Skype for iPhone/iPod Touch was released today. Well, if you live outside of Canada, that is.

The CBC is reporting that patent-license restriction are preventing the free app store add-on from being used by Canadians. Although Fring has been able to step up and fill the VOIP-void on iPod Touches/iPhones, I was hoping to get a native application supported by the Skype people that perfectly integrates all their features into a single user interface.

It looks like I’ll be moving out of my current apartment fairly soon and I’m actively looking at a phone solution that doesn’t require a landline or extending my cell phone contract for any longer. I was particularly drawn to the Skype out (to call standard land lines) + voicemail package, although it doesn’t include skype in (receiving calls from landlines) in Canada (hmmm…perhaps another patent issue?).

TMCnet has a great guide for Canadians interested in getting the Skype-released client app for the iPod Touch/iPhone. I’ll be trying this Friday, after all my term papers are due and I have time to buy a headset solution for the my iPod Touch (it’ll have to hold me over until my iPod is upgraded to iPhone OS 3.0 and can support a bluetooth headset).