why, but it simply does not sound as compressed as on Fring.
But of course, if the video calling is most important, then Fring is the only way to go for now.
Guess what.... I have all 3 installed.....
holzlondon wrote:I think one particular advantage of the Skype software compared to Fring or Nimbuzz is the fact that you can use Skype Credit for text messages.Being in Germany, we have riduculous text message prices (29 Cents to foreign networks), and Skype lets you send texts for 10 Cents to mobile numbers. And if everything is properly set up, the recipient can reply directly to your mobile number.
And then there's call quality:
I live in an area with no 3G network, so the phone connects with EDGE quality. Skype and Nimbuzz deliver better call quality on EDGE than Fring does on 3G or WiFi. I have no explanation why, but it simply does not sound as compressed as on Fring.But of course, if the video calling is most important, then Fring is the only way to go for now.
Guess what.... I have all 3 installed.....
Everytime I see a screenshot of the S60 interface I am reminded how ugly it is. Torture!
Nokia wake up it's 2010.
@Arthur: The S60 interface does look pretty ugly, with a white theme (as does any other UI).
S60 3rd FP2 on my new E73 with the Touch Zen (D) - E theme by t7 (and with font magnifier set for 80% font size globally), on the other hand, is absolutely the most nearly perfect UI I have ever seen on any phone or PDA! It's downright gorgeous.
And that is saying a lot, because I literally have hundreds of phones and PDAs.
Thank the deity of your choice that it is 2010, meaning that we have such superb devices as Eseries models running S60, rather than being stuck back in the 90s to which Apple and their ilk are trying to make us regress...actually, it's even worse than that, because at least I can change the batteries in my Newtons! 😉
To bring this back to the topic at hand, I wonder if anyone has tried this version on the E73 yet. They claim support for the E72, so I would expect it to work...might just have to give it a go.
Once again, the iPhone impacts the rest of the SmartPhone world in a bad way: http://www.fring.com/blog/?p=2303 -- essentially they are reducing support for Skype video calling! Buggar!!!!
Tried this Skype build on my N97 and despite selecting remember me when logging in and selecting to automatically sign in when Skype starts it does not remember..... each time i open Skype i have to add my user name and password all over again! any suggestions on a fix?? (doesn't do this on my N95 8GB)
snipboy wrote:Once again, the iPhone impacts the rest of the SmartPhone world in a bad way: http://www.fring.com/blog/?p=2303 -- essentially they are reducing support for Skype video calling! Buggar!!!!
The timing of this is rather suspicious. When I first heard about Facetime, I decided to see what was available to do video calls on my N97. I found Fring and tried it out. It was pretty cool to use Fring on my smartphone to video conference with my wife on her PC using Skype.
I noticed that I started to receive quite a bit of Skype advertising on my email account lately. Now I hear that Fring doesn't work with Skype anymore. Skype is clearly trying to take advantage of the Fring/Skype breakup. Whether or not Skype planned this breakup or not is not entirely clear, but the timing is suspicious.
I must say that the quality of the video conferencing using Fring is rather poor. The video image of me from my phone is really blurry, especially if I make any big movements. The video image of my wife using Skype on her computer is much better. I tried this using WiFi from my house. I haven't tried it on 3G since I figured the quality would likely be even worse.
I have yet to try using Skype from my smartphone yet. I may try it later this week.
So how do I download the update? Ovi Store doesn't give me any option other than 'launch' because I've got 1.0 installed.
This is on an E72.
I use Skype for the 3-UK network. It is supported by the network and works using the voice line rather than data connection only. It works Ok, but only on 3G, not on wifi. So, cannot use it when I travel.
Thus, I need another s/w for when roaming. Does anyone now if I can install this new version while keeping the network based one - without conflicts? I would like to use each one depending on the place (roaming or not).
So far have I used Fring for that, but now it does not connect to skype! Is Nimbuzz a good alternative? I have never used it!
i have just installed the latest version (ver 1.1.07 )of skype on my N97.
I am unable to signin on N97.
when i write in the user name, nothing comes written althought the cursor moves forward. on sign in,it stops on sign-in screen
any way to sort it out.
regards
ateeq
On my N97 (v 22.0.110) with Skype v1.1.0.7:
- login name and password are not kept, even if the option is selected, so I have to reintroduce it at each start,
- the navigation button (at the left of the keyboard) doesn't work in all situations,
- prefix is set to France(+33) and if I modify it to my country (switzerland), I dont know how to memorized it