request for skype (full) app - Hero, G2 Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

First off I have to say Im a proud member of the best phone produced (till today), Htc Hero. Everything looks and feels and fullfills my needs accordingly, besides one thing. And this one thing bugs me alot.
Why have skype launched this "lite" crap, with no real voip at all? And that on a internett phone... Something is not right at the skype department!
Because of my personal situation Im dependent on skype voip services (the only reason why im not throwing my htc touch cruise away). So heres the request: make my (love)life a bit easier, bite the skype developers in the arse and/or help porting/create a skype client for android that can make full use of voip.
I hope some developers here will take the job and get the well earned fame that will come with it!
ps: I do know that there are some alternatives, google voice is not for europe yet and truphone is crashing at the opening.

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sipdroid is true VoIP, SIP-based. It will work with a wide variety of hardware and software IP phones.

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Volker1 said:
sipdroid is true VoIP, SIP-based. It will work with a wide variety of hardware and software IP phones.
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Hey, from what I can tell this doesnt work with skype, is this the case or am I just being blonde?
Cheers
Dan

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I think skype didn't do a full VOIP application otherwise it will literally chew through many bytes of your data plan and thus would be very expensive for the end user on a mobile network - obviously wifi and skype wouldn't be a such a problem.
I am guessing and assuming that "skype lite" works the similar way to iSkoot (Winmo equivalent) where it uses the voice channel (and some jiggery-pokery) to make a call to another skype user - which to my knowledge is how the 3 network is able to offer unlimited skype calls (using iSkoot, not sure about skype lite but if anyone knows, let me know!)
If skype is listening, perhaps an option in "skype lite" application to specify how the voice is carried out (ie via data channel or the voice channel) might be a good idea.
But feel free to correct me on that!
ps, did anyone see the comments made on skype lite on the market place (by Mattman 9-aug-2009) saying that skype lite appears to be a "phishing app scanning for paid skype accounts and should be reported to google and ftc" - is that true?

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danchappers said:
Hey, from what I can tell this doesnt work with skype, is this the case or am I just being blonde?
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It doesn't work with skype since skype is a proprietary app that works with nothing else. Though there is a workaround, gizmo5 has a SIP<->skype gateway. Never tried it, though.

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tweedie said:
I am guessing and assuming that "skype lite" works the similar way to iSkoot (Winmo equivalent) where it uses the voice channel (and some jiggery-pokery) to make a call to another skype user - which to my knowledge is how the 3 network is able to offer unlimited skype calls (using iSkoot, not sure about skype lite but if anyone knows, let me know!)
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Essentially, when you initiate a call with Skype Lite, what it does is communicate back to Skype servers on the data channel with details of whom you want to contact (Skype username, phone number etc). The Skype servers then set up a link from a local phone number to your required destination, and send this number back to your phone which Skype Lite then dials.
So your phone essentially calls a Skype phone number over the standard voice channels (and usually consuming your inclusive minutes), and this call is routed over the Skype network to your required destination.
Regards,
Dave

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So your phone essentially calls a Skype phone number over the standard voice channels (and usually consuming your inclusive minutes), and this call is routed over the Skype network to your required destination.
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foxmeister > that is exactly what I am thinking. The "skype lite" software is calling a special number over voice channel and its routed over the skype network to the required destination as you said. I think this is identical to how "iSkoot" works and thus the "three" network users can get free unlimited skype-to-skype calls because it identifies a particular number its calling to be free.
If the "skype lite" and "iSkoot" is calling the same special number, It should in theory be able to get the free unlimited skype-to-skype calls using the "skype lite" application. I guess there is only one way to find out! There does seems to be iSkoot application for android but can't seem to be able to find it on the market place!

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http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=343121&pid=1815881&st=0&#entry1815881
Bump that thread
it was a request i made for this same exact thing on the skype forums.
They would be the ones to publish the app.

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Skype, iSkoot and three.co.uk
After finally disassembling the code, there is a hidden easter egg on the "about" screen for the iskoot application. If your lucky to have the G1 phone, type in @1905 and it will bring up the advance menu where you can specify to use the three network.
If you're unlucky to have the htc hero (like me!), you have to use the window dos command "adb shell" to connect to the phone, then do "/system/bin/input text @1905" and allow you to enter that key on the about screen.
Its not perfect. But it seems to make a call to the uk three number (+44..882 + +44..874).
Once in the advance menu, put http://mobile.three.co.uk/948 into the url (using keyboard, or use that "input text" command) and save it (I can't remember if I had to tick the "Auto Pilot Mode" on or off, but try with it off first)
It will take a little time to sign in (or even a couple of attempts) you should get your buddy list and able to make a call
By the way, don't have it use the wifi. It seems better to have it sign in via 3g, but I could be wrong. And second, there is an awful lot of http 404 response errors coming back from three network (doesn't seem to effect it), but neverless, its just putting a strain on your phone I would imagine - plus, not sure if those 404 http responses coming back will use up your data allowance. so do some testing first! Its just a little difficult to test properly when all the other apps wants to use you internet data allowance! (is there an app for that?)
Anyway, just letting you know what i have found. if those HTTP 404 is gonna be a problem, I can tweak the code, but probably won't be able to share that apk file as I am not sure where the law stands on that!
Warning: Haven't fully tested it yet, so don't blame/slag me if its starts to eat into your credits!

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tweedie said:
After finally disassembling the code, there is a hidden easter egg on the "about" screen for the iskoot application. If your lucky to have the G1 phone, type in @1905 and it will bring up the advance menu where you can specify to use the three network.
If you're unlucky to have the htc hero (like me!), you have to use the window dos command "adb shell" to connect to the phone, then do "/system/bin/input text @1905" and allow you to enter that key on the about screen.
Its not perfect. But it seems to make a call to the uk three number (+44..882 + +44..874).
Once in the advance menu, put http://mobile.three.co.uk/948 into the url (using keyboard, or use that "input text" command) and save it (I can't remember if I had to tick the "Auto Pilot Mode" on or off, but try with it off first)
It will take a little time to sign in (or even a couple of attempts) you should get your buddy list and able to make a call
By the way, don't have it use the wifi. It seems better to have it sign in via 3g, but I could be wrong. And second, there is an awful lot of http 404 response errors coming back from three network (doesn't seem to effect it), but neverless, its just putting a strain on your phone I would imagine - plus, not sure if those 404 http responses coming back will use up your data allowance. so do some testing first! Its just a little difficult to test properly when all the other apps wants to use you internet data allowance! (is there an app for that?)
Anyway, just letting you know what i have found. if those HTTP 404 is gonna be a problem, I can tweak the code, but probably won't be able to share that apk file as I am not sure where the law stands on that!
Warning: Haven't fully tested it yet, so don't blame/slag me if its starts to eat into your credits!
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Click to collapse
works well so far thank

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Glad it worked for you. Just keep an eye on your credits. Its kinda hard to do especially when all those apps is trying to use up your internet data allowance too! Wish there was some sort of app that can control what can use the wifi or the mobile internet.
Does your mobile internet icon appear ok or it is it constantly showing both the up/down arrow as white? if so, it might drain your battery a bit quicker because of the streaming internet traffic.

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Glad it worked out ok for you. Just keep an eye on your credits which is a bit hard to do since all your other apps wants mobile internet access!
Check your battery level too - if you have both the up/down arrow on the mobile internet constantly on, you might find that it might drain your battery a bit quicker.
I just wish there was an option somewhere (perhaps an app?) that can allow to set what programs can use which method of internet (mobile or wifi)

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Hi tweedie, I did as you wrote in post #9, I also noticed that the url was already input so I didnt need to type in. Is it because I already adb pushed .xml document as per iskoot thread in Dream section?

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@LordLucan - most probably yes. That easter egg screen reads/writes from that xml file that you pushed.
By the way, I wasn't aware of that xml push method as per dream forum (doh!). When you used skype - did you find that your internet icon (that H icon at the top of the screen) was constantly showing up/down white arrows? And whats your battery life like?

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@tweedie, Yes H symbol is constantly on. Pity! It would be good if it drops down to 3G. Battery life is about 10 to 12 hrs from full charge on standby with sipdroid also running.It may be little above average since mine is a data sim and not used from normal mobile gsm calls.
Also noted that V 2.51 (Modaco) is fractionally better that early v2.
By the way, have thought about doing same trick on Skype Lite from Market? Its a much lighter client and may be good on data/battery. I have the apk file should you need.

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tweedie said:
I just wish there was an option somewhere (perhaps an app?) that can allow to set what programs can use which method of internet (mobile or wifi)
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Such an apps exists, it's called Droidwall and is a firewall application which con block or unblock wanted apps from either 3g or WiFi. Sadly it does not work on MoDaCo custom rom right now, but I just registered and will give Paul a note. Seems like there is only one kernel module missing.

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@hero-user
thanks for that Droidwall, sounds just the app I needed
@Lord Lucan
thanks for checking. This indicates to me that the xml push method and the easter egg way is both working the same way and both is probably getting a load of HTTP404 error back from 3 network (and possibly shortening its battery life).
Its possible that skype lite might have some configuration files that can be set to make it call a "3 network" number, but I doubt it would work.
I am guessing that iSkoot makes a url request to 3 network (a custom iskoot server perhaps?) to sign in, get messages, makes calls, etc. And when you make a skype call, it tells that iSkoot server (not skype) that you are making a call to X and prepares a call. Your phone will then make a voice call to that special skype-to-skype number and because its prepared (and somehow knows its you) it directs your voice to the skype at the other end. Again, its just a guess work from the traffic I've been looking at from iSkoot on winmo devices.

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Hi Tweedie, Thanks.
Just a thought. 3 Australia have been marketing HTC Magic and I wonder if users there had skype client on their handset.
Early on I phoned 3 and an advisor said there will be a skype client on Hero but I think he didnt know what he was talking about!!!

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I'm with 3 Australia with the Magic and can confirm that there was no Skype app installed on the handset.
Using the steps mentioned here I've managed to get skype running over x-series, but still can't make SkypeOUT calls tho - only Skype to Skype.

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Word is the Skype is going open source - at least for it's Linux version.
This should hopefully make it fairly simple for a full blown native Skype app on Android.
Regards,
Dave