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News coming in slightly after midnight on the 10th of May, 2011 direct from the Wall Street Journal claimed that Microsoft Corp would soon be closing a deal with online communications platform Skype Technologies SA for a sum between 7 and 8 billion dollars USD. This report was quickly confirmed by Kara Swisher of All Things Digital, she noting her sources to be saying that this whole project would be announced early this morning at somewhere around $8.5 billion and has been spearheaded by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer being assisted by “dealmaker” Charles Songhurst. Big money for a big deal!
What all this means for you I’ll leave up to our fabulous analyst Ben Bajarin, but by all means, let the numbers continue. What Microsoft will be gaining in this deal is both Skype’s debt of $686 million as well as access to their 663 million registered users. Back in 2005, Skype was purchased by eBay for a whopping $2.6 million. In 2009, the online communications group had a 65% stake purchased by investors such as Silver Lake Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, as well as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, at which time Skype was clocked in at a total value of $2.75 billion. So what the heck, Microsoft?

I’m sure we’ll here a lot more when what appears to be the official announcement time rolls around: 5 AM Pacific Time, early morning for the early morning video chatters to get a chattering. It all seems like a pretty big deal to yours truly and the rest of the crew – is it true? Is part or all of it true? What does this mean for the future of Skype’s user base? What about my Skype Android app? Will all Windows Phone 7 devices come stocked with video chat capabilities? Questions!

Labels: skype

Skype couldn’t keep this waiting till CES, so they went and released video-calling via their iPhone client. The update is a free update, and should be available via iTunes now. It requires iOS 3.0 and above. It works on every iOS 3.0 device, so you’ll get video-calling on the iPad (one-way), iPod touch and iPhone.

What’s New in Version 3।0

Improvements:

* Make Skype to Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G*
* Call Skype desktop users (Mac OS X or Windows) and other iPhone users.
* Two-way video calls supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen.
* Receive only video supported on iPad and iPod touch 3rd gen, with no camera.
* Make video calls in portrait and landscape.
* Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.
* Additional Data charges may apply

Labels: Iphone, skype

Skype announced the release of a lite version of Skype, a ‘thin’ client for Skype that can be downloaded on Android-powered devices, as well as more than 100 other Java-enabled mobile phones. The software is still in beta release, works with your mobile servie’s data plan for making VoIP calls.

The lite version delivers core Skype capabilities including:

* Make Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
* Send/receive instant messages to/from individuals or groups
* Make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones
* Receive calls to your online personal phone number on Skype
* See when your Skype contacts are online/available to chat

The lite version of Skype is currently available for Android devices, which today include the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-powered mobile phone currently available in the United States and the United Kingdom. For instructions on downloading the lite version of Skype to LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson phones, users can visit www.skype.com/m using the mobile browser on their phone or www.skype.com/go/mobiledownload from a computer.

Labels: skype

Skyfire has officially announced that their mobile browser is available in the UK, giving consumers there easy access to its mobile browser. Skyfire lets users experience the “real web” to access and interact with any website built with any web technology, including dynamic Flash, advanced Ajax, Silverlight, Java and more.

Skyfire includes numerous features aimed at simplifying the mobile browsing experience. For example, when a user conducts a web search from the home page, Skyfire pulls results from Google and displays the results in multiple tabs that consumers can easily navigate. In addition, users can bookmark specific locations on a web page to get to the content that matters most to them in one click - such as stock quotes, sports scores, blog messages, and more. Users can share any web page and send it to friends by SMS with a URL short enough to easily fit the text message. Skyfire’s user interface features full screen navigation, thumbnail views and zooming to seamlessly resize the web content to fit the mobile screen.

The newest version of Skyfire Beta 0.8.5 supports VGA and WM 6.1 for Windows Mobile. This means that Skyfire now runs on popular new Windows Mobile phones such as the Palm Pro, Palm 800W, HTC Touch Pro, HTC Touch Diamond, HTC/AT&T Fuze.

Skyfire also runs on more Nokia N or E Series phones. The complete list includes these Nokia phones: E61, E61i, E62, E71, N73, N75, N76, N78, N79, N81, N82, N85, N95 and N96. Nokia Symbian S60 (3rd edition) users have the new Skyfire features and improvements such as the SuperBar, video sharing, faster connectivity and more, all which were previously available for Windows Mobile users in the Skyfire Beta 0.8 version.

Labels: skype

Skoot today announced that its mobile application, iSkoot for Skype, is launching in the Android Market. iSkoot’s solution supports the Skype Software, offering Android users on any cellular network the ability to make Skype-to-Skype calls on their mobile phone. It is not free though, see the cost listing in detail after the jump.

Making a Skype-to-Skype call: Airtime + A little bit of Data
When you call a Skype contact on your mobile phone, it costs the same as making a local call - so depending on your mobile calling plan, normal airtime charges may apply. Once you’re connected to the Skype network, your call works like a regular voice call from your phone. (iSkoot does NOT connect the call using the cellular data channel.) iSkoot also uses a small amount of data to keep the status of your contacts updated.

Making a SkypeOut call: Airtime + Standard SkypeOut Rates + A little bit of Data
When making a SkypeOut call using iSkoot, the same basic costs apply as making a Skype-to-Skype call noted above (which means that normal airtime charges may apply, plus some data to keep contact status information updated). In addition, Skype charges the applicable SkypeOut connection rates to connect the call to a regular telephone line, just as they would if the SkypeOut call originated from your PC.

Receiving a Skype Call: Airtime + Skype Mobile Call Forwarding Rates + A little bit of Data
When you receive an incoming Skype call on your mobile phone, the same basic costs apply as making a Skype-to-Skype call noted above (which means that normal airtime charges may apply, plus some data to keep contact status information updated). In addition, your SkypeOut account will be charged at Skype’s call forwarding rates for mobile numbers.

Using Skype Text Chat: A little bit of Data + Some SMS Messages
When you use Skype text chat on your mobile phone, the service uses your data connection to exchange messages with your chat buddies. In order to notify you immediately when a new chat message is received, iSkoot may send the software on your phone a special SMS message telling it to retrieve the newest message from the server. (Any special chat-related SMS messages won’t clog up your Inbox, either!)

Labels: Gphone, skype

SkyData Systems unveiled its new mobile application for business users today at the DEMOfall 08 conference. The SkyData mobile application combines information from CRM applications, contact systems, the Web, business and social networks, profiling, news, and location services to provide the Mobile Super Network-which delivers an instant, unified view of all of your business and personal contacts and their related information.

SkyData integrates personal and business networks ranging from Outlook address books, Google and Yahoo contacts, Facebook, LinkedIn , Plaxo and Jigsaw business networks, and finally formal CRM applications such as Salesforce.com, SugarCRM, Microsoft and NetSuite. The SkyData application runs on most RIM Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile USA and Sprint networks. Apple iPhone support is planned for the end of 2008.

“Business mobile users no longer need to try to view discrete bits of information through mobile web browsers or single data source mobile applications,” said Kevin Nix, CEO and Co-Founder of SkyData Systems. “Hopping between different applications and different websites to access your entire network of business and personal connections is not how people want to work. SkyData delivers one, easy-to-use, application to moreaccess all their personal and business relationships and the surrounding data.”

SkyData is available in two licensing models. The SkyData Personal Edition is free to use and combines personal networks, Facebook and related news and profiling together for fast mobile access. The Business Edition provides additional support of CRM systems, such as Salesforce.com, SugarCRM, or NetSuite and costs $9.95 per user per month. Both editions are in Private Beta.

Labels: skype

Pantech’s new phone wears two names. The first one is more techy and it’s “SKY IM-S730.” The other one, though, is let’s say more casual and seems “invented” to make the device more appealing to younger generations. It’s “Blue Wink” and no, we don’t have a slightest clue what that means nor how that name is perceived in South Korea, where Pantech released the new slider.

Specs wise, the SKY IM-S730 Blue Wink (guess we could make a single name out of it) sports a 2.6-inch QVGA screen, HSDPA support, GPS, FM radio, 1.3 megapixel camera, and a microSD slot. In addition, I think it’s kinda safe to bet there’s some media player app on board and it would be also fair to argue this phone will be available for free with a wink and with a contract.

Labels: skype

Alongside free Skype calling and instant messaging, the new Skypephone S2 from 3 in UK brings internet services such as Facebook, Google and Windows Live Messenger to the front of the phone. The new 3 Skypephone S2 will be available for pre-order from 19th August, available to buy online from 27th August and in-store from 1st September.

Technically the handset boasts an improved 2.2″ QVGA screen, a 3.2 mega pixel camera, HSDPA capabilities and up to 4GB expandable memory. The switcher key on the side of the handset enables you to quickly and intuitively move between applications from any screen on the phone.

Skype is fully integrated into the phone, allowing you to make Skype to Skype calls and send Skype instant messages to other Skype users. Your Skype contacts are fully integrated into your phonebook alongside all your regular contacts

Kevin Russell, Chief Executive of 3 UK, said: “The first 3 Skypephone was about building one of the most popular Internet services, Skype, into the heart of the device. The 3 Skypephone S2 builds on this approach and brings a host of other popular Internet services to the front of the device.

Specifications:

* Camera: 3.2 Megapixel
* Memory: 50MB internal, expandable memory using MicroSD card up to 4GB
* Dimensions: 102.7 X 45 x 14 mm
* Weight: 95g
* Compatible with Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Facebook, RSS feeds
* Drivers for plug and play - allows you to use your Skypephone like a USB Modem

Labels: skype

Skype is getting more and more popular with their close to free communication solutions. Talking with your friends for free is something Skype has been offering for years. They also happen to offer mobile solutions, skype phone numbers which can be called from anywhere and custom phones.

Today we’re talking about the 4d phone released for Skype users. The 4d is both a standard actual phone and a VoIP phone. What else do you need. Regular land lines are slowly loosing popularity anyway.

With the 4d phone you can:

* receive calls through Skype, using a selected Telco or an analog PBX extension,
* have Skype forwarded to a home or mobile phone,
* call your Skype address from any computer anywhere in the world,
* remotely place calls using the PSTN line connected to the 4d Phone
* dial last number,
* automatically place Skype calls on hold while switching to PSTN line mode,
* speed number dial,
* record calls in PSTN mode.

Labels: skype