Patent Dispute Blocks iPhone Skype In Canada

from the progress? dept

Wed, Apr 1st 2009 6:10am — Mike Masnick

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.

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Filed Under: canada, iphone, patents
Companies: skype

14 Comments

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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.
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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.
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- 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"...?
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  - 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.
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- 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.
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- 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?
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  - 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.
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- Anonymous Coward, 1 Apr 2009 @ 8:18am
  
  Re:
  bahahaahaha, you brighten up my day! Freaking hilarious!
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Canadian, 1 Apr 2009 @ 7:57am

Canada doesn't have software patents.
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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.
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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.
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skypefan, 1 Jan 2010 @ 9:29am

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