The Missing BlackBerry SuperApp

During his keynote address at RIM’s WES 2010 event two weeks ago, Research In Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaradis talked about and promoted the development of BlackBerry SuperApps, defined as applications that are highly integrated into many of the BlackBerry’s native applications and features. But one key SuperApp is missing; its absence has to rank at or near the top of the list of most sought applications for the BlackBerry. Frankly, with over 500 million registered accounts and 50 to 75 million active users this application ranks as one of the most widely used communications and social networking applications across both the PC and smartphone market spaces.

First, let’s look at the BlackBerry world:

• Top selling line of smartphones in North America
• Fourth largest selling mobile phone worldwide (covering both traditional mobile phones and smartphones)
• Over 41 million active BlackBerry accounts
• Widely used in enterprise but going after the consumer market
• Highly secure platform – only smartphone approved/certified by government security agencies
• Understands the issues of optimizing battery life
• Most efficient smartphone at delivering data across wireless networks
• Have relationships with over 400 wireless carriers worldwide
• About to launch a new OS with browsing capabilities that meet the requirements for effective smartphone web browsing
• A great instant messaging product in BlackBerry Messenger
  • but limited to chat communication with the other 20 million users of BlackBerry Messenger
• SuperApps offered for FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Maps, etc.

So what’s missing? I still can’t walk into a WiFi Access point and make a routine Skype call from my BlackBerry; I still can’t follow Skype chat sessions on my BlackBerry via a native Skype for BlackBerry application. Yes, there’s iSkoot but it does not support the latest models and there’s IM+ for Skype; neither works over WiFi, requiring the last link to come via your wireless carrier’s voice channel.

Let’s look at Skype on mobile:

• Native applications: Skype for iPhone and Skype for Symbian (Nokia)
  • Skype for iPhone has significant limitations due to battery and, currently, multi-tasking issues. Currently voice only over WiFi.
  • Nokia has very low North American smartphone market penetration (supports voice over WiFi).
• Skype mobile – restricted to Verizon Wireless customers who are calling from/to  a BlackBerry or Android phone within the U.S. – geography limited (and no WiFi support)
• Skype on 3 – Available for a range of smartphones, including the Skypephones, on Hutcheson Whampoa’s 3 network in nine countries – carrier limited (and no WiFi support)
• Lacking a “direct to consumer” app for BlackBerry
• Features:
  • Place free calls to over 560 million Skype accounts:
    • 24 million concurrent online at peak times
    • 50 to 70 million active “real” users on PC’s, mobile smartphones, TV sets and other wireless devices
    • Skype-to-Skype calling represents 12% of international calling in 2009
  • Place calls to landline and mobile phones at low international calling rates
  • Includes Skype text messaging with access to not only other smartphones using Skype but also PC’s and other devices that incorporate Skype chat.
  • Supports not only voice calling and chat but also video calling, file transfer
  • Launching a major Skype for Business initiative supported by
    • Skype for SIP and Skype for Asterisk
    • Skype-certified hardware for business communications

So what am I looking for? A Skype for BlackBerry that works at least over WiFi from any WiFi access point worldwide. What benefits would this provide the BlackBerry user?

• An “always on” Skype on BlackBerry experience where Skype voice calls and chat messages can be received in the background at any time when in a WiFi zone.
  • With Skype chat messages also received over 3G/3.5G wireless
• Call all your BlackBerry contacts using Skype’s services (Skype-to-Skype, SkypeOut, Chat) from the BlackBerry address book (a SuperApp feature).
• A Skype application that does not drain the smartphone battery in two to three hours (optimizing battery usage is another expectation of a SuperApp)
• A service that consistently bypasses costly roaming charges when outside one’s home country.
• WiFi access points are becoming readily available in airports, hotels, restaurants, business offices and other “road warrior” travel locations.
• Sometimes there arise situations where only a WiFi access point is available for making calls.
• There are 41 million BlackBerry users out there, most of whom now have a BlackBerry with WiFi support.
• Skype can build on its exposure to developing for the BlackBerry platform when delivering the “Skype mobile” offering at Verizon

As for 3G or wireless carrier support: when I find any smartphone that can carry a full 12KHz audio bandwidth Skype call over 3G or 3.5G networks, I’ll be happy to have it also. But removal of support for Skype for Windows Mobile (which had 3G options), the long delays in implementing Skype for iPhone over 3G (either it’s delayed or “real soon now” has evolved into a new time dimension) and Truphone’s absence from 3G support tell me that there are still technology barriers to overcome to be able to offer a true high quality Skype voice call experience over 3G on a wireless carrier.

In the meantime, my experience with (international) voice calls over WiFi, whether on iPhone or Nokia, has demonstrated great voice quality. (Oh, and for my U.S. friends, using WiFi avoids overloading their favorite AT&T network that can’t seem to deliver the 3G/3.5G reliability and voice call quality that I experience with Rogers.)

Bottom line: if FaceBook, LinkedIn and Twitter are pervasive enough to trigger development of a BlackBerry SuperApp, Skype for BlackBerry has to be the one major “social sharing” SuperApp that is required to help RIM fight the smartphone battles currently being waged in the consumer and business markets.

It’s not a case where its presence would necessarily be winning sales at this point but rather it’s the absence of this application that contributes to losing BlackBerry sales across the consumer smartphone distribution channels. If, as stated at his WES 2010 presentation, Mike Lazaradis is looking to have 100 million BlackBerry users in the next couple of years,  and if Skype CEO Josh Silverman wants to make good on his “Skype Everywhere” goal, Skype for BlackBerry will have to be available soon.

RIM and Skype: Show us the Skype SuperApp. Just do it!

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• Skype service comes to Nokia phones (telegraph.co.uk)
• Skype Mobile coming to Verizon’s BlackBerry, Android phones (reviews.cnet.com)