Skype

Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 beta released

Paul Mah — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:26:38 -0500

Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 beta was released on Tuesday this week. It's no surprise that developments on the Windows Mobile client continue, given Microsoft's plans for Windows Mobile. Anyway, the folks over at The Download Blog tested it out and were obviously impressed by it, and have even come forward to say that this release is good enough to recommend to Windows Mobile users who need to make overseas calls, but not yet on Skype.

While I do have a Windows Mobile smartphone lying around, I lacked an overseas acquaintance who will appreciate me making calls just to test out the client. According to Blog though, "the application's display is compact, intuitive, and full-featured." Indeed, as of this moment, Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 has already registered more than 200,000 downloads at Download.com.

And if you are still wondering what the big deal is about Skype, you probably want to check out Carl Ford's account of his use of Skype over at FierceVoIP.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at The Download Blog
- check out the download at Download.com

Related Articles:
Microsoft bets big on Windows Mobile
No hype Skype

First look: Google's Android

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:59:57 -0500

Did you miss DailyTechRag's online coverage of Google's big mobile announcement last week? For shame! Here's the quick lowdown, in case you're adverse to clicking on links: Google announced a mobile partnership called the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) with a number of high-profile partners including Intel, Synaptics, Marvell, Qualcomm, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Sprint, Skype, LG, HTC and DoCoMo. The OHA's first product will be Android, an open-source, next-gen mobile OS that will be offered to handset manufacturers free of charge. The catch? Android--like all of Google's other products--will be ad-supported.

At any rate, details on the OS were hazy at the time, with Google offering tantalizingly few details as to what the OS will look and feel like. Luckily, today marks the release date of the official SDK (software development kit) to developers and with that SDK comes the first peek at Android. As part of the SDK, Google has offered a series of videos to developers that demonstrate what Android is capable of. Looks like the initial reports were right: Android is very iPhone-like in a number of ways and even sports an almost identical, webkit-based browser and a suspiciously Cover Flow-like history interface. That aside, it looks very user-friendly and seems to be an extremely powerful platform, with support for 3G, touchscreens and full 3D graphics. The real selling point, however, will be the platform's open-source underpinnings. If the carriers allow customers to load their own applications on to Android devices, Android could become the enterprise platform of choice for those looking to write custom business apps.

For more on Android:
- watch these video demos
- and read last week's article and round-up of industry reactions

Ready for Skype wireless phones?

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:56 -0500

Vendors and customers in the VoIP market have become accustomed to the disruptive nature of Skype and its free or low-cost kin. Now, a new phone from Hong Kong provider 3, the 3 Skypephone combines GSM and Skype functions for Skype calling regardless of where you are (or whether a WiFi or other traditional Internet connection is available). There are no guarantees that cell providers in other countries will emulate 3, but now that the example is out, it's hard to believe it will be the only one. Welcome to the Skype world, wireless.

For more on the new Skype wireless phone:
- read the product report at DailyTechRag

QUICKLINKS: Mobile speech moves forward; Wireless net neutrality on target?; and much more...

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:01:35 -0500

Mobile speech moves forward article

Wireless net neutrality on target? article

Skype versus the wireless operators article

Siemens' fixed-mobile convergence article

Fring brings VoIP to 3GSM phones

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:01:37 -0500

A former co-general manager of instant messenger company ICQ has formed a new company, Fring, to deliver VoIP services on 3GSM phones. The Fring service, based on the Skype API, is currently available on any 3GSM phone--as long as the phone is a Nokia Series 60 device. Fring says that it plans to have software available for other devices, including Windows Mobile phones, in the future. The service allows users to have address books based on Skype, to call Skype and other VoIP services and to call land-line phones through Skype Out. One huge question mark in Fring's plans: carriers' willingness to let an application cut them out of call-based revenues.

For more on Fring's future:
- read the article at Network World

What's thwarting Skype on cell phones?

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:01:37 -0400

Don't hold your breath waiting for Skype to arrive on cellular phones any time soon. According to experts, there are more than a few reasons why the technology won't be deployed from any vendor in the near future. It's not great news for Skype either, as the revenue stream would prove useful for the company. But the fact remains that Skype's service is a direct competitor to wireless service providers. Unless the Internet calling provider finds a business model that eliminates that issue, the Skype cell phone will remain indefinitely in development purgatory. Article

Skype debuts cordless phone

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 20:01:37 -0400

Skype is in the news once again, touting that it has developed a cordless phone that won't tie Skype users to a PC for their calling needs. The new devices will be built by Netgear and Phillips Consumer Products and will hit the shelves by the end of the year. The phone, called the Philips VOIP841, includes Skype software that allows users to make and receive calls through landline connections. But for all the hype regarding the new phone, industry experts are quick to note that Skype's entry into the market is quite late and the phone doesn't adhere to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). What's more, it's going to be a bit pricier than all the SIP phones already available. Will the Skype brand be enough to attract consumers and businesses? Article

How to get Skype up and managed with ease

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 20:01:38 -0400

You've made the go with Skype and now the hard work of planning, setting policy and determining good management approach has to begin. As one experts details out, you really need to start at the very bottom and determine if Skype is already in place thanks to some rogue user or tech savvy business unit leader. You can do that by using your configuration or software management tool. If you don't have one, there's a handy free tool that can not only provide that info, but also let you easily disables APIs in use. Once you know if Skype is in and running or not, then it's time to list out the settings being used and get a management handle on proxies and ports and APIs. Then it's policy-setting time, as Skype has to be managed like any other tech service and application. The final step, if Skype isn't already on the network, is implementation, where you need to bend and massage the communications application to match your network configurations. As the expert outlines in a Networking Pipeline article, getting Skype up and running securely with good management practices isn't as hard as many tech leaders may believe. Article

QUICKLINKS: Skype bug requires quick patching; Vendors lobby lawmakers for a single regulatory framework; Much more...

Sun, 21 May 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> Skype bug requires quick patching. Article

> Vendors lobby lawmakers for a single regulatory framework. Article

> U.K. university launches WiFi-based node network. Article

> How T-Mobile has rebuilt its security house. Article

> Why one bank is hot for VoIP. Article

> Venture capital vendor trio hungry to grab wireless spectrum. Article

> WiFi moving into U.K. cities. Article

QUICKLINKS: The allure of the dual-mode handset, voice over WiFi combo; Army going wireless with $20M contract; Much more...

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 20:00:50 -0400

Should dual-mode handsets, voice over WiFi meet? Article

Army tests tech integrating wireless, wireline and RFID. Article

Wireless net offers better security for marathon event. Article

Demand pushes public WiFi to 43 percent growth. Article

Nokia's hometown takes wireless to the max. Article

Portland chooses a wireless network vendor. Article

New FCC rules on wireless broadband bidding. Article

Skype goes on a shopping spree. Article

Public WiFi not something users want to pay for. Article

A marvel of a wireless LAN chip solution. Article