14 DAY TRIAL // Applications for the iPhone are a mixed affair. On one hand you have the web applications that work fine and anybody can use, but are limited in what they can do. On the other hand, you have the ?real? applications, which can do everything but can only be used by people willing to hack their device. Last but not least we have the applications that people want and unfortunately, these don?t really fall into any of the other two categories.
Many iPhone users will probably cheer when they find out that SHAPE Services has announced the availability of IM+ for Skype for iPhone. This web application makes accessing the Skype ecosystem a reality, being especially designed for the iPhone?s touch screen.
Now iPhone owners can log onto http://skypeforiphone.com using iPhone's Safari web browser and talk with their Skype contacts or call any landlines and mobiles in a cost-efficient way. "Noticing the public interest for Skype on iPhone, we decided to use our mobile IM and mobile Skype experience and develop an application for them; this has also been a move towards our IM+ for Skype platform coverage. It is truly easy and convenient to access and use. We are looking forward to hearing some feedback from iPhone users", said Igor Berezovsky, the company's CEO, in the press release. "No tweaks are necessary."
Unfortunately, all is not as it seems. This is not the VOIP solution that everyone has been waiting for. This application is simply a web interface that sets up a SkypeOut voice call which connects both callers. The user has to pay for cost of SkypeOut calling them on their phone, plus the cost of SkypeOut calling their destination caller. While for users of Skype Unlimited and Skype Pro plans IM+ enables almost free calling from the mobile device to any PC with Skype or any landline/mobile number, this is still far from the VOIP application that people really want.