Hack brings Skype to iPhone

 

Complex workaround fulfils geek dream.

The geek dream of circumventing the AT&T contract and running Skype's VoIP telephony service on Apple's new iPhone has come a step closer. 

A complex partial workaround has been published in a blog by Tom Keating, founder and chief technical officer at TMC Labs. 

The workaround requires a broadband-connected PC which is remotely controlled by the iPhone, software downloads and a degree of technical competence, all of which tick the boxes of true 'geekdom' in that the esoteric nature of the fix makes it unlikely to have mass appeal.

To use Skype services on the iPhone, the Opera browser (v8.6 or above) has to be installed on the handset and an Ajax-enabled application, SoonR Talk, installed on the broadband-connected PC. 

Using the browser interface, the iPhone acts as a remote control for the PC from where Skype and the SoonR service are accessed.

"Once you are logged in and connected, you can view your buddies using the Ajax client and then click on the buddy you want to talk to," said Keating.

"SoonR Talk will tell your PC to call your mobile phone using SkypeOut. Then SoonR Talk will instruct Skype to call your buddy over the Skype IP network, placing you in a conference."

As Keating points out, this is not end-to-end Skype because the PC has to use the PSTN to call the iPhone which will consume two SkypeOut credits to set up the conference call.

But this may still be cheaper than making calls direct from the iPhone using the AT&T mobile contract.

Copyright ©v3.co.uk


Hack brings Skype to iPhone
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
Defence renews $1.9bn ICT savings pledge
Seeks another $550m to fund reform works.
 
Use cases for Australian mining UAVs
In-depth: Drone makers question large payloads.
 
CommBank suppliers compete for portable workloads
Multi-sourcing deals yield $100m savings.
 
Sign up to receive iTnews email bulletins
   FOLLOW US...

Latest VideosSee all videos »

Latest Comments
Polls
Should the Government enact new legislation to protect copyright holders in the digital age?

   |   View results
Yes
  20%
 
No
  80%
TOTAL VOTES: 556

Vote