Skype vs Fring – A Love And Hate Story

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As odd as it can be but it’s True – Love story between Skype, a VoIP Internet service provider, and Fring, a mobile communication provider, seems to reach to an end. It was all started when Fring claimed that Skype blocked Fring access which made millions of Fring users to face disconnect from Skype. In last 2 weeks there were dramatic changes and allegations between both the companies and none of them are ready to reveal the actual steps taken against each other.

Late week Fring, mobile communication service provider released an updated iPhone app which enabled iPhone 4 owners to have unrestricted 2 way video calling using Wi-FI or over 3G Network with other iPhone, Android or Symbian users. This garnered lots of attention, mainly because Apple parent app FaceTime do not offer cross-platform Video calling still and worked only with Wi-Fi. With the launch of such app Fring targeted a huge multiple platform mobile users besides iPhone.

Hours after the launch of such service, company claimed that they saw huge spike in video calling which made them to crop the support for Skype, a third-party provider it had long support, on temporally basis. Just after release of such statement, Fring claimed that Skype has blocked Fring access to their network. This way all Fring users who were happly enjoying the much appreciated Fring services which incorporate Skype, Facebook, Twitter, suddenly found Skype connectivity problem. Fring also claimed that Skype apparently blocked Fring and threatened for legal action. A true long 4 years of stable business relation between Skype and Fring went for toss. Besides addressing then as “Cowards”, Fring also claimed that Skype is afraid of open mobile communication.And the sorry statement from Fring was written like this

“We are sorry to all Fring users for the inconvenience, caused by the Skype.”

In response to Fring’s allegations, Skype denied all allegations in straight manner. Skype said on its blog all allegation of blocking Skype to Fring is untrue. They alleged Fring for using the Skype in a manner which was violating the Skype’s API usage terms and end user license agreement.Skype also said they are still in talk with Fring in order to solve this issue.

In the same post Skype indirectly put the balm back on Fring for mis-use of Skype services which was damaging their brand in market. Skype said “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.”

Skype also said “it 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.” Skype alleged Fring for taking decision of blocking Skype on its own and putting all blames on Skype.

Considering all above scenario It is really surprising to learn the way relationship and issue has been handled by both the companies. Long 4 years of business relationship, which provided grounds to Fring, got disconnected, we believe on temporarily basis, in very destructive manner.

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