A problem of expectations

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Posted on 31 October 2007

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The new 3Skypephone is arriving, but it seems there is a problem of expectations.

When we say “Skype” we immediately think of the best voice quality ever. So, when we go to buy the new 3Skypephone, we expect such great quality.

False.

The new 3Skypephone works under 3G coverage. Sometimes even VoIP over Wifi is not that great if the signal strength is not sufficient. Think of what happens if you use it under 3G coverage, still not that reliable for standard data, imagine for voice.

UPDATE: I had missed that this phone uses iSkoot as well. So the problems should depend of transcoding issues at a gateway level. There is also another problem: if you are roaming (in Italy in some places you are under Tim coverage and not 3) Skype calls don’t work.

First feedbacks from people testing it in Italy are not good. Quality is worse than GSM and much worse than the “standard Skype”. Sometimes, depending on the quality of the 3G coverage, talking on that phone is painful. Ok, it’s free, but are you going to deal with it if you are expecting “skype-like” quality?

That said if nothing happens that can improve this, I think it’s going to be a flop.

3skypephone, luca filigheddu

This post was written by:

Luca Filigheddu - who has written 1928 posts on LucaFiligheddu.com.

Luca is currently CEO at Abbeynet, a company specialized in VoIP and Web 2.0.

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Markus Göbel's Tech News Comme 11 months ago 1 point
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Isn't the 3Skypephone using the iSkoot software? At least iSkoot's website says so.

http://www.iskoot.com/pressreleases/prnetwork_1...

„CAMBRIDGE, MA – October 30, 2007 – iSkoot today announced that it has been selected by Skype to help power the 3 Skypephone – the first ever mass-market Skype-enabled mobile handset. ...“

This means that Skype calls from the 3Skypephone aren't 3G VoIP calls. They are GSM calls from the phone to the 3-iSkoot server, which then cannels them over the internet to Skype. The data connection is only used to show the presence of the Skype buddies.

So the bad voice quality is not because of unreliable 3G coverage but because of the low sound quality of the GSM codecs. But still it`s a nifty solution to guarantee Skype coverage everywhere.

That's also why their FAQ list (http://www.3skypephone.com/english/faq.html) says:

Q: Will it work on 2G, 2.5G& 3G networks?
A: Wherever you have coverage in the UK, Skype will work. If you can make a normal voice call, you will be able to make a Skype Call.

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http://www.goebel.net/technews/

Luca Filigheddu 11 months ago 1 point
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According to the iSkoot website, you are right. Then I presume there are big problems of transcoding at a gateway level, since the feedbacks I'm getting are very bad.

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http://www.lucafiligheddu.com

Piggy 11 months ago 1 point
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I was soooo looking forward to gettign a 3Skypephone. Now, I'm not so sure.

All of the '3' shops in our area were this morning telling customers that their delivery hadn't turned up. Not a good start for launch day.

Now, hearing reports that the Skype call quality on the phones is not good - in some instances 'painful' it doesn't really look to good.

My initial excitement at gettign hold of one of these phones is rapidly diminishing.

Shame really. I could have been such a good thing.

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