Skype

Skype P2P VoIP

TechCrunch Touchpad - Needs 3G/4G/EVDO, Skype, and VoIP

January 19, 2009

TechCrunch has a prototype of their tablet PC featuring a touchscreen, Wi-Fi, an accelerometer, a camera and a four cell battery running on a stripped down version of Linux. Well, actually they're running the prototype on full-fledged Linux, but they promise better performance once they strip out all the extra stuff.

According to TechCrunch:

The device has a 12-inch touchscreen with a 4:3 aspect ratio (which is ideal for web browsing in my opinion). It is powered with a Via Nano processor, which has performed at par with the Intel Atom in our testing. 1 GB of ram (its more than we need) and a 4 GB flash drive to store the OS and browser and any cache.

Posted in Gadgets, Internet, Linux, PDAs & Handhelds, Skype, Video Conferencing, Video Hardware & Software

Skype and IBM add LotusLive Integration via IBM Cloud Services

January 19, 2009

According to a Skype spokesperson, at Lotusphere 2009 in Orlando, FL, IBM and Skype previewed the planned integration of Skype functionality with LotusLive, IBM's new cloud services which are designed to "help individuals build communities to work smarter, more effectively and more efficiently across and beyond their own companies." To be honsest, I'm not familiar with LotusLive, but effectively this sounds like collaborative cloud computing with Skype capabilities thrown into the mix. Skype's voice & video capabilities will be added to the Borg LotusLive Collective.

Here's the full details:

Skype and IBM collaborate on LotusLive Integration for the Enterprise
Skype voice and video calling to be available for global businesses via IBM Cloud Services

Skype today announced it will integrate Skype™ functionality with LotusLive (www.lotuslive.com), IBM's new cloud services which are designed to help individuals build communities to work smarter, more effectively and more efficiently across and beyond their own companies. Skype's voice and video calling will add rich, real-time communications capabilities to LotusLive, making it even easier for enterprises to collaborate in the cloud.

This planned integration, which was previewed at IBM Lotusphere 2009 in Orlando, FL, will join LotusLive collaborative services with Skype Internet communications to create a seamless communications experience for our mutual customers. Employees of companies using LotusLive will be able to use Skype to initiate voice and video calls, simply by clicking on their contacts' Skype names or phone numbers within LotusLive. Future possibilities include the ability to import Skype contact information into IBM cloud services to enhance online collaboration.

"Our relationship with IBM demonstrates how serious Skype is about bringing the benefits of 'anytime, anywhere, any mode' Internet communications to the enterprise environment," said Scott Durchslag, Skype's Chief Operating Officer.

Posted in Skype, VoIP

Skype Lite Java client

January 8, 2009

Skype announced Skype Lite for Java-enabled phones, including the Google Android, but it should also work on Windows Mobile with Java installed.

Skype Lite is the first native VoIP client using Java. I guess my prediction of a Flash-based Skype client was a little off. From a technical standpoint Java is better suited to an application than Flash, which is better at multimedia stuff.

In any event, Skype is submitting the app to Google's Android Market today according to Techchuck.

Since Skype Lite is Java-based, it should work on several mobile phone brands, including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola, and others. Don't expect the full-fledged features of the regular client though. Even the native Windows Mobile Skype client will have more features than the Java version.

Posted in Android, Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Truphone Adds Skype Features, Twitter, MSN Messenger, and more

January 5, 2009

Truphone has added a new Skype feature that will allow iPhone and iPod Touch users to make calls and instant message other Skype users. This new feature is scheduled to go live to consumers the week of Jan. 12, but it's available for a select few media that inquire. I'm going to try it very shortly.

You now will have the ability to make and receive Skype calls and instant message Skype users from your iPhone or iPod touch. Truphone customers on both Apple devices can contact their Skype friends via their Skype IDs.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP, Wireless

Flash Skype Video cards = Flash Skype Client in the Near Future?

December 19, 2008

This morning I was playing with the new video e-card creation tool from Skype, which is just in time for Christmas, Hanukkah and the rest of the holidays. It's called Video cards with Skype (http://www.skypevideocards.com).

Facebook fans can easily embed/send the cards to your Facebook friends instantly or use the "Video cards with Skype" Facebook app (http://apps.facebook.com/videocardswithskype).

The new skypevideocards.com is a no-download Flash-based video creation tool that lets you embed videos or email them to friends/family. Sightspeed and others have had this for awhile. What's interesting is that this is the first app by Skype outside of the main Skype client - at least that I'm aware of.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP

Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype

December 18, 2008

I was doing some Christmas shopping on Amazon when I was curious what sort of VoIP phones were available on Amazon. I came across the Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype, which I never heard of.

The Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype is a standalone Skype phone with no PC running Skype requirement. All that is required is a wired connection to your LAN with Internet access. Because it's a standalone Skype phone it's much more suitable as a landline phone replacement in your house than some of the USB-based Skype phones.

The Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype sports a 1.8-inch color LCD display and a phonebook that supports over 500 sets of phone numbers.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Skype 4.0 beta 3 released

December 11, 2008

Skype has been striving to improve the usability of Skype and give more prominence to other features such as video by rearranging Skype's interface in version 4.0. They also have improved conversation management. Today, Skype released Skype 4.0 beta 3 for Windows.

So what's new in Skype 4.0 beta 3?

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Skype for Windows Mobile 2.5 Beta Released

December 9, 2008

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Bittorrent Kills VoIP - Game Over Man!

December 1, 2008

An interesting article at the Register claims that a recent uTorrent decision to use UDP for P2P file transfers (instead of TCP) to get around ISP "traffic management" restrictions will cause a meltdown of the Internet. Poppycock you say?

It's worth pointing out that traditionally P2P sharing apps such as Bittorrent, use TCP not UDP. So why would UDP cause VoIP apps to fail? Well for one huge reason, TCP allows for congestion control.

Posted in SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP