Tom Keating : VoIP & Gadgets Blog
Tom Keating
CTO
| VoIP & Gadgets blog - Latest news in VoIP & gadgets, wireless, mobile phones, reviews, & opinions

Skype

Skype P2P VoIP

Skype Customer Service

February 21, 2008

I've railed against Skype's poor customer service in the past. I've received a few emails over the past couple months that go like this:

I am a Skype customer who signed up with one ISP email and now I have another. The old email is defunct and unaccessible by me. I forgot my password and when I want to get again, they say they will send me instructions for changing the password to my old email address.


Skype 2.7 for Mac Released

February 14, 2008

Today Skype released Skype 2.7 for Mac. Mac users will enjoy better sound in this latest release and they claim they've made it "look better". If you Apple Mac fans feel left out of the cool high-quality video capabilities of your PC brethren, well Skype claims that they've improved video quality on all the current Mac desktops or laptops. They're not exactly calling this high-quality video, but hey any improvement is a good thing, right? And don't forget it's Valentine's Day, so what better gift than to give your significant other improved video.

OnState Mashup of Skype & Zimbra

February 11, 2008

ooVoo 1.5 Adds Phone Calling & Recording

February 7, 2008

ooVoo, a competitor to Skype recently launched a new version of their software. The current version allows video conferencing with up to six participants, while Skype only supports two-party video calls.  Even cooler, the new version adds video recording, which you can save as an .AVI file. Skype doesn't let you record the video unless you use third-party programs.

I should point out that SightSpeed has provided video call recording for quite some time now.

JoikuSpot Turns Nokia phone into WiFi hotspot

February 6, 2008

How would you like to turn your Nokia smartphone into a WiFi hotspot for free? Well, JoikuSpot offers a free application that you can load on your Nokia phone to do just that. When installed on the Nokia phone,  laptops, iPhones, and even the Apple iPod touch can have fast wireless internet via the Nokia's JoikuSpot wireless access point. It leverages the phone's own high-speed 3G internet connection.

Future of SIP to Skype Gateway in Doubt?

February 4, 2008

I have strong disagreements with a guest blog post on Skype Journal that was posted a few days ago titled "A SIP/Skype Gateway Is NOT In The Forecast". I totally disagree that a SIP/Skype gateway isn't in the forecast. I've blogged on a few occasions where I discussed the desire for Skype users to have SIP connectivity. First, let me include an excerpt where the guest blogger, Hudson Barton lays out his argument:
Skype's competitors and critics continually point out that Skype's VOIP architecture is closed and that its API is not adequate for creating a direct connection between the Skype "cloud" and the SIP "cloud".

SIP to Skype Calls

January 21, 2008

Ok, so Skype, Inc. won't let you dial into your Skype username using a SIP URI. Yeah, Skype claims their proprietary protocol is better than SIP. I've written about one SIP-to-Skype workaround, but still I hear the cries of VoIP fans everywhere clamoring for SIP access to Skype. So what's a SIP-lovin' VoIPster to do?

Third-party SkypeIn Jetnumbers

January 9, 2008

Skype currently is limited to a few countries for SkypeIn numbers. So what if you want local dial access in a country NOT supported by Skype? Well, Jetnumbers.com claims to have the answer.  They wrote TMC to say, "JetNumbers.com has just launched a new usage for its call forwarding service.

IPEVO Solo Skype Desktop Phone now with Wi-Fi

January 9, 2008

The IPEVO Solo Skype Desktop Phone now no longer needs a wired Ethernet connection. At CES, IPEVO announced the new Wi-Fi Dongle bringing wireless capability to the IPEVO Solo, enabling users to choose the best spot for their Skype calls, since they don't need a wired connection to a router - just a power connection.

I guess this would make it truly a standalone Skype phone that is not only PC-less, but wireless as well. Just need to snip that handset cord and everything will be fine.

Reminds me of Dr. Emmett from Back to the Future: "Don't worry! As long as you hit that wire with the connecting hook at precisely eighty-eight miles per hour the instant the lightning strikes the tower ...



Sony PSP Skype Headset

January 9, 2008

As expected, Sony launched Skype on the PSP at CES. Sony PSP users can now use Skype after installing a software update scheduled for release in late January.

Here's the microphone module:

Although Skype is the leading consumer-based VoIP software, I wonder if other apps will take advantage of the microphone module. Since the firmware is locked, it's difficult to hack in new applications. Unfortunately, this only works on the newer PSP-2000 model (earlier models need not apply) and it doesn't have chat/IM functionality.



Featured Events