With the release of iOS4, the iPhone entered the world of multitasking where applicaitons could run in the background. Finally VoIP applications made sense because they could be turned on and left on while users did other things with thier phones. Once on in the background they can answer calls. Until now, the monster of consumer VoIP calling was still not running in the background, but now Skype has updated their software.

With the new version of Skype for iOS4, the application can run in the background and receive calls while the user is free to search the web or play games on their phone. The app has pop ups to let you know when a message has come in. Calls will be completed over 3G and Wired noted in its article that Skype has abandoned the idea of charging for 3G calls for now.

One thing still missing is access to the front facing camera and video calling. In the past, Skype executives have made it clear that quality of service is important to them and they don't have much faith in the current networks handling all they want to deliver with their Skype applicaitons.

For more:
- read the Wired article

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