Verizon Expanding Skype Beyond Smartphones
By Phil Goldstein
Verizon Wireless is broadening the reach of its Skype Mobile application beyond smartphones, and plans to make the Internet calling application available on more phones later this year.
To date the free Verizon/Skype app has been available only to users of Android smartphones or BlackBerry devices from Research In Motion. The app, currently available on 12 devices, will be made available on more handsets, including the carrier's 3G multimedia phones. Verizon spokeswoman Debi Lewis told FierceWireless that the app will launch on more handsets "hopefully over the next couple of months," and noted the carrier has seen a positive reaction to the app so far.
In addition to the expanded handset lineup, Verizon is going to make the app available in Spanish, Korean and simple Chinese. The app also is going to get a refreshed interface, with a drop-down menu and flags for international dialing.
Verizon routes every Skype Mobile call over its existing, circuit-switched network, rather than delivering VoIP over its EV-DO network. Skype Mobile calls go to a Skype gateway upon exiting the Verizon network. Thus, the app does not enable voice-over-WiFi calls from WiFi-equipped Verizon smartphones. Verizon announced its deal with Skype at the Mobile World Congress trade show earlier this year, and launched the app in March. [FierceWireless]
Skype Launching App for iPhone, BlackBerry Users
By Phil Goldstein
Skype will launch its VoIP application for Apple's iPhone on Tuesday, and will debut a similar application for some of Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices in May. The Skype for iPhone application will allow users to make calls to other Skype users for free if they are using a WiFi hotspot. Skype users can also call landline numbers for a fee, usually for around 2.1 cents per minute. The application will use numbers taken directly from the iPhone's address book, and will even display a photo of the contact (if they have uploaded one for Skype).
Skype, a unit of eBay, has made it known in the past that it planned on pushing its service more directly into the cell phone market, branching out from its traditional personal computer base. Skype currently offers its calling application to Windows Mobile smartphones and in January began offering a version of the software for use on the T-Mobile G1, the first phone in North America running on Google's Android platform. Skype recently tussled with O2 and Orange when the two carriers declined to sell Nokia's Skype-enabled N97 handset. [FierceWireless]
Skype Official Calls Out Carriers on Open Networks
By Phil Goldstein
In a strongly-worded letter to the FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, a Skype official complained that the major U.S. wireless carriers were all talk when it came to "open" networks, and that if the Commission wanted to live up to its stated goal of making open networks more accessible, it would affirm that this policy covers wireless networks.
Christopher Libertelli, Skype's senior director of government and regulatory affairs for North America, said that last week at the CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment conference in San Francisco, the major U.S. carriers paid lip service to the idea of open networks, but strongly cautioned that too much choice would lead to chaos, and damage the viability of their business model.
Libertelli stated that, "The attitude of the wireless carriers was perhaps best summed up in Sprint Nextel Corp. CEO Dan Hesse's recent comment: 'The big Internet can be daunting... There can be too much choice.' This stands in stark contrast to the Commission's wise policies designed to promote as much consumer choice as possible."
He said Skype was mindful of the challenges wireless carriers faced in moving to an open network. But he also said it was not enough to simply talk about open networks.
"Consumer choice, competition and free markets, not carriers acting to block competition, should win the day in wireless--now, not later," he said. "If the Commission believed that the transition to more open networks was going to proceed quickly, statements out of CTIA's convention suggest just the opposite."
"Openness" was a major theme of the conference in San Francisco, and the first keynote session included Sprint Nextel's Hesse as well T-Mobile USA's CEO Robert Dotson and Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam speaking about what "open" meant to their companies. [FierceWireless]
Skype Launches Mobile App for 50 Handsets
Not surprisingly, losing its Carterphone petition attempt is not slowing Skype's ambition in the mobile market: Skype is now offering a beta client of its VoIP calling software for some 50 handsets. The client will include Skype to Skype calling, SkypeIn, Skype out, Group chat and presence. The company is launching the service in eight initial markets--one of which is the U.K. The U.S., Australia, France and Germany, however, have been excluded from the beta launch so far.
"These are still the early days for making Skype calls on mobile phones, but we've already made great strides in this space," said Gareth O'Loughlin, GM of mobile and hardware devices at Skype. [FierceWireless]
Skype: Where are all the WiMAX devices?
For Gareth O'Loughlin, Skype's general manager of mobile and hardware devices, this year's Mobile World Congress show has looked to meet the challenge of bringing the Internet experience to the mobile handset. While this tired premise has garnered little fanfare, the solutions for porting the Internet experience to the mobile phone have not yet fully coalesced.
The prevailing mindset of most carriers, however, has shifted in favor of a more open wireless network that discriminates less when it comes to handsets and applications. That said, O'Loughlin lamented the lack of WiMAX devices at the show.
Late last year Skype launched a Skypephone with Hutchison Whampoa's 3G carrier 3, which led to similar launches across Hutchison's carriers worldwide. "What we have shown with 3 is that Skype can partner effectively with an operator," O'Loughlin said. There is no need to maintain the mindset that Skype is a threat to mobile carriers, he added.
O'Loughlin said he is "very optimistic" about the promises of open access that major carriers in the U.S. have pledged in recent months, but he noted that no two carriers are the same. - [Brian/FierceWireless]
Sony PSP 2000 Just Got More Useful and Cooler
Sony has used CES 2008 as a platform to announce that Skype will be available on the devices with the next firmware update at the month. Users will be able to find a Skype icon under the network menu.
If you have an account you are in business, and if you don't you can set one up right on your PSP. From there, it's just like you have become accustomed to - free calls between Skype users, SkypeOut to call the friends who aren't cool enough to use Skype, and SkypeIn for those friends to call you.
There is a limitation you should be aware of before you get too excited, though - it will for some reason only work on the PSP-2000, so if you have an older model you are out of luck. The killer app would be to use Skype in-game, but there's no word if that will be possible.
The new and improved model, PSP-2000, is not the second generation of the PSP, but is rather an enhanced version of the current unit. One of the most useful features in the new model is the ability to output photos, movies, and games onto a television screen at standard definition resolution (480p) with a set of AV cables.
Next, to solve the unit’s bulkiness, Sony slimmed down the PSP-2000 by about 20% and made it 30% lighter. Although the unit is still way bigger than a iPod Video or iPhone, it’s a good improvement.
The internal RAM has doubled from 32 to 64MB requiring less loading cycles. Although the new CPU requires less power and UMD reading time has been reduced, the battery life remains the same since a smaller battery had to be used to fit into the slimmer unit. Some rumors indicate a possible brighter LED backlit screen, which could drastically improve battery life, however no official statement has been issued.
The new PSP can now be charged using a USB cable, though it will take 5 hours instead of 2.5 with a AC adapter. The WiFi switch and speakers have been repositioned for easier access.
Spykee Allows You to Spy on Your Home From Anywhere in The World
The Spykee robot is a mobile, self-recharging, Skype compatible robot that allows you to spy on your home from anywhere in the world using the Internet and Skype’s free video service.
Manufactured by Meccano, a French Company, and sold under the Erector brand, this robot is combination remote spy, home security monitor, mobile VOIP phone and more.
The Meccano Spykee Spy Robot is a high tech machine that can guard your home and keep in contact with you via the internet, because Spykee comes equipped with Wifi.
Since it's also equipped with a microphone, camera and speaker, the robot acts as a telepresence device allowing you to teleconference with the family while you are away from home.
The fun doesn't stop there. The robot can act as a sentry, using motion sensors to catch little Molly "sleep walking" towards the cookie jar, sound an alarm and take a photo of her red-handed, hands in jar and mouth smeared with cookie dough. Spykee can pull a Roomba and can automatically navigate to its dock for recharging.
Being compatible with Skype software you can use Spykee as a webcam and talk to friends over the internet or play your MP3 music through it's speaker.
When the batteries are low, Spykee automatically goes back to the docking station to recharge, without any help from a human.
It's currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $280 (now $294, thanks Robert Oschler).
Spykee has smart features:
- Remote Spy - Allows you to control from anywhere in the world you have an Internet connection via Skype’s video call service.
- Home Security Monitor - You can monitor your home with a mobile robot that can even climb stairs.
- VOIP Phone - Acts as a mobile VOIP phone so you can communicate with whomever you see with the robot’s camera.
- Mobile MP3 Player - Can play MP3’s hosted on your home computer over its Wi-Fi link.
- Stream live video - Streaming live video to your Mac or PC over a wireless connection
- Making Video - Provide video camera images, i.e. make videos (includes auto focus & digital zoom)
- Self-recharging - When Spykee gets low on power it will find its power station and automatically dock with it to recharge.
- 3 Different Kits - Build 3 different kinds of robots from the parts included in the kit.
- Guard - Has motion sensors that will trigger the camera to take a picture and send it to you via E-mail; while sounding an alarm if desired.
- Interface Software - Man-Machine interface lets you control Spykee remotely. PC & Mac compatible.
- Self Activate - With motion sensors, Spykee can activate itself when something is happening - great for surveillance.
(Rumor) - Lego Parts Compatibility - Standard Lego parts can be used to augment Spykee to build a greater range of robots than just those the kit provides.
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