Can I use SKYPE with mobile broadband?

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by dickymint at 10:07 on 21 Jun 2009Report abuse

Can I use Skype with mobile broadband?
Editor - Matt

by Matt at 09:49 on 29 Jun 2009 | registered | 771 postsReport abuse

Hi dickymint,
You should be able to use Skype without any problem, a good 3G connection will offer enough bandwidth to let you talk online and you may even be able to use the video calling function without too many issues. We've used Skype on a mobile phone and the sound quality compares well with standard voice calls.

The big question is whether your provider actually allows use of the service. 3 offer Skype on their mobile phones and their mobile broadband will let you use it on your laptop as well. The situation with other major networks is less clear.

As far as we can tell from struggling through the terms and conditions, Orange and Vodafone do not explicitly block Skype, but they do have clauses that allow them to block services which may or may not include VOIP applications like Skype. As for T-mobile, we've heard that they specifically do not allow Skype on some of their packages, but we're not able to see anything about this in their terms and conditions.

It's frustratingly vague, so the safest thing is to either pop into a store or call customer services and ask them to clarify that Skype is allowed before you buy anything.
by Sue at 13:14 on 23 Mar 2010 | registered | 2 postsReport abuse

02 terms and conditions say that mobile broadband will not allow VOIP.
by Gerrysea at 22:09 on 10 Apr 2010Report abuse

Having just signed up with Virgin mobile broadband and found that I had difficulties using Skype & Echolink (another voip based application), Virgin have told me that they do not allow the use of Voip over their mobile broadband.
by Beatrice at 19:04 on 8 May 2010Report abuse

hi there, does anybody know about using broadband dongle with PC desk and talking on Skype? many thanks
by Kai at 23:55 on 15 May 2010 | registered | 9 postsReport abuse

I use 3 service on PAYG and when our moden blew up I had to use the dongle and 3 does let you use skype it works on my lappy and desktop.
Just a word of warning Skype uses your internet connection to pass calls around the net so if you are not using Skype then shut the program down or watch your your data allowance drop dramatically ( I found this out the hard way )
by Ethel Redstart at 17:52 on 25 Sep 2010Report abuse

My problem is trying to use Skype on a PC using a broadband internet dongle. The connection to the internet appears to be only a little slower than home broadband, but a phone conversation with Skype breaks up after a few words.
by andy at 13:00 on 10 Nov 2010Report abuse

i am using 3 broadband with a dongle on my pc running windows vista os but skype will not connect it says skype cannot connest, my internet works fine and i have spoken to 3 and they said skype should work i have changed browsers and have skype as an exception on my firewall but still no joy anyone with any suggestions.
by Peter Kennedy at 14:17 on 5 Mar 2011Report abuse

I get a message saying 'invalid port' when i try to use the video option on skype while using my 3 broadband dongle. My speed is good so cant be due to that. Anyone know why this is happening and how can I fix it? Thanks in aDvance
by peter at 11:52 on 19 Apr 2011Report abuse

can't connect to skype on T-Mobile, after many calls to their tecnical support they finally admitted that skype is blocked by them, so T-mobile is a NO-NO if you want to use Skype
by Professor at 23:37 on 28 Apr 2011Report abuse

T-Mobile are a right pain in the backside where Skype is concerned, and their whole network is nailed to the floor.
I have a Skyypein number, which is a standard 01 uk phone number. This allows me to phone home to my pc from any mobile phone. At least that is the theory.
With a T-Mobile PAYG phone, I get a continual engaged tone. But my unlocked mobile, running an Asda mobile PAYG sim, which runs ON the T-Mobile network works perfectly when calling home to my Skypein number. The Asda sim, despite running on the T-Mobile network, will not work on the T-Mobile handset without unlocking.
So far, the Asda sim is the only one I have found to work with Skype.

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