Months after teasing us at CES with the announcement of the native Skype VoIP client for iPhone, free Skype for iPhone is finally available for download from the iTunes Store App something on Tuesday. We were able to sit down with the application of basic engineering to the announcement was made at CTIA 2009, to see Skype for the iPhone to make its case. While most of the functions, not too surprising - Skype wants to maintain some consistency across its mobile application, in the end - There are several features that are lacking in particular, and the iPhone, some only the privileges that are refreshing, that.

In the end, Skype had iPhone.

(Credit: Skype) In terms of navigation, Skype for VoIP application for the iPhone looks more like your traditional iPhone app than Skype 4.0 for Windows. For many of those who have preferred Apple to a smooth interface archetype, is a triumph, but those who use Skype in the branding may feel disappointed.

Skype in the screens are well organized and use the iPhone can add filters, for example, to sort the contacts in alphabetical order, or who are on the Internet. There, in a chat, and, although the flagship feature of Skype is that its free VoIP calling to other Skype users and cost-per-minute fee for the landline. Calls to Skype for the iPhone only work if you’re in range of a Wi-Fi network, so the quality of communication is partly to be at the mercy and power of wireless networks are nearby - the calls will not work for the mobile phone network in the iPhone (but will talk.) If assume that your connection is solid, you can dial or shortcuts contacts stored in your address book. IPod Touch users will need headphones with a built-in microphone for talking. During a call, you can turn off the line, go to or to call loud. In the My information, you can link to purchase SkypeOut credit over the Internet.

Taking pictures with Skype as your avatar image, or pulling an image from the camera roll only two iPhone features, which makes use of the telephone hardware characteristics. Another imperfect, but still gently, feature is the ability to receive incoming telephone conferences. If you can not start a conversation, we were told you can switch to one if a friend invites you in. We hope that the next version includes placing a conference call with the iPhone.

Skype left some skills in her maiden voyage iPhone. SMS, the creation of the conference call the group, purchase SkypeOut credit directly, but also an opportunity to field a second incoming Skype calls are few. File transfer and receive Skype voice mail the family on the phone two more. We expect to see at least two of those added in the next version, but we hope to see more.

Skype in comparison to the competition

Here’s the main question in our minds: Will Skype for iPhone application to replace competitors as Nimbuzz and Fring, which focuses on cross-network chat, as well as VoIP calls with Skype friends, even if they were available for iPhone in a few months? Kurt Thywissen, chief engineer of Skype to iPhone, really. He said that the use of other applications is a workaround that requires them to send calls through the server and transcode the audio, resulting in poorer quality of calls Skype, which may make in its square. He may be right, but those who IM more than they probably will not sound like a ditch Fring early. They may, however, not to mention Skype call and let the app have to worry about multinetwork chat.