Skype vs Fring

It seems that Skype and Fring are not getting along so well today.

First, Fring made a claim that Skype was blocking Fring and in a subsequent blog post, called Skype cowards.

Now that fring expanded capacity to support the huge demand for video calling for all users, Skype has blocked us from doing so.

They are afraid of open mobile communication. Cowards.

Skype has responded, stating that Fring’s mis-use of Skype software was damaging their brand and reputation.

there is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype has blocked it. Fring made the decision to remove Skype functionality on its own.

The issue revolves around video calling. Fring was very quick to jump on iOS 4′s ability to make video calls, and enabled the feature in their mobile clients, allowing Fring users to video chat with each other on their iPhone 4s. Fring doesn’t provide a VOIP service themselves, but rather they allow connectivity between users on other networks, similar to how trillian, gaim, and adium allow a user to log in to their google talk, msn, AIM, and Yahoo messenger accounts through a single program. One of the networks Fring users can log in to is Skype. Fringsters could talk to their Skype contacts through their Skype account using their Skype number to make and receive VOIP calls.

Now Fring is claiming that Skype is blocking Fring from allowing users to access the Skype network, cutting of Skype functionality in Fring.

However, Skype claims this is untrue and that Fring removed the functionality themselves, furthermore claiming that Fring is mis-using Skype software.

Skype’s client does not offer many of the new iOS4 features that Fring is quick to jump on, namely video calling, background operation, and even push notifications which have been around for a long time. One could argue that Fring’s client allows Skype users to use these features with Skype, which is something that users want. Skype is notoriously slow at adopting new features such as these, and is also slow at their geographical expansion. You still cannot get a Canadian Skype-In number, but there are a host of Canadian VOIP services offering phone numbers for example.

Skype says this is because they want to maintain a high level of quality with their service and client, preferring to leave a feature out as opposed to implementing it at any level below polished. This is similar to how Apple operates (the iPhone was able to handle backgrounding applications via jailbreak, but it did slow things down, so Apple waited until only recently to allow this functionality as it didn’t live up to their usage level requirements).

The problem with this view is that Skype should realize that its users are people who want to try out new features – you wouldn’t be using mobile VOIP if you weren’t. Why go through the trouble of setting up a Skype account, paying for extra phone service, and jailbreaking your phone so you can get Skype running in the background if all you wanted was simple voice calling which your iPhone already provides? It’s because you are willing to go through some effort and hassle to get some cheap long distance. If you were relatively techno-illiterate, you’d be willing to pay the slightly higher long distance rates through your voice plan in order to avoid the extra steps. These are not Skype users. Skype users want features and are willing to put up with some issues to get them. That’s why people use Fring.

The sooner Skype realizes this and at least releases a second version of their app (call it the beta or testing version) – in parallel to their stable client – that enables these features, the better for them.