Or more accurately, voice over IP to take over the world?

Have you ever used Skype on a mobile device?

As I wrote earlier this month, I bought an iPhone 3G in Hong Kong and have been totally digging the experience.  One of the applications I use daily on my iPhone is Skype.  It is a free application and works wonders in my life.

I have been using Skype for several years but only recently did I begin making calls via Skype on a mobile phone.  My cousin Gary introduced me to the concept of being able to call countries all over the world at a very low rate (sometimes free of charge) via Skype on iPhone.  It’s simply awesome.  A few sweet scenarios:

1. Skype to Skype (free of charge and phenomenal clarity). My girlfriend Michelle is based in Dubai, so we use Skype frequently to chat via wireless internet (at home or outdoors).  I kid you not: the clarity of conversations via Skype to Skype on iPhone is significantly clearer than a cell phone to cell phone conversation.
2. Skype to (enter country) mobile/landline phone. With wireless internet and an iPhone, I can basically call most countries in the world at Skype’s fixed rates.  The company even has calling plans priced at USD $12.95 per month for unlimited calls to selected countries.

I believe that as wireless internet becomes increasingly ubiquitous all over the world, voice over IP will slowly replace traditional phone networks. Companies like Skype are then going to take over the communications world.

Sidenote: I think Skype is going public early next year… stock investment anybody?

It’s not until you really sit down and think about how damn easy life is these days with the Internet…

Being in Taiwan, I can still:

• Impulsively text message a friend in the US for free via AIM
• Chat on the phone with my Dad (he’s in Hong Kong) via Skype for minimal $ at the click of a button
• Watch US television live via Sling Media
• Follow the market and trade stocks live via Yahoo Finance & Scottrade
• Keep up to date with all my friends’ developments via Facebook

These are truly indispensable applications for me. Life would be a lot less efficient without them. It’s truly amazing and wonderful what technology has allowed us to do today.

Internet, you rock.