Social Networking is all about keeping in touch with our friends, colleagues, and family. Passive communication through sites such as www.facebook.com and www.myspace.com
is nice, but sometimes there is just no substitute for hearing someone’s voice.
Amazingly, you can make phone calls using the Skype app from any iPhone 4. Calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world are free. A nice thing about Skype is that it works on computers and many mobile devices, including iPhone 4s, iPhones, some BlackBerry smartphones, and other mobile devices. You will be charged for calls to mobile phones and land lines, but the rates are reasonable
NOTE: As of an update in July, Skype now does currently support iOS 4 multitasking or FaceTime. You can also now place Skype calls over a 3G network.
Downloading Skype to Your iPhone 4
You can download the free Skype app from the App Store by searching for Skype and installing it. If you need help getting this done, please check out topic 26: “The Amazing App Store.”
Creating Your Skype Account on Your iPhone 4
If you need to set up your Skype account and have not already done so from your computer (see the “Using Skype on your Computer” section later in this topic), then follow these steps to set up Skype on your iPhone 4:
1. Tap the Skype icon from your Home screen.
2. Tap the Create Account button.
3. Tap Accept if you accept the No Emergency Calls pop-up warning window.
4. Enter your Full Name, Skype Name, Password, and Email, and then decide whether you want to Get News and Offers by setting the switch at the bottom.
5. Tap the Done button to create your account.
Log in to the Skype App
After you create your account, you’re ready to log in to Skype on your iPhone 4. To do so, follow these steps:
1. If you are not already in Skype, tap the Skype icon from your Home screen.
2. Type your Skype Name and Password.
3. Tap the Sign In button in the upper right corner.
4. You should not have to enter this log in information again; it is saved in Skype. The next time you tap Skype, it will automatically log you in.
Finding and Adding Skype Contacts
Once you have logged into the Skype app, you will want to start communicating with people. To do so, you will have to find them and add then to your Skype contacts list:
1. If you are not already in Skype, tap the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in, if asked.
2. Tap the Contacts soft key at the bottom.
3. Tap the Search window at the top, and then type someone’s first and last name or Skype name. Tap Search to locate that person.
4. Once you see the person you want to add, tap his name.
5. If you are not sure whether this is the correct person, tap the View Full Profile button.
6. Tap Add Contact at the bottom.
7. Adjust the invitation message appropriately.
8. Tap the Send button to send this person an invitation to become one of your Skype contacts.
Please accept me as a contact so we can call and chat.
9. Repeat the procedure to add more contacts.
10. When you are done, tap the Contacts soft key at the bottom.
11. Tap All Contacts from the Groups screen to see all new contacts you have added.
12. Once this person accepts you as a contact, you will see him listed as a contact in your All Contacts screen.
TIP: Sometimes you want to get rid of Skype a contact. You can remove or block a contact by tapping her name from the contact list. Tap the Settings icon (upper right corner) and select either Remove from Contacts or Block.
Making Calls with Skype on Your iPhone 4
So far you have created your account and added your contacts. Now you are ready to finally make that first call with Skype on your iPhone 4:
1. If you are not already in Skype, tap the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in, if asked.
2. Tap the Contacts soft key at the bottom.
3. Tap All Contacts to see your contacts.
4. Tap the contact name you wish to call (see Figure 12-4).
5. Tap the Call button.
6. You may see a Skype button and a Mobile or other phone button. Press the Skype button to make the free call. Making any other call requires that you pay for it with Skype Credits.
Figure 12-4. Placing Calls from Skype on Your iPhone 4.
NOTE: You can call toll free numbers for free using Skype Out on your iPhone 4. The following notice comes from the Skype web site at www.skype.com:
“The following countries and number ranges are supported and are free of charge to all users. We’re working on the rest of the world. France: +33 800, +33 805, +33 809 Poland: +48 800 UK: +44 500, +44 800, +44 808 USA: +1 800, +1 866, +1 877, +1 888 Taiwan: +886 80″
Receiving Calls with Skype on your iPhone 4
Apple’s iOS4 innately supports background VoIP calls. With the new version of Skype, you can have Skype running in the background and still be able to receive a Skype call when it comes in. You can even, in theory, be on a voice call and then answer your Skype call!
TIP: If you want to call someone whom you know uses Skype on her iPhone 4, just send her a quick email or give her a quick call to alert her to the fact you would like to talk to her using the Skype app.
Buying Skype Credits or a Monthly Subscription
Skype-to-Skype calls are free. However, if you want to call people on their land lines or mobile phones from Skype, then you will need to purchase Skype Credits or purchase a monthly subscription plan. If you try to purchase the credits or subscription from within the Skype app, it will take you to the Skype web site. For this reason, we recommend using Safari on your iPhone 4 or using your computer’s web browser to purchase these credits.
TIP: You may want to start with a limited amount of Skype Credits to try out the service before you sign up for a subscription plan. Subscription plans are the way to go if you plan on using Skype a lot for non-Skype callers (e.g., regular landlines and mobile phones).
Follow these steps to use Safari to buy Skype Credits:
1. Tap the Safari icon.
2. Type www.skype.com in the top address bar and tap Go.
3. Tap the Sign In link at the top of the page.
4. Enter your Skype Name and Password, and then tap Sign me in.
5. If you are not already on your Account screen, tap the Account tab in the right end of the Top Nav Bar.
6. At this point, you can choose to buy credits or a subscription:
a. Tap the Buy pre-pay credit button to purchase a fixed amount of credits.
b. Tap the Get a subscription button to buy a monthly subscription account.
7. Finally, complete the payment instructions for either type of purchase.
Chatting with Skype
In addition to making phone calls, you can also chat via text with other Skype users from your iPhone 4. Starting a chat is very similar to starting a call; follow these steps to do so:
1. If you are not already in Skype, tap the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in if asked.
2. Tap the Contacts soft key at the bottom.
3. Tap All Contacts to see your contacts.
4. Tap the name of the contact you wish to chat with (see Figure 12-5).
5. Tap the Chat button.
6. Type your chat text and press the Send button. Your chat will appear in the top of the screen.
Figure 12-5. Chatting with Skype on Your iPhone 4.
Adding Skype to Your Computer
You can use the Skype app on your computer, as well. We will show you how this works next. You can also use Skype to make video calls on your computer if you also have a web cam hooked up.
NOTE: When you call from your computer to an iPhone 4, you will not be able to do a video call.
To create a Skype account and download Skype software for your computer, follow these steps:
1. Open a web browser on your computer.
2. Go to: www.skype.com.
3. Click the Join link at the top of the page.
4. Create your account by completing all required information and clicking the Continue button. Notice that you only have to enter information in the required fields, which are denoted with an asterisk. For example, you do not need to enter your gender, birthdate, and mobile phone number.
5. You are now done with the account setup process. Next, you are presented with the option of buying Skype Credits; however, this is not required for the free Skype-to-Skype phone calls, video calls, or chats.
TIP: You only need to pay for Skype if you want to call someone who is not using Skype. For example, calls to phones on land lines or mobile phones (not using Skype) will cost you. At publishing time, pay-as-you-go rates were about US 2.1 cents; monthly subscriptions ranged from about US $3 – $14 for various calling plans.
6. Next, click the Get Skype link in the Top Nav Bar of the site to download Skype to your computer.
7. Click the Get Skype for Windows button or the Get Skype for Mac button.
8. Follow the instructions to install the software. For more information on downloading and installing software, see the “Getting iTunes Software” section in topic 30: “iTunes User Guide.’
9. Once the software is installed, launch it and log in using your Skype account.
10. You are ready to initiate (or receive) phone calls, video calls, and chats to anyone else using Skype, including all your friends with Skype on their iPhones.