Chad just Skyped me over 3G to tell me Skype has finally (finally!) released Skype 2.0 for iPhone with support for VoIP calling over 3G cell phone networks.

We’ll spare you the long drawn out AT&T, Apple, Skype drama and the out-loud wondering about why it took so long. We’ll also skip the reminder about how, with iPhone OS 4, you’ll be able to leave it running in the background. We figure you’ve already tapped through and are busily installing the app.

When you’re done and have tried it out, come back and let us know what you think about the experience and call quality.

UPDATE 1: Sigh. Skype-to-Skype over 3G won’t be free like traditional Skype-to-Skype over Wi-Fi calls:

Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are free until at least end of August 2010, after which there will be a small monthly fee (operator charges for data will still apply).

UPDATE 2: Launching Skype 2.0 on iPhone OS 4 will result in a warning that it only works on “unmodified iPhone OS 3.0.x, 3.1.x, 3.2.x”. Sorry developers on iPhone OS 4, no Skype 2.0 for you!

UPDATE 3: Scratch update 2, looks like that warning has been around for a while.

[iTunes link]

Skype 2.0 for iPhone brings VoIP over 3G! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

BGR got their hands on a leaked AT&T document that purports to show a new iPhone insurance program called MobileProtect that will cost you $13.99/month and include a deductible of $199 for an iPhone 3GS 32GB. ($99 for the iPhone 3G 8GB)

You must enroll in the plan within 30-days of upgrading/purchasing a new iPhone. AT&T is launching this service as: "Lack of iPhone insurance is a leading source of iPhone related customer complaints."

So does anyone think $168 a year is worth it for a little rebate and piece of mind? Deal or no deal?

[BGR, Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Would you pay AT&T $13.99/month for MobileProtect iPhone insurance — with a $199 deductible? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

What kind of upload and download speeds are you getting on your iPad Wi-Fi + 3G? Apple included an HSPA 7.2 3G radio on the iPad 3G, so if you’re on an HSPA+ 21 network like Bell/Telus you won’t approach that face-peeling velocity, and in the real world where you’re not sitting on top of your own cell tower in a test lab, you probably won’t hit 7.2 either, but we’re curious to know what kind of performance you do get.

So far, on Rogers Canada, I’m getting close to 4mb/s as measured by the SpeedTest.net app [iTunes link], which is pretty much the same as I get on the similarly equipped iPhone 3GS.

Let us know where you are, which carrier you’re on, and what data speed you’re getting.

How fast is your international iPad 3G data? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog