FreeKicker 1.0 Released

FreeKicker is a tiny free open source Java ME application to start Skype V4 from another phone.

You may need this application if you have friends who want to call you on your Java ME mobile (with Skype 4 installed) and it is currently not running, perhaps due to bugs or issues. Your friends just need to start FreeKicker and enter your phone number to "kick"* it. This will cause Skype on your phone to start, and if you have auto-login enabled in Skype, will connect you to the Skype network so they can call you.

* "Kick" simply refers to the act of sending Skype a text message to wake it up, as such the sender may incur a regular text message charge (unless they have free texts). See the included readme files for a more detailed explanation of how this app works.

IMPORTANT:

SKYPE AND THREE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES
DO NOT ENDORSE FREEKICKER OR SILENT SOFTWARE.


Requirements:
This application works on most Java enabled mobile phones but can only start the Java (not Brew) version of Skype 4, typically that installed recently in a forced upgrade on the ZTE F102 on the Three mobile network.

Downloads:
Download FreeKicker 1.0 for JavaMe/J2ME phones.
Download GPL 2 JavaME source code for FreeKicker 1.0

Update on Skype on F102 3 phone exiting when minimised

In a break from the norm I'm posting my 3 correspondence on my blog to garner some attention, maybe you'll have some fun reading it but the real grit on what I've uncovered can also be found here on the Skype forum.

My email is probably overkill and hyperbole but I was quite incensed by finding the forced upgrade deliberately prevents incoming calls when Skype is in the background and when Three's customer service told me I needed a better phone to run Skype properly. So incensed in fact I wrote a program to workaround it. In any case if it goes further I'll be claiming for 2x£30 (two phones) in the small claims court, it all depends on Three's (possible lack of) response.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re. Notification of potential legal action.

About a week ago I sent a support email requesting that 3 restore my original Skype functionality to my F102 mobile phone as since the update I cannot receive any incoming SKYPE calls as the Skype application exits when it goes into the background ("minimised").
I received a call from one of your customer service representatives telling me because my phone "was not multitasking" I needed to upgrade it to run Skype in the background (despite my pointing out it was working fine in prior to the Skype update). I have uncovered EVIDENCE to suggest 3 HAVE DELIBERATELY pushed out this change in the Skype application reducing its functionality and this is NOT TO DO WITH THE PHONE NOT "MULTITASKING" - THE SKYPE UPDATE LINK CLEARLY STATES IT WILL EXIT IN THE BACKGROUND:
"http://download.three.co.uk/un/811/001/skype/f102/005-zte-176x220-i16x16-exit-background.jar"

I request that you restore the previous version of Skype application on my phone within 10 days or will consider legal recourse and potential group action to rectify this situation as clearly 3 are at fault and have been attempting to make me purchase a new phone to solve the problem 3/Skype have caused.

Please email or post your response to me as I require your responses in writing. Telephone calls from 3 will be unanswered.

Yours regrettably,

Benjamin Brown

Skype on three.co.uk 3 telecom not receiving calls

This is Part 1 (my first email), Part 2 of this is here

I'm putting this out there to see how many other people are having a problem with the recent Skype update disconnecting when idle or not minimising meaning you can no longer receive incoming Skype calls. I sent this to three.co.uk support, lets see what I get back:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Since recently updating Skype on my ZTE F102 the application no longer remains connected in the background after I minimise it. The application also disconnects from Skype when it is idle. This now means I will no longer receive incoming *Skype* calls during this time. I notice your Support on the subject (under "Skype calls and chats") has Skype questions for "Making a call", "Sending a Skype Chat" and "Receiving a Skype Chat", but NONE for receiving Skype calls.

I politely request that you restore the original functionality of the Skype application for which I purchased my phone, by either a providing a new version or enabling me to revert Skype to an older revision.

Yours faithfully,

Benjamin Brown