Skype and iPhone OS 4.0 - this is sort of a big deal..

Apple today announced the upcoming features and road-map for iPhone OS 4.0. In short multitasking is supported. This means that you can make and receive Skype calls and presumably receive IM anytime the application is running in the background. Skype actually demo'd a VoIP call on stage during the event on an iPhone.

This is a gamechanger.

The adoption of Skype in Business is a no brainer now. With Verizon, 3 and iPhone supporting Skype calling on their platform and devices, businesses have to take Skype as a serious as they take the PSTN, do you really want to be the only business that doesn't accept incoming Skype calls? If you're competition is doing it, you better as well.

Kudo's to Apple for opening the platform, RIM has some serious competition coming - they need a refresh of the OS in a BIG way...

Create a US iTunes Store account to get Skype for iPhone in Canada

Confirmed, this works!

I can't confirm that this works (please someone let me know, thanks MacGasm!) but apparently you can register for a US iTunes account separately inside of iTunes to get the Skype for iPhone application.


Link to Apple Support on how to do this here.

Also - thanks to Tyler: for the following link follow the instructions here and you are in business: Step by step instructions to creating an iTunes account in other countries.

Also - the imminent release of Skype for Blackberry will also be affected with a different version that is IM and inbound Skype call only - due to some patent issue. Because you can load BB applications via a desktop loader, that really won't do much to prevent CDN uses from getting the full application..

I don't think jailbroken iPhones have this geo-issue as you should be able to load any application on it, I imagine it is just a matter of time till someone releases the iPhone app. to the jailbreak community.