I am trying to use Skype as a replacement for voice plan (just unlimited Verizon data plan on XV-6700), but when Skype is running, even with no active usage, battery is drained in about 3 hours, and is therefore unusable. With network connected but no data transfer, battery will last for over a day (power usage while maintaining a data connection on the phone can be as low as 30 mA, but with active data transfer, it draws over 400 mA average). During that time, Skype could still be listening on a port (and occasionally updating status, but not constantly). Skype for PPC really needs a sleep (power friendly) mode where it does not constantly send packets to update status, but is still connected.

Here is a chart of the battery usage (description follows):

Starts with no data connection, around 30 mA.
First spike is connecting to data over EVDO and IE download
Another minute of around 30 mA with data connected but no active transfers
Then started Skype. As you can see, the average use with Skype running was around 400 mA. During this time, I made no calls or chats.
Exited Skype at end, left data connection on, dropped back to about 30 mA.


This may require server-side changes as well, because incoming TCP packets would still require a response packet from the phone (which is what kills the battery). Another option would be to use just UDP to send status updates to the phone (so phone can just listen and not transmit).

BTW, if you'd like to test the power usage on your PPC/XV 6700 (possibly work on other phones), check out acbPowerMeter: http://ppc6700users.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1239