Finally, Skype for the iPhone will now let you make Skype calls over AT&T's 3G network but there will now be charges for Skype-to-Skype calls and AT&T is closing down its unlimited data plans.
Version 2.0 of the Skype iPhone app now allows Skype calls to be placed over AT&T's 3G data network. AT&T had actually given the go signal for Skype calls last year, but the Skype app itself only worked over Wi-Fi until just now.
This means you can bypass AT&T's voice network altogether – even when you're out of Wi-Fi range – so you can now place unlimited voice calls with fellow Skype users for free. Calls landlines and non-Skype users worldwide will cost about 2 cents a minute.
But there are limits. The iPhone's "push notification" feature is still not supported. But Skype will be able to warn you of incoming calls when the new iPhone 4.0 software gets out in the summer.
Free Skype-to-Skype calling is, however, going. Skype has announced that free Skype-to-Skype 3G calls will last only till 2010 after which a "small monthly fee" will be charged. No one knows yet how much these calls will cost although Skype-to-Skype calls over Wi-Fi will still be free.
AT&T also announced that unlimited 3G data plans will go. New customers will pay $25 a month for 2GB of data, or $15 a month for 200MB, plus any overage charges. ($10 for an extra GB in the case of the 2GB plan, or $15 for another 200MB for the 200MB option). Those under a current plan will be grandfathered in.
So, if you have 20 Skype contacts, log on for an hour and a half each day, do 25 daily minutes of Skype text chat, and use 20 minutes of Skype calls you'll be using about 1MB of data a month. That's still pretty much covered in AT&T's $15/month 200MB plan.
However, if you make long daily conference calls over 3G via Skype, well … that will cost you some.