![Skype for the iPhone now available, just not in Canada [UPDATE]](/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/skype_logo_250x250.jpg){kind=logo}
As expected Skype for the iPhone is now available in the App Store, but according to some reports it is not available everywhere. Notably missing from the available list is Canada.
Of course, I cannot verify that personally, however despite my residing in the US and being able to actually download and install Skype, I still have little good news to report. I had hoped to test it out, and give a nice review with some screenshots, unfortunately for me, it will not load.
The app downloads and seems to install without issue, however when attempting to launch it, the app just shows the splash screen and then crashes. It does this every time, at first, I thought maybe it was conflicting with something else that I have installed, but after reading some comments in iTunes, it appears that I am far from alone.
Another interesting item to note in regards to Skype is that is has been reported to be working over 3G (in addition to Wi-Fi) for iPhone OS 3.0 users. I would imagine that will change before OS 3.0 is released to the public though, so if you are running 3.0 you should enjoy it while you can.
In the meantime, go ahead and try Skype out for yourself, hopefully you will have better luck. Personally, I am going to hope for an update to come that will get it working.
[UPDATE] If you are having issues with crashing (like myself) and have a jailbroken iPhone there is a fix — and it works. To correct the issue, launch Cydia and install the update for “Mobile Substrate” and then actually enjoy using Skype. (via Digital Marketing Talk)
![Jailbreaking news: Trick iTunes into thinking you have iPhone OS 3.1.3 [UPDATED]](http://www.iphonefreak.com/wp-content/themes/freshnews/thumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/iphone3gofficial.png&h=28&w=28&zc=1&q=80)
March 31st, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I am in Canada and can confirm that skype is unavailable up here.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Confirmed, Skype is not available in the Canadian store. But if you have a US iTunes account you can download and install Skype without any problems.
I am running jailbroken 2.2 and can report that Skype is working just fine over 3G to both Skype and dialed calls. The audio is a little clippy but perfectly acceptable.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am
Read the headline and I thought the article was on “more information (update)why it isn’t available in Canada”??
April 1st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
It’s not available in Canada because of Rogers, which has partnered with Apple. Since Skype would dig into Rogers’ profits (i.e. customers would no longer need to pay extra for long distance calling, instead they could just get a data plan and use Skype), they don’t want the Skype app to be available to Canadians. This is what happens when you allow monopolies to form.
April 1st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
they’re still doing long distance in Canada? For pete sake it’s 2009.
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I’m in the communications department at Rogers and want to clarify CanadianMark’s point. Rogers isn’t involved in decisions about which apps are offered on iTunes in Canada – that’s between Apple and the developers. Rogers doesn’t block Skype and our customers will be able to use the Skype app if and when it is available in Canada.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:26 am
i originally had problems of skype crashing when i tried to log in, i then downloaded mobile substrate which fixed the problem, and things seemed to be working fine… today when i tried to send a msg to one of my skype contacts, the second i tapped on the contact, it crashed…. i wonder if you might know what the problem is?