Currently Fring and Skype are pointing the finger at each other as Skype video calls are no longer available on Fring. A few days ago Fring disabled the Skype service on their application without warning. Leaving many users to wonder if their smart phones had issues, some even going as far to reformat their configurations to see if that aided the situation.
After much confusion in the community Fring finally provided an explanation on their forums stating that while Fring had intended to reduce Skype access temporarily to accommodate the sudden surge in fring video traffic, Skype had now blocked all access.
The entire message that was posted on the Fring support forums.
fring update: fring blocked by cowardly Skype
Hello everyone.
During the past few days we’ve read your emails, your tweets and your posts in our forums and across the internet. We hear you and understand your frustration about Skype being unavailable on fring.
We intended to reduce Skype access just temporarily to accommodate the sudden surge in fring video traffic. Unfortunately fring video success ruffled some feathers at Skype and they blocked all access.
Needless to say, we are very disappointed that Skype, former crusader for open communications, is now trying to muzzle competition, even at the expense of its own users.
Please rest assured that you are important to us, and we will continue to provide our users with the best mobile internet communication experiences that you deserve, with or without Skype. You can continue to enjoy free video calls, voice calls, file transfer, live chat and more on any advanced Smartphone, over any mobile operator, over your preferred internet connection (3G, 4G, WiFi).
Let freedom fring!
More info at http://www.fring.com/blog/?p=2322
The fring team.
To which about an hour later or so Skype’s Robert Miller posted this on their “Big Blog” page.
Fring’s mis-use of Skype software was damaging to our brand and reputation
An hour or so ago, Fring reported on their blog that we had blocked their access to Skype. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: this is untrue.
Fring was using Skype software in a way it wasn’t designed to be used – and in a way which is in breach of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement. We’ve been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably.
However, over time, Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers. On Friday, for example, Fring withdrew support for video calls over Skype on iOS 4 without warning, again damaging our brand and disappointing our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.
We actively encourage developers to build products that work with Skype, acting, of course in accordance with our various API licences. At the same time, Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.
In this case, however, there is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype has blocked it. Fring made the decision to remove Skype functionality on its own.
Fring’s mis-use of Skype software was damaging to our brand and reputation
An hour or so ago, Fring reported on their blog that we had blocked their access to Skype. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: this is untrue.
Fring was using Skype software in a way it wasn’t designed to be used – and in a way which is in breach of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement. We’ve been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably.
However, over time, Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers. On Friday, for example, Fring withdrew support for video calls over Skype on iOS 4 without warning, again damaging our brand and disappointing our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.
We actively encourage developers to build products that work with Skype, acting, of course in accordance with our various API licences. At the same time, Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.
In this case, however, there is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype has blocked it. Fring made the decision to remove Skype functionality on its own.
So basically, Fring disabled the Skype services on its application due to overwhelming usage (most likely caused due to the release of Fring for the iPhone 4) and Skype finally had the opportunity to block Fring with the excuse that their “mis-use of Skype software was damaging their brand.”
It was probably inevitable that Skype would eventually block the service. I for one do believe there is some truth in Fring’s statement about Skype “muzzling” their competition. Yes, Skype currently does have an application that allows voice calls but not video calls, which is obviously what people want. By the same token however, Fring should have beefed up their network infrastructure before they released the iPhone Fring version so that they never had to disable Skype in the first place.
Unfortunately, the ones caught in the middle are the users. With millions of users on Skype I doubt that the entire Fring fiasco will have a significant impact on the company. If the two services can’t make amends, perhaps its a good time for Fring to look at other options like working something out with Google video.
All I know is that now I cannot place Skype video calls on my Nokia N95-4 to a friend that just moved away. I was receiving the service for free so I’m not complaining like some of these people that are outraged. I’ll just have to find another solution until Fring and Skype kiss and make up.
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