I have been digging on this Skype thing with Fring.  Apparently, Techcrunch is reporting that Skype blocked them and Fring has put out a release saying they were blocked by Skype.   In checking around and now Skype officially responds and says that they didn’t block them.

Skype Responds – Here is Skype’s statement:

Skype has been in discussions with Fring regarding our belief that Fring is breaching our API Terms of Use and End User Licence Agreement. Skype is disappointed that an amicable resolution was not possible. There is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype blocked them, it was their decision and choice to withdraw Skype functionality.

Skype encourages openness and supports developers to build products that work with Skype in accordance with our various API licences. In this case Fring violated Skype’s terms by misusing the Sktype software in ways which it was not designed for and which does not scale to meet consumer demand. Just this past weekend Fring had to pull down Skype support for their iPhone video client which further damaged the Skype brand and disappointed consumers yet again.

Skype will rigorously protect its brand and reputation and those companies that do not comply with our terms will be subject to enforcement.

Skype and Fring Have Been Talking

Skype has been in discussions with Fring regarding our belief that Fring is breaching our API Terms of Use and End User Licence Agreement. Skype is disappointed that an amicable resolution was not possible. There is no truth to Fring’s claims that Skype blocked them, it was their decision and choice to withdraw Skype functionality.

Skype encourages openness and supports developers to build products that work with Skype in accordance with our various API licences. In this case Fring violated Skype’s terms by misusing the Sktype software in ways which it was not designed for and which does not scale to meet consumer demand. Just this past weekend Fring had to pull down Skype support for their iPhone video client which further damaged the Skype brand and disappointed consumers yet again.

Skype will rigorously protect its brand and reputation and those companies that do not comply with our terms will be subject to enforcem

Validation from Blogosphere – Read VoIP Watch and Andy Abramson post below.

In the meantime Andy Abramson has the correct angle on Fring– Andy writes

Fring Fumbles on Cross Platform Video Chat

History always repeats. So you would think that taking a page out of the old AOL playbook the outcome would be known before the situation arose. I’m referring to the news about Fring and their capacity issue as it relates to two way video calling.

Plain and simply, Fring has a capacity issue. This is why Skype was smart to take their "wait and see" position on interoperability with FaceTime.

If doing this stuff was so easy, companies like client GlowPoint and others who offer bridging services wouldn’t be working with the Polycoms and Tata’s of the world to namedrop. Bridging requires skill, expertise and capacity management. And it has a price. So while the Frings of the world may think they can go out and simply cross connect and transcode, the real secret to satisfaction is in keeping it up.

My Angle: There really isn’t an incentive for Skype to block them.

  Skype is growing and focused on developers with their new Skypekit and recently moving to Silicon Valley.