3 Skypephone
Encyclopedia
The 3 Skypephone is a UMTS , GSM and VoIP mobile phone. The phone is a joint product by Hutchison 3G
and Skype
.
The 3 Skypephone S1 was the first in the 3 Skypephone Series
to launch . It was widely acknowledged for its difference from other mobile phones for introducing Skype
as a native application and introducing Brew os to a Europe
an audience.
My3's website previously identified the phone model as the "Amoi 8512", while the packaging the phone comes in, calls it the "WP-S1". However, the phone is currently being marketed under the name 3 Skypephone S1 and is currently (as of November 2008) available in 3's own stores (including 3Stores within Superdrug
premises) and in retail, depending on country.
Windows Live Messenger
was initially supported on the phone in selected countries only. However in late November 2007 it was released as a Java application in the UK, and is available via the Launcher softkey on the phone. Usage of Messenger is free on 3's UK and Ireland networks.
The physical dimensions of the phone include a weight of 86 g and size of 100×44×13.6 mm.
The battery life is as follows:
A screen size of 2 inches (50.8 mm), at a resolution of 176×220 pixels is included, and it incorporates a 2 megapixel camera.
Hutchison 3G
3 is a brand name under which several UMTS-based mobile phone networks and Broadband Internet Providers are operated in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom...
and Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
.
The 3 Skypephone S1 was the first in the 3 Skypephone Series
3 Skypephone Series
The 3 Skypephone series is a range of 3G mobile phones made as a global project by the 3 network. The project was initiated by the 3's global handset team, some of whom later went on to found the new mobile phone company INQ...
to launch . It was widely acknowledged for its difference from other mobile phones for introducing Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
as a native application and introducing Brew os to a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an audience.
My3's website previously identified the phone model as the "Amoi 8512", while the packaging the phone comes in, calls it the "WP-S1". However, the phone is currently being marketed under the name 3 Skypephone S1 and is currently (as of November 2008) available in 3's own stores (including 3Stores within Superdrug
Superdrug
Superdrug Stores PLC is Britain's second-largest beauty and health retailer behind Boots. Superdrug - part of the AS Watson Group which in turn is part of the Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa - is a UK based company with over 890 stores, which since 2006, includes the Republic of Ireland...
premises) and in retail, depending on country.
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
was initially supported on the phone in selected countries only. However in late November 2007 it was released as a Java application in the UK, and is available via the Launcher softkey on the phone. Usage of Messenger is free on 3's UK and Ireland networks.
The physical dimensions of the phone include a weight of 86 g and size of 100×44×13.6 mm.
The battery life is as follows:
- Standby: 320 hours
- Talk Time: 270 minutes
- Video Talk Time: 170 minutes
A screen size of 2 inches (50.8 mm), at a resolution of 176×220 pixels is included, and it incorporates a 2 megapixel camera.
In the box
- Handset
- Lithium-ion battery 3.7V, 1150 mAh.
- Battery cover (magnetic).
- Personal stereo hands free kit (via mini-USB connector).
- USB cable.
- Mains charger (USB connector).
- CD–ROM for PC connection.
- 256MB or 512MB microSD memory card (no adapter) (UK, Ireland and Austria).
- 512MB Kingston microSD memory card with adapter (Australia)
- 3 user guide.
- Quick start guide for Skype.
Supported functionality
- Bluetooth stack with OBEXOBEXOBEX is a communications protocol that facilitates the exchange of binary objects between devices. It is maintained by the Infrared Data Association but has also been adopted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the SyncML wing of the Open Mobile Alliance...
file transfer and A2DP support - Streaming video (can receive TV channels and watch movies over the 3G network)
- Streaming audio
- Free Skype-to-skype calls
- T9 dictionary
- Camera
- Video recording
- Audio recording
- Media player that plays AACAdvanced Audio CodingAdvanced Audio Coding is a standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at similar bit rates....
, AMR, M4A, MP3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
, WAVWAVWaveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
, 3GP3GP3GP is a multimedia container format defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project for 3G UMTS multimedia services. It is used on 3G mobile phones but can also be played on some 2G and 4G phones....
, MP4, WMV and WMAWindows Media AudioWindows Media Audio is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. The name can be used to refer to its audio file format or its audio codecs. It is a proprietary technology that forms part of the Windows Media framework. WMA consists of four distinct codecs...
files - PC Suite synchronization
- 116.5 kbit/s cell modem via Bluetooth or USB
- Podcasting with Mobilcast (unofficially supported)
- Supports Java MEJava Platform, Micro EditionJava Platform, Micro Edition, or Java ME, is a Java platform designed for embedded systems . Target devices range from industrial controls to mobile phones and set-top boxes...
applications such as Opera MiniOpera MiniOpera Mini is a web browser designed primarily for mobile phones, smartphones and personal digital assistants. Until version 4 it used the Java ME platform, requiring the mobile device to run Java ME applications. From version 5 it is also available as a native application for Android, iOS, Symbian...
and many Java ME games. - Charging via standard mini USB cable. (Through its own charging unit (wall plug) and USB to mini USB cable are included, any standards mini USB cable can be used to charge the skypephone in various locations or when traveling.) However, see issues below.
- Brew gamesBinary Runtime Environment for WirelessBrew is an application development platform created by Qualcomm, originally for CDMA mobile phones, featuring third party applications such as mobile games. It is offered in some feature phones but not in smart phones...
- 3 launcher menu
- Pre-loaded SkypeSkypeSkype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
client Powered by BrewBinary Runtime Environment for WirelessBrew is an application development platform created by Qualcomm, originally for CDMA mobile phones, featuring third party applications such as mobile games. It is offered in some feature phones but not in smart phones...
Issues
- Poor battery life when streaming video (e.g. Mobile YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
or Mobile TV3 mobile tv (UK)3 in the UK offer a Mobile TV service across most of their range of phones. It is provided by 3 and independent companies and offers the main genres of: Comedy, Entertainment, Music, Documentaries, Kids programming and user-submitted content...
). - The Skypephone does not support Skype Video Call.
- The Skypephone does not support SkypeIn yet (except Hong Kong).
- However, some people are working around this by purchasing Skype Pro and forwarding incoming calls when busy to the actual mobile phone number.
- SkypeIn is available Feb 2008 in Hong Kong only.
- SkypeIn not officially available other than Hong Kong, but workaround software is available to use on your PC to connect SkypeIn calls to your 3Skypephone.
- There was formerly no SkypeOut functionality, however this has been addressed in the UK with a software update available on the application shop and under a folder called "Skype". Only calls to phones abroad are allowed, but a workaround to allow Skypeout calls to phones in the UK is possible.
- Skype conferencing is supported, however the handset cannot host conference callConference callA conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party...
s, only join existing ones. - No front-facing camera for video calls
- The rubber coating on the battery cover of the Black model is known to blister and peel when warm.
- The Skypephone only takes 20 Calendar entries.
- The Skypephone gets hot after about 15 minutes of talk use.
- However you can get around this by connecting the handsfree headset.
- Screen is made of plastic and scratches easily.
- Back cover on white model gets stained easily.
- Japanese text is not supported; chat messages containing this appear blank.
- Many applications are not tested for the 3 Skypephone S1 (However as a general rule it is compatible with the same Java games and applications as the Sony EricssonSony EricssonSony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
W810I). - Mini USB connector is slightly non standard as the plastic lip that holds the electrical connectors on the cable needs to be slightly thicker to allow contact with the connectors on the phone. You may need to try a couple of different cables to find one that connects properly, or even slightly dent the cable connector metal housing to force the pins to be raised slightly.
See also
- 3 Skypephone Series3 Skypephone SeriesThe 3 Skypephone series is a range of 3G mobile phones made as a global project by the 3 network. The project was initiated by the 3's global handset team, some of whom later went on to found the new mobile phone company INQ...
- 3 Skypephone S23 Skypephone S2The 3 Skypephone S2 is a UMTS , GSM and VoIP mobile phone. The phone is the successor to 3 Skypephone and the second phone from the 3 Skypephone Series.- iSkoot :...
- SkypeSkypeSkype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
- Hutchison 3GHutchison 3G3 is a brand name under which several UMTS-based mobile phone networks and Broadband Internet Providers are operated in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom...
(3) - BREWBinary Runtime Environment for WirelessBrew is an application development platform created by Qualcomm, originally for CDMA mobile phones, featuring third party applications such as mobile games. It is offered in some feature phones but not in smart phones...