Skype on Verizon Android requires you to turn off WiFi
I'm testing Skype mobile on a Motorola Droid with Verizon. I tried to launch Skype while other apps were busy with my WiFi downloading email, news, feeds, activity streams, apps, maps, music, podcasts, and television shows.
I get an error. Its text reads:
"Skype mobile does not currently work on WiFi and requires switching to a Verizon Wireless data network connection. This may affect other apps using a WiFi connection."
You have two options: "Turn off WiFi" or "Exit".
Doesn't the Droid let me have both Wi-Fi and the Verizon data connection running simultaneously? Apparently not.
Skype forces an either/or choice.
So it's not nearly as attractive to keep Skype running in the background. You must squeeze all of your other activity through Verizon's tiny wireless broadband channel, even if you have lots of available Wi-Fi connectivity at hand.
There's no engineering reason why you couldn't be connected to both networks at once (beyond battery consumption).
Where is this limit imposed? The Verizon Droid? Motorola Droids in general? All Android phones?
tags: skype, mobile, android, motorola, droid
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6 Comments:
Its probably the skype app its self. It was put together rather quickly you know.
All carriers fear Skype. Why should they let you make free wifi calls when they can charge you a data plan? This is sad because inside many office buildings wifi works whereas many cell phones do not.
Its always about profit, not customers.
Would the best case scenario be a limitation on the Skype app side? (Meaning that it would be a 'somewhat' straight forward software fix, as opposed to a hardware limitation?)
If you allow fire wireless calls then you keep your network from getting slammed. Look at how bad its over at ATT
In some countries, providers have tried to close skype protocols, but that did not last long. This is an agreement between Skype and Verizon, but I think even that will not last long.
root your Droid - then I bet you can use Skype on Wifi with a custom MOD
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