Another Skype for BlackBerry post ! [ Edited ]

[bscdb]

Firstly my apologies. I posted yesterday, the same post in several places. As a result it seems all of my previous postings regarding the Skype for BlackBerry issue have been removed and I have been warned for spamming.  That's the rules.   I am re-posting yesterdays contribution (once) because I feel I have a valid point and questions remain unanswered.

It seems Skype have sunk to a new low. Yesterday I came accross an article by Skype which rather misleadingly claims that '' Skype is everywhere ''  I am unable to post links here but the article was on their blog site regarding the release of Skype for the PlayStation Vita. It is very far from everywhere. Users of BlackBerry devices have been listening to lies and rumours for years regarding the general release of Skype for BlackBerry. We have to ask, what are Skype playing at ? If you write to them, they reply with copy and pasted sentences that offer nothing but silence. Not one person from Skype that I know of has had the decency to honestly answer the requests and pleas from millions of people around the world who are eagerly awaiting the release of Skype for BlackBerry, and yes Skype, I've heard the 'available on Verizon in the USA' statement many times before.

The whole non availability of Skype for BlackBerry stinks of prejedice and boardroom politics. If Skype can develop Skype for products that are not even yet available on the high street, then why can't they develop Skype for BlackBerry ? Many of us are loyal paying customers who use Skype for business and personal use on other devices. That is a lot of loyal customers it seems Skype are willing to lose or ignore.

I like many have trawled the net looking for some good news but it seems Skype are happy to sit back and play games.  As Skype has grown, their arogance has grown with them. What will it take to end this ? How long will they last with a business ethic that clearly does not belong in todays world of technology ? I don't want to hear rumours anymore, I along with many others want to see Skype available for my BlackBerry mobile so if anyone from Skype actually reads this then PLEASE, grow a pair and give us an honest answer as to why you hate BlackBerry so much, why you won't put Skype on general release for an evergrowing crowd of people who want to use your product.

[Beckettr]

Tried to address the same topic yesterday and also had my post wiped. Not really sure what's going on? How hard is it to provide an answer? The wall of silence from Blackberry and Skype is ultimately making the people move away from their services.

[lvl]

Hello,

as you can see in this forum and the old one, I have been trying to get an honest answer from Skype since quite some time.

Unfortunately, I have the same experience: direct e-mails get answers that don't address the issue, posts on fora are ignored and comments on the "official blog" are not published...

Maybe somebody has met the Skype people on a fair (CEBIT or other) and has asked the question directly? Then please post the answer you got at that time.

Even a simple text-based Skype working with Wifi would be a start. If Google talk, MSN live messenger (from the new boss of Skype!) and BB messenger can do it, why not Skype?

What about corporate governance Skype? Or is this just a term to put in your yearly finance statement?

In case the reason lies with RIM (or the fear for lawsuits) then just let us know! We want to know where we stand. Seems reasonable to me...

Last but not least: if you don't want to provide Skype on BB for a general public then please, don't block others who are willing to do it (the Fring case!).

Grtz,

lvl

[bscdb]

United we stand, and all of us standing together would form a very long line indeed.

As lvl quite rightly pointed out, it is not too much to ask for Skype to at least make some kind of official statement, good or bad !  Thousands of BlackBerry users are posting on forums all across the www voicing their concern and disbelief at Skype's refusal to acknowledge BlackBerry mobile devices.  

Can anybody here, moderator or otherwise please at least tell us if any of the postings/comments on this forum are ever actually read by Skype ? Do they use these forums to monitor customer satisfaction or concerns ? or are these forums purely here for users and would be users to resolve their problems without Skype having to get involved. 

Would it be wrong to suggest a handwritten letter/plea to the CEO ? After all, decisions are made at the top and for all we know the growing frustration of BlackBerry users worldwide could be falling on deaf ears. I see that Tony Bates, currently the man at the top will soon be reporting to a Microsoft CEO .. Maybe change for the good is on the horizon ??  Above info taken from Wikipedia so my apologies for any discrepencies.

[dlehman]

I posted a comment that got no responses, but I'll repeat it here since it is directly relevant.  From everything I have read it appears that the problem may not be with Skype - it may be with the network provider.  Is Verizon the only US provider that permits you to use Skype on the BB?  I'm not sure if it is due to Skype not releasing the software or other providers (such as AT&T) not wanting to allow you to use it on their network (for somewhat obvious reasons).  If it is the network provider, then I would suggest pressuring the FCC to look at this as a possible violation of their open Internet rules.

[lvl]

Hi,

just my thoughts: if the problem were with the network providers, then why would they not block Skype on IPhone, IPad, Android, etc.?

Or maybe Skype has a "deal" with Verizon that grants them exclusivity for the US and Skype is "afraid" to tell the world?

Anyhow, if you are passing through a Wifi network, you use volume of a data package of your internet provider and if you pass via your network provider (EDGE, 3G, ...) you use volume of your datapackage with them, so inherently you pay, no? Of course, these options are cheaper than making calls via your network provider.

As you can see: we are left to guessing once again and this is the greatest frustration!! We need a correct, honest and complete answer from "the firm" (Skype) about the why, how, what etc. and then we can take it from there...

Grtz,

lvl

[bscdb]

Being ignored, being kept in the dark is becoming more frustrating than not actually having Skype available for our BlackBerry devices. Keep asking and keep posting everywhere. Eventually someone will listen and realise that we do deserve an official statement or even better, a release of Skype for BlackBerry. If anyone at Skype reading this has something new to tell, please do. I won't tell anyone. Promise.

[Useless_Idiot]

I'm in Canada, so the message about Skype working for BlackBerry in the USA is of no use to me. I get an email from Skype the other day saying if I get a new smartphone from TELUS MOBILITY, Skype will give me a $20 coupon.

So I have to get a whole new phone for $0.00 with a 3 year contract just so I can use Skype from my mobile device?! I'm not sure I'm in the market for another phone just so I can use one program. Don't get me wrong, I do love Skype, in fact, I've gotten many people to sign up for it over the years. I just don't love it enough to be carrying two phones around all the time.

[bscdb]

It looks like Skype will finally be releasing its official version for the famous BlackBerry device we all own.  The iPhone of course gets it before us which is fine given that it’ll run as a beta for them most likely.   

The above was copied from one of many articles floating around the web in 2009. Yes, 3 years later and still nothing. If there is any truth in as sugested by dlehman the possibility that network providers are blocking Skype for BlackBerry then we must also follow that avenue of enquiry. If it is the FCC in the USA would that be OFTEL in the UK ? I shall be contacting my provider in the UK this week, O2.

At least they, unlike Skype may be able to provide some kind of answer although I fear the ultimate decision still lays with Skype but why won't they tell us. Why the silence. Official statement. PLEASE !

[nickCR]

I had a lot of faith that Skype was going to launch on BlackBerry's a few years ago when they launched the BETA version. That was however killed.

I can really see BlackBerry wanting to support Skype. At the same time I see Skype wanting to support BlackBerry.

RIM has not shown the same advancement as their competitors in the mobile market. I can only assume there is either a legal issue which might stem from the VOIP issue that RIM has in Canada and since they are a Canadian company it MIGHT be a problem for them. The other option is they locked into a contract with Skype (not really likely as that doesn't really make much sense, why would Skype hinder their marketshare).

I really think it's BlackBerry putting the brakes on Skype. Why I have no idea, there was some talk about the power of BB phones but the newer ones like the torch shouldn't be an issue.

Anyway I still have a BlackBerry but have been seriously considering moving to another platform as I really need Skype and if you asked me what the most important thing for me in a phone at this moment i'd tell you, Skype and OTA sync.