Patent Dispute Blocks iPhone Skype In Canada

from the progress? dept

There's been a lot of buzz this week over a version of Skype finally being released for the iPhone (though, the fact that it's limited to only WiFi connections, rather than cellular ones is annoying, if expected). However, it turns out that Canadian iPhone users are discovering that their iPhones are blocked from using the new iPhone Skype, apparently due to some sort of "patent-licensing issue" related to the codec that Skype uses. The company isn't revealing much (and the link above includes a workaround for Canadians desperate to use Skype on their iPhones), but that's what you get when you end up using patented technology in your products. It makes it that much more difficult to actually offer your product in a variety of markets.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: canada, iphone, patents
Companies: skype


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    Jehosiphat Persiphious McGillicutty, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:23am

    I'm sick to my eyeballs in all this patent and copyright infringement crap. Freaking leeches seeking to suck money from others for something they (usually) had nothing to do with.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Weird Harold, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:33am

    Here is an example where a patent would encourage creativity and advancement - someone needs to make a new codec.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Evil Mike, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:36am

      Re:

      Yeah, invent a new wheel when there already exists one which can do the job.

      Jeez your slow--you work in government, right? Or as a legal "professional"...?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:54am

        Re: Re:

        Many times the new invention is better than the old. Just because you have one "which can do the job," it does not mean it can do the job well.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Matt, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:37am

      Re:

      this is your most failed troll ever. Less strawman please.

      This patent already stifled a creative thing from being unleashed. There is no encouragement.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:43am

      Re:

      the main problem with patents is your "registering" a concept not the code.

      so it doesn't matter if some1 can create an alternative codec that skype could use. (that would only take care of any copyright issue). So a new codec that doese the same thing would fall under the same patent.

      in the example already stated: how can i re-invent a wheel since it exists already?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Weird Harold, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:52am

        Re: Re:

        Codec patents are very narrow and specific (as patents should be). It is the difference between GIF, PNG, and JPG. Skype chose to use a method put them in potential problems, where others exist already that would not. They could also write their own, it's not the end of the world to do.

        @Evil Mike: Don't think of it as wheels, think of it as tires. There are plenty of companies making tires, you aren't forced to use one. Skype could have chosen a codec that was either in the public domain, or on GPL, or similar. It isn't like there is only one Codec out there. You make it sound like they don't have options.

        Anyway, what would they do if someone hadn't invented this codec for them? THEY WOULD MAKE THEIR OWN. They just need to stop being lazy and using shortcuts and either fish or cut bait.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2009 @ 8:18am

      Re:

      bahahaahaha, you brighten up my day! Freaking hilarious!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Canadian, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:57am

    Canada doesn't have software patents.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Joe, 1 Apr 2009 @ 9:49am

    Skype and the iPhone in Canada

    Both of these products have a troubled history in Canada. To this day,we cannot get a Skype-In number in Canada. Estonia - sure! Canada - ummm no. My phone contract with Bell explicitly forbids using Skype on my smartphone. While Canada is great on so many levels, in terms of telecommunications, we are the absolute backwaters.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    cjmpe, 1 Apr 2009 @ 1:08pm

    Wi-fi only might be annoying...

    but is is a whole lot better than the alternative. Even as late as a week ago, when you searched for information about Skype mobile it was pointed out that it did not work with your wi-fi connection, so you still needed to use your data or voice connection, which could mean roaming charges should you try to use your US phone in, say France (I haven't looked at the techie sites this week to see what has changed). Looks like it will be easier for me to justify picking up an unlocked Android phone later this year to use on my Rogers account.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    skypefan, 1 Jan 2010 @ 9:29am

    the following ebook is a great reference on skype:
    http://www.zbooc.com/search.aspx?keyword=use%20skype

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    stevenson, 4 May 2012 @ 3:55pm

    Skypein alternatives

    Also see www.flexyphone.com for Skype In Canada, Skypein Numbers, and Skype Online Numbers for many countries with FREE Skype and Voip accessories for your FREE Voip calls, when you get any virtual number so you can receive incoming calls through any FREE VoIP service such as SkypeIn, GoogleTalk, Voipcheap, VoipDiscount and many more SIP VoIP providers... You can now get incoming with Advanced Call Forwarding (ACF) settings that include, voicemail to email, conference call, multuple forwardings, ring groups, hunt groups, incoming faxes, caller blocklist, caller id etc...

    Visit the site http://www.flexyphone.com to order your Free Accessory, along with a virtual number from any country and replace your home phone with a FREE Voip service today.

    Flexyphone.com is the SkypeIn numbers provider for many countries, including: SkypeIn Canada, SkypeIn Netherlands, SkypeIn Spain, SkypeIn Portugal, SkypeIn Belgium, SkypeIn Greece, SkypeIn Italy, SkypeIn isreal, SkypeIn Russia, SkypeIn Australia, and many more countries...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    stevenson, 4 May 2012 @ 3:56pm

    Skypein alternatives

    Also see www.flexyphone.com for Skype In Canada, Skypein Numbers, and Skype Online Numbers for many countries with FREE Skype and Voip accessories for your FREE Voip calls, when you get any virtual number so you can receive incoming calls through any FREE VoIP service such as SkypeIn, GoogleTalk, Voipcheap, VoipDiscount and many more SIP VoIP providers... You can now get incoming with Advanced Call Forwarding (ACF) settings that include, voicemail to email, conference call, multuple forwardings, ring groups, hunt groups, incoming faxes, caller blocklist, caller id etc...

    Visit the site http://www.flexyphone.com to order your Free Accessory, along with a virtual number from any country and replace your home phone with a FREE Voip service today.

    Flexyphone.com is the SkypeIn numbers provider for many countries, including: SkypeIn Canada, SkypeIn Netherlands, SkypeIn Spain, SkypeIn Portugal, SkypeIn Belgium, SkypeIn Greece, SkypeIn Italy, SkypeIn isreal, SkypeIn Russia, SkypeIn Australia, and many more countries...

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.