Verizon’s “exclusive” agreement with Skype has created a Skype client that has a number of quirky restrictions including the fact that it eats your wireless minutes in some instances (conveniently keeping voice minutes relevant in the age of smartphone mobile VoIP).

But Skype’s specialized Verizon application also had a fairly nasty bug: Android users who used the Skype app over 3G couldn’t turn on Wi-Fi at all.

In other words, they couldn’t use Skype on 3G and browse the Internet via Wi-Fi. At the time, Verizon gave a roundabout explanation, admitting there was a bug, but also insisting that CALEA wiretap restrictions were partially to blame for the problem, as the Verizon-specific app runs over Verizon’s traditional voice network. Whatever the cause, Verizon and Skype have apparently figured it out, and Skype for Verizon smartphones now works with Wi-Fi turned on.

Link to the original article…

Earlier this year Skype unveiled an “exclusive” arrangement with Verizon that involved releasing a somewhat-limited version of Skype for Verizon phones which in some cases eats user minutes, seemingly defeating some benefits of Skype. It was widely speculated that as part of the arrangement, Skype slowed their development of Skype for other platforms – though now they’ve finally released a version of Skype for the Apple iPhone. Unfortunately for users, this version too seems to have some odd restrictions:

iPhone users can make free Skype-to-Skype calls for the rest of the year but after that will have to pay a small, monthly subscription fee. Perhaps even more disconcerting for Skype users, the app – at least initially – apparently does not support background push notifications, meaning users must have the app up and running to receive incoming Skype calls.

These restrictions seem to be custom-made to help AT&T avoid the erosion of SMS and voice revenues in the face of smartphones, push IM clients and mobile VoIP. Of course it remains amusing that Skype keeps striking these kinds of restrictive, closed agreements with companies like AT&T and Verizon – after spending a large chunk of the last five years complaining about closed networks.

Link to the original article…

Despite announcing that Skype will debut group video calls for Windows users earlier today, Skype also announced that they will not be delivering a Skype application for the upcoming Microsoft 7 Phone platform, due for release later this year.

Things aren’t looking good for fans of Skype and the next generation of Windows Mobile software, that is expected to land later this year. Skype has announced that it has stopped developing for the coming OS.

This is really no surprise given that in February Skype pulled its Windows Mobile VoIP application for WinMo. Skype is focusing on developing for the iPhone, Symbian, and Android OS.

Say it ain’t so Skype.

[ Links: Slashphone, Skype Blogs ]

Use Skype? Love to use the video calling features? Hate how some of the higher priced Microsoft and Logitech cameras claim to be better; but really don’t measure up until you’ve spent over $100 or so? FREETALK has introduced their FREETALK® Everyman HD Webcam (TALK-7140) that has the following specs:

• Skype-certified High Definition camera
• High-performance optical lens
• 24-bit true color depth
• Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance
• Auto Focus capability
• Supports HD video encoding at resolutions up to 1280×720 at up to 22 frames per second
• Universal clip for supporting wide variety of displays

And all for the lovely price of $49 USD. Do want.

[ Link: Skype, Skype Shop, In Store Solutions ]

LG Electronics and Skype today announced ‘Skype on Your TV’, its broadband TV with embedded Skype capability, which allows Skype users to make voice and high-definition video calls directly from their family room without a PC. The Skype Your TV will be demonstrated this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

“Embedding the Skype software in our broadband HDTVs enriches the user experience, allowing consumers to connect with family and friends from the comfort of their family room without a PC,” said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA. Skype on LG HDTVs will give our customers another flexible option in allowing them to communicate using Skype, as well as access content directly through their HDTV.”

The Skype service on a TV will work much as it does on a PC. A TV program will stop playing once a Skype call is made or answered. The new LG TVs will also deliver familiar Skype features, including free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls to other Skype users, calls to landline or mobile phones at Skype’s low rates, and being invited to participate in voice conference calls with up to 24 other parties.

Link to the original article…

Fring has always been on the cutting edge and one of my favorite multiple client IM programs on my Nokia N810 and Apple iPhone but the addition of being able to receive video just pushes it that much further than the rest in my book.

And what a new year’s gift this is… the world’s first video calls over internet on the Apple iPhone and Apple iPod Touch! fringsters with iPhones and iPod Touch (and selected Nokia devices as announced last week) can now see all their family and friends on fring and Skype this Holiday Season!

Right now iPhone and iPod touch users can receive and make fring and Skype video calls entirely over Internet connection (for free!) and see the person on the other end. When a front camera is placed on these, we’ll have two-way video calls available here too just as we do on all the supported Nokia devices.

The promise of 2-way video from Fring has my attention, that’s been the killer app in my mind for quite some time. Just will be awkward because the Apple iPhone has no forward facing camera at the moment and the Nokia devices they’re currently supporting are only the Symbian phones.

But the Maemo powered Nokia N900 also has a forward facing camera… how about some support there too fring? Please?

[ fring ] [ Skype ] [ fring blog ]

I’m a hardcore user of Fring user already – MSN, AIM, Yahoo, gTalk, ICQ, Skype and SIP.

But I do use Skype – as the above list shows. But I love to use the video part of the desktop version quite a bit. But voice, overseas, for free? I’m down. Per usual the AT&T requirements – voice data has to use wifi and not 3G – show up, but to be honest, I’d almost hate to hear voice over 3G given how heavily the AT&T 3G network has been hammered.

I’ll keep playing around with it. But so far, so mediocre – but this is Skype. Can’t wait to see if this will be upgraded or left to die much like the Nokia N810 version of Skype. Hmmm…

I would say that the development of Skype for the iPod Touch will only be a matter of time. The iPhone Skype software will need a few modifications to function in the iPod Touch environment, but if the hardware capability exists, you can bet people are going to make use of it. Depending on how easily other mobile Skype software can be adapted to the Touch, I would say that we could see it within the next six months.

People have been speculating about this sort of thing for over a year, but it is the next generation Touch that has made it an inevitability. There were hacks to incorporate a microphone on the original Touch, but to get the mainstream support that would motivate developers to produce the software, it needs to have native capability – as that provides the potential market to make it worthwhile. Voice over IP capability would be a selling point in its own right and would attract buyers that might not otherwise be prepared to buy an MP3 player, or for that matter, an iPhone. [Various Sources]

Link to the original article…

Well, 1962 was ages ago. At Skype, we’ve decided it’s high time we had another laughter epidemic — but this time it should be around the world. So, we’re creating the world’s first and longest giggling fit, and we want you to join it

Just plug in your webcam, watch the start of the chain below, and film yourself watching it. Send us your video and your laugh could be added to the chain.

Find out more about the Laughter Chain (plus find out how many calories a good laugh burns up) at the Skype Laughter Chain website.

Hello!

It seems like only yesterday that I was introducing myself to the readers of Skype’s UK blog — and today I’m stepping up to take on this one.

I see my role not as that of an author, or even necessarily an editor. Instead, I see myself more as a curator — so you’ll be hearing from plenty of other people here at Skype besides me. We’ve already featured Josh Silverman and Mike Bartlett among others, and that’s a trend I want to continue.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that I’ll be taking a back seat. My role is very much two way — both talking about what Skype’s up to, and, more importantly, listening to what you have to say.

I’m not going to claim that this blog isn’t about marketing, but those of you who’ve read the Cluetrain Manifesto (or any of the hundreds of books and blogs which discuss similar ideas) will be familiar with the idea of ‘marketing as a conversation’. That means talking and listening — and that’s what this blog is about.

You can find me on Skype as peterparkes — and don’t forget to grab the feed for this blog, or subscribe to email updates. That way you won’t miss a thing

So, without much further ado, I’m pleased to introduce Peter Parkes. Some of you may already be familiar with his writing on Skype’s UK blog – and occasional posts right here. If you haven’t devoured his writing yet, worry not. But prepare yourselves for a delightful ride. For Peter is a young man with a smart, insightful and positively crooked mind. Not unlike the readers of this blog, in fact (yes, I do know how to pander).

As for me, I’d like to thank you for a wonderful time together on these pages. I’ll miss the thrill of blogging for Skype, but it’s time to move on and tackle something else entirely. Taking over from Jaanus Kase, the force that spawned this blog, feels like yesterday, and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to be the torchbearer for a while. But it’s now time to say goodbye and wish Peter the best in his new, improved and expanded task as Skype blogger extraordinaire.

Take care,
Villu

It’s been 10 days since we launched the first Beta of Skype 4.0 for Windows, so I thought it would be a good idea to reflect a little and to respond to some of the feedback we’ve received.

Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who has given us their thoughts via our feedback site, on this and our other blogs, but also via the various feedback mechanisms we introduced for this Beta. It always amazes me how many people are so passionate about Skype and that’s what makes it so enjoyable to get up and come to work every morning (apart from last Thursday – boy, did my head hurt).

We’ve had very different reactions to Beta 1, in particular the big change we made of having Skype in a larger window. One of the primary reasons for doing this was that we found an overwhelming majority of people had trouble working with multiple windows and were using Skype mainly to make calls and video calls, especially amongst those new to Skype. We’ve had some very positive feedback from a lot of people on the new way of working, and that’s encouraging as it seems we’re starting to solve the problems that we set out to solve. However, it’s very understandable some of you used to using Skype on a regualar basis have been a bit frustrated about not being able to work with Skype the way they are used to.

We always planned to address our more advanced users in a second beta, and I just wanted to say – don’t worry — we will address the need to have Skype take up less room on the screen with a feature that allows you to reduce the size – we call it compact mode. We hope to get it out towards the end of the summer with our second beta release.

Other people have also commented on being able to resize video. There are a few things you can do here in Beta 1. Firstly, in the single window, you can resize both your own video and the video of the other person you are talking to. If you hover over the bottom left corner of the video feeds, you will find this functionality. What you can also do is pop out the video window using this button -> , which you’ll see at the top right hand corner of your screen, to the right of the “+ Add people” button.

Which, will mean, if you’re on a video call, you’ll see something like this:

We will make further improvements to this with Beta 2.

Finally, a lot of people have asked about a Mac version. Both the Mac and Linux teams here at Skype are working closely with us on this Beta. They are reading all of this feedback and will be picking out the truly great bits and putting them into their respective versions. So you can certainly expect to see something on Mac after summer.

Again, thank you for your passion and you enthusiasm – and hopefully you are enjoying Skype 4.0 Beta 1.

Speak to you again soon.

Mike Bartlett
Director of Product Management, Skype for Windows