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Fring: Skype are Cowards, Skype: Fring are Liars

Skype and Fring have become engaged in something of a battle of words on the companies' respective blogs today. Well, first, Fring ...
Fring: Skype are Cowards, Skype: Fring are Liars
Written by Chris Crum
  • Skype and Fring have become engaged in something of a battle of words on the companies’ respective blogs today.

    Well, first, Fring issued a press release claiming Skype forced Fring to stop Fring’s use of the service, threatening legal action. Fring posted on its blog, "Now that fring expanded capacity to support the huge demand for video calling for all users, Skype has blocked us from doing so. They are afraid of open mobile communication. Cowards."

    Skype’s Robert Miller then fired back from Skype’s blog:

    Skype says Fring is lying. An hour or so ago, Fring reported on their blog that we had blocked their access to Skype. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: this is untrue.

    Fring was using Skype software in a way it wasn’t designed to be used – and in a way which is in breach of Skype’s API Terms of Use and End User License Agreement. We’ve been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably.

    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.

    Miller adds that "there is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype has blocked it," and that Fring made the decision to remove Skype on its own.

    It’s highly unlikely that this is the last we will hear from either side of the argument, but if nothing else, it has given Fring some press and some a great deal of commentary about both Skype and Fring from comments on both blogs.

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