Great write up and many thanks.

I use skype on both my BB (skype-to-go number coupled with UMA/H@H on TMO) and iPhone (with annual unlimited international calling plan) - primarily when traveling overseas, and find it the most cost effective.

Also, curious if Nimbuzz belongs in the same group?

I've been looking, but if anyone finds the first app (or news of the first app) to be updated/released to work over the cellular data network, please post the news here! :)

Good that Skype supports this announcement (which it's pretty obvious they would), but unfortunately, they don't say anything in there about their plans.

I certainly hope the restriction has been lifted and they've already submitted an update to Apple (Apple is notoriously slow in approving updates, even from large, reputable companies).

Then again, we may be waiting for Apple to change the terms of their developers' license. They indicated they were going to, but I don't know what the timeline for that is. Skype may be waiting for Apple to make the move before submitting their update.

What is the unlimited international calling plan of which you speak??:confused:

The unlimited iPhone Unlimited International plan is only available to certain FAN subscribers.

unlimited international calling plan
 

Not sure what FAN means but here's the site for the unlimited international call plan: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/allfeat...uscanadaworld/.

I joined last year when it was first available and paid about US$70 a year; it was automatically renewed for about $90 this year. I guess it's more for new subscribers. Not every country is available and in some countries only the landlines.

Thanks; that's mostly to landlines with some countries allowing calls to mobiles as well...I would love to find a plan that includes mobiles and landlines for more countries

jackal - thanks for the review!

You are talking about two different things. FAN refers to ATT corporate accounts and some of them can apparently get an unlimited data plan from ATT for iPhones. dtsm is referring to the Skype plan, something also of interest (especially given the OP) but different than the iPhone unlimited data plan.

I have the corporate unlimited global data plan...I would love a similar voice plan on the iPhone or a VoiP app!

The fact that AT&T can even offer an unlimited global data plan is evidence that what they pay the other carrier in roaming fees is WAY, WAY below what they charge for data roaming. It's maddening. With voice roaming, I can kind of understand the complexities of call routing through ancient, expensive legacy ATM-based PSTN networks, but data should incur very little to no extra expense--if I'm in Australia and access an Australian website, the data never leaves Australia and is just transmitted to me the same as it would be to my Aussie friend's iPhone right next to me. Optus CERTAINLY doesn't charge AT&T a full cent per KB or even the tenth of a cent per kilobyte that the $200, 200MB package works out to. Hopefully, someday data roaming will be ubiquitously inexpensive (and in line with its true cost). Someday...

I just got an Ipod Touch and would like to use it overseas when calling back to the U.S. (Mostly from Europe.) WhichVOIP plan have people here used and would say is the best for it?

I believe that they will be allowing you to use Skype with 3G data in the future. Skype works well in my experience on the iPhone with WiFi. If the change to allow it to work with 3G data happens it may work for you.

I may have confused things a little earlier. Skype offers a international unlimited calling plan to certain destinations. That is from Skype and anyone can buy it.

ATT has international global data roaming plan available for $70 a month to certain corporate subscribers ("FANs"). At one time, it may have been open to the general public. I don't know. Folks who have that international plan and a good VOIP service will be able to make free Voice Over Internet calls in a number of countries (assuming the local networks support a decent quality call).