Skype for iPhone Coming Soon

As we all know, Apple has lifted the restrictions against making VoIP calls over a 3G connection, and a handful of apps have already made changes to their backend environment to support the technology to enable their users to take advantage of this feature. However, the most high-profile VoIP app on the App Store, Skype, has yet to release an update.

Skype has updated blog regarding their progress on enabling VoIP over 3G. According to the company, 3G calling is coming 'soon' along with a few other updates that will ensure that both the app itself and the calls it makes are in high-quality. The next Skype update will include a call quality indicator for the 3G network similar to the one they already have for Wi-Fi connections, of course depending on the strength of your network connection, the indicator will show green, yellow, or red, giving you a rough idea of what quality to expect out of calls on your current network. Skype is also working on implementing a 'wideband audio' codec for calls, which the company says will allow for 'CD quality sound' on Skype-to-Skype calls. As per the video below, however, this feature will only be coming to the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch; probably that the iPhone 3G and original iPhone lack the processing power necessary to drive Skype's wideband audio codec.

Since the announcement of the lifting of VoIP over 3G restrictions, much speculation has surrounded the possible implementation of VoIP calls on the iPad. The iPad has a microphone, speaker, and Bluetooth, all of which, when paired with a very competitively priced pay-as-you-go and contract-free 3G data plan, make the iPad a very compelling alternative to the iPhone. Skype says it is indeed investigating a Skype for iPad app, but at this very early stage, no further details are available.

In the meantime, you can watch this brief video from the guys at Skype, where they discuss their progress on the app.