jkOnTheRun

Skype 3.8 for Windows drops beta tag, profile images in requests

The beta of Skype 3.8 for Windows lasted for about a month because the newest version dropped the beta tag yesterday. Most changes are under the hood, but one that's notably visible (or invisible, depending on how you view it) is the removal of profile images for Skype authorization requests. Apparently, some folks were using offensive images, so your potential new friends on Skype won't see your mug or avatar on an authorization request.

The folks at Skype indicate that most of the improvements in this version are on the audio side: less background noise, delays and cut-offs. The UPnP implementation that Skype developed in-house is in there too... no more relying on Microsoft's UPnP framework. All of the ongoing improvements keep Skype on all of my mobile devices; over the past three years, it's gone from fun novelty to an everyday staple of my workday.

Skype intros beta Java client for mobiles

I've been waiting to see this for a while now and here it is. Skype is making a push onto standard feature phones with a new mini-version of Skype that's Java-based. The company says there are 50 supported phones right out of the gate; I hit the product page and see support for Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson handsets. Unfortunately, I don't have any from those manufacturers, so I'm unable to test it.

The new offering is severely limited: only folks in Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the UK can initiate calls for now. However, Skype users anywhere can receive calls, instant message and see who’s online. I like this concept much better than the dedicated Skype phone, like the one from Netgear I reviewed previously. I'm betting however, that the carriers (at least in the U.S.) won't like the idea as much as I do.

Skype offers unlimited SkypeOut long-distance plans

I'll be adding this news to my growing list of "Reasons I want to ditch my land-line". Skype just announced unlimited long-distance calling plans that they claim reaches one-third of the world's population. On paper, that means I can call one of my three friends and talk as long as I want. Sweet! Now which one of the three will it be?

Thirty-four destination countries are included in the unlimited plans and there are no long-term commitments. However, if you nab a 3- or 12-month plan by the end of May, you'll get a 33% discount. Hey... what is it with the "one-third" theme? Check out the monthly rates and supported countries on the Skype press release right here. Looks like the bulk of the plans average around four Euros a month, although our States-side readers have a nice deal at just under two Euros a month. From a "fair use" perspective, Skype is defining "unlimited" as roughly 10,000 minutes per month, which works out to five-hours of daily gabbing.

Since I'm at a computer nearly all of my waking hours, I actually prefer using Skype to call out to people's cells and land-lines. It's much more convenient as I can be hands-free and multi-task, plus the recipient doesn't have know a whit about Skype. Meaning: it's good for folks like my Dad. ;)

Skype 3.8 for Windows beta rolls out of the garage

The latest Skype beta for Windows takes flight today and there's a few new features and enhancements worth noting. UPnP support has been changed: no longer does Skype use Microsoft's UPnP Framework as the Skypers have developed their own which will configure your firewall appropriately. From a mobile device standpoint, when using a lower-powered computer, the default resolution will drop down to 160 x 120. Skype says it's for Pentium 3 CPUs and lower, so I'm not yet sure if Celerons, VIA C7-Ms and other typical mobile processors are in the mix here. There's also some improvements in the IE and Firefox add-ons for Skype, so if you're in the beta thing, here's the link.

Probably worth a mention that the Starbucks I was at this afternoon was practically empty, so James and I had a 40-minute video chat over EV-DO with the Q1UP. It worked amazingly well and I gave him a video tour of the location using the rear-facing camera. I like me some Skype!

(via Download Squad)

jkOnTheRun Geek Session: Skype video on Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium

After I got Skype to recognize the front camera on the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium, it was time to put the device to the test. James and I routinely have video chats, some we even record and share, so I wanted to find out if I'd be able to use the new UMPC for this. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I guess a video equates to something like a million. Rather than write that many words, I'll let you judge the video. You'll get some early impressions of the HTC Shift from James during this slightly different Geek Session!

Skype video on the Q1U-P is tricky to set up. Here's how.

This is interesting and I'm guessing it probably applies to the Q1 Ultra units as well as the Q1U Premium. The device has two cameras: one on the front and one on the back. I just installed Skype in preparation to test a video call with James later today. When I went into the Skype options for Video and tested the webcam, it was using the higher quality, rear-facing camera. No worries I figure, I'll just use the drop-down menu to choose the other camera. I did just that, but Skype was still looking over it's shoulder as opposed to looking me in the eye. Hmmm.....

Panasonic Skype phone includes wireless FON router

Here's a good business play: pairing up free voice calling with a free wireless router. That's just what Panasonic has done with their first Skype phone offering; it includes a WiFi router for the FON network. The icing on the cake is that the KX-WP800 handset is configured to automatically connect when in range of any FON hotspot. You can also use any other WiFi hotspot of course, but if you're in an area with a high concentration of FONeros, it makes it that much easier to call folks over Skype. The KX-WP800 with its 55 hours of standby and 4.5 hours of talk time hits Japan later this month for 29,800 yen.

P2P voice on the PSP: Skype arrives

Did you pick up one of the slimmer and lighter Sony PlayStationPortables, aka: the PSP-2000? If you did, there's a present for you in the form of a firmware upgrade. Version 3.90 adds Skype to your Network options which can be paired with your PSP headset for voice calls on the P2P network. The timing is dead on since we saw Skype on this and many other devices at CES: the word from the Skype folks was that we'd see this upgrade in late January and here we are.

(via Engadget)

Mobile Internet Devices getting Skype support

I haven't seen the Skype folks yet, but they did just tip me off with some good news. Skype will be working with Intel for full peer-to-peer voice support on Mobile Internet Devices:

"MID users will be able to make Skype voice and video calls and send instant messages on the move, while harnessing the PC-like performance of Intel’s new ultra-mobile platform. MID devices with WiMAX and WiFi capabilities will enable free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls and cheap SkypeOut™ calls – calls from Skype to landline and mobile phone numbers anywhere in the world at low per-minute rates – to be made on open wireless networks."

Nokia showed the way prior with the Internet Tablets and we're definitely seeing a ton of interest and momentum for MIDs at this show. Hopefully, the Skype booth with have demo and we can do a video MID to MID call!

Eee to Eee Skype video with ThoughtFix

Last night I had the pleasure of what may be the first Eee to Eee Skype video chat with none other than ThoughtFix! We were both in our home office settings and therefore on a dedicated broadband connection. Using the new Skype for Linux 2.0 beta and the integrated cameras and microphones on the Eee PC works well in general, but the video framerates aren't up to par with the Windows and Mac versions. Those machines get a generous 25 fps (and VGA resolution), but on the Eee PC, I'd estimate we were in the range of 5-10 frames per second.

When you watch the video, you'll notice a few glitches: camera freezes and restarts, plus a complete application crash on one of the Eees. I've been spoiled by my PCs and Macs, but that doesn't make the Eee any less fun to use. At $399 and on Linux, it's amazing to me that we could even have the video chat! I'm looking forward to more stability in this beta version of Skype for Linux but until then, I'm having fun with it. Thanks for hosting the call ThoughtFix!

Skype 2.7 beta for Mac supports VGA video calls

Normally, I wait for new Skype releases to stabilize before giving them a try, but I wanted to see if the new 2.7 beta made me look any more handsome than I am in real life. It didn't, but then I suppose we can't fault the Skype folks for that. What the 2.7 beta did do was offer James a VGA picture of the not-so-good-looking me and it's fully supported on Mac OS X Leopard. We just had a lengthy video-conference and it was no surprise that my video was clearer on his side: there's no longer a need to hack your way to VGA video since it's now supported natively in this version. The difference is extremely noticeable (almost frighteningly in my case) since VGA offers up four-times the resolution of QVGA. Trust me: I did the math after drinking two bottles of Focus Vitamin Water this afternoon. Heh...using the word "focus" in a post about resolution... go figure.

(via Download Squad)

Skype 2.0 beta for Linux adds video, penguins dance with joy

I caught word of this the other day from Brad, but it's now official. Well, as official as a beta can be anyway. Skype 2.0 for Linux brings the free communications software closer to parity with its Windows and Mac counterparts. The biggest addition, and one that Linux users have wanted for over a year or two, is support for video calls. When Brad told me about it, I gave it a go on the Eee and aside from manually having to start the webcam, the call quality was pretty good. James and I tested it yesterday afternoon and the only difference he saw was that my picture was a lower quality when compared to calls on a Mac or PC. That's likely due to the meager .3-megapixel camera on the Eee more-so than any deficiency in Skype. Have at it mobile penguins, you can get the download right here.

Skype partners with 3 for 3 Skypephone, 3G handset with Skype support

No points on the naming of the 3 Skypephone, but props to the deal that offers the first Skype handset on a carrier's network. The UMTS 3 Skypephone is a 3G handset that offers traditional wireless calls but also provides the wide range of Skype services. Similar to some free mobile-to-mobile plans, the new handset offers free Skype Mobile to Skype Mobile calls and Skype instant messaging.

The Qualcomm-based handset offers 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 1.1, 1150 mAh battery, two-inch QCIF screen (176 x 220) and microSD card slot. Folks in the U.K. can grab the new device this week, starting on November 2nd. The 3 Skypephone is free with a contract or you can pay £49.95 without. Look for the handset to hit Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden later this year. If this image from TechShout is correct, the 3 Skypephone looks eerily like some of the Skype WiFi phones we've seen.

Video calling appears in Gizmo Project beta

While we use Skype here at jkOTR corporate for our regular video conference calls, Gizmo Project remains a solid competitor worth a look. In fact, the latest beta of the Giz offers the same video call features of Skype, but at a lower resolution. Video will transmit at 352 x 288 res, which is CIF to you and me; I say that's a strategic move on the resolution since I think there's a fair number of phones that record video at that res. Might we see a beta client for handhelds to follow?

While it's not high-quality VGA (640 x 480) like the latest Skype beta, it's a start, so if you want to show your face (or your bathrobe) to Gizmo buds on a PC, you can hit up the beta build right here.

(via Download Squad)

Tested: Skype beta with four times the video resolution

You might not be able to tell the difference based on the picture, but I sure can. James installed the newest Skype 3.6 beta on the HP 2710p Tablet PC and we just had an hour long "coffee klatch" over video. Remember, the 2710p has a dual core CPU and the option for an integrated 2-megapixel camera, so it can easily handle the new 640 x 480 video resolution.

How can I best explain the video quality over Skype? Let's put it this way: James' video (at 30 fps) was clearer and more fluid than my own local video in the thumbnail. It's that different and honestly, it should be. The new video functionality offers twice as many frames per second and four times the resolution! Looks great, Skype: when will the Mac users see it?

Skype beta increases PC video resolution: no more pre-shower blogging

We recently shared a little hack to boost the resolution of Skype video calls on a Mac iSight camera and while that's all well and good, it doesn't help PC users. CyberNet News notes that there's a Skype beta download that officially boosts your Skype video-call resolution from QVGA up to VGA. That's 640 x 480 if you're keeping track; you'll need more bandwidth on the upload side since you'll be sending four times the data for the higher quality picture. Skype recommends 380kbps up paired with a dual core CPU; check out the beta information and download directly at Skype.

While this is all nice, I shudder to think of the impacts. Hardly a day goes by that James and I don't have a Skype video call to discuss the mobile tech world. Usually, we're both pretty presentable, but the last call (shown) doesn't really need to be in VGA, does it? Actually, even QVGA might have been too detailed of a res... then again, if there was any dispute that he's the Hugh Hefner of Mobile Tech Manor, I think we can put it to rest. No?

Gizmo for Mobile beta arrives

As a long-time Skype user, I'm constantly asked why I favor Skype over other VoIP clients such as Gizmo. Truth be told, I've had a Gizmo account for around two years and in the rare situation I do use it, it works very well. I typically only use it when a contact has a Gizmo number and not a Skype number. The main reason I've stuck with Skype is because they've had a mobile client available for so long. Gizmo has taken strides to catch up on the mobile front and Download Squad caught wind of their latest effort: Gizmo for Mobile.

This downloadable Java client is for mobile phones but you'll have to see if yours is supported by pointing your phone's browser to www.gizmo5.com. I just hit up the site on my T-Mobile Dash and see many of the big-name handsets there: BlackBerry, LG, Motorola, Nokia, O2, Palm, and Samsung to name a few. One key feature that's great when you're on the run: you can text chat with contacts on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Jabber and of course Gizmo. Two points of concern: the fees for VoIP calls aren't abundantly clear and it also appears that your standard cell minutes get used here. Perhaps this will work over WiFi, which would alleviate my second concern, but we'll have to try it and see.

Hands free USB Skype Speaker(phone)

I usually use a device's integrated mic and speakers for my Skype calls but sometimes, I want some more oomph in the speakers on smaller devices. Thanks to Brando, the company that can put a USB port into every conceivable object on the planet, this might work. Brando offers a $19 speaker set with microphone along with a USB cable; simply connect the speaker via USB, answer a Skype call on your computer and the conversation is piped to the external speaker. The 15 centimeter cord is a bit short in my opinion, but I do like the music playback buttons on the top of the unit. You can use this as an external speaker system for tunes and control your player using the buttons.

(via TRFJ)

Skype outage delays MobileTechRoundup podcast- millions protest in the streets

You've no doubt heard by now that Skype has experienced a major global meltdown that has seen their service down for many for over a day now.  I just checked and it's still down for me this morning.  A lot of businesses now depend on Skype for their communications and this outage is quite serious for those folks.  Even more critical, the outage prevented Matt, Kevin and I from recording the MobileTechRoundup podcast last night so the next episode will be delayed.  Now that's hitting us where we live.  Here's the current update from the Skype folks:

Hello all,

Here’s the latest on the sign-on problem. We’re on the road to recovery. Skype is stabilizing, but this process may continue throughout the day. An encouraging number of users can now use Skype once again. We know we’re not out of the woods yet, but we are in better shape now than we were yesterday.

Finally, we’d like to dispel a couple of theories that we are still hearing. Neither Wednesday’s planned maintenance of our web-based payment services nor any form of attack was related to the current sign-on issues in any way.

We’ll update you again as soon as we can. Thanks for hanging tight.

Please see our Heartbeat blog for ongoing updates.

           

Skype for iPhone arrives through a third party service

It was just a month ago when we discovered iSkoot, the downloadable app and service that offers Skype calls through various cellular phones. Today the news is Skype for the iPhone, but of course, there's no app to download. Shape Services expanded their third party Skype offerings to include the iPhone today, which joins Windows Mobile, Palm, BlackBerry and other mobile devices.

IM+ for Skype allows you to use Safari on the iPhone for a web-based Skype client. There's no fee for texting Skype buds, but if you want to speak to them through Skype, you'll get a call-back on your iPhone and use up your SkypeOut credits if you need to hear that human voice on the other end of the line. I've tried to connect to the service for the past two hours, but have been unsuccessful on my iPhone (or my laptop for that matter); I'm getting Apache errors and suspect that the new service is getting hammered with traffic. I'll be sure to try it out when I can and perhaps even video a conversation over the iPhone's speakerphone.

Fax over Skype direct from Word, Excel with PamFax

I honestly can't remember the last time I faxed something but Barb had to send some receipts for an expense report just last week. PamFax might have come in handy as we scrambled around to find someone with a fax machine; Barb's work laptop is locked down from faxing, most web sites, and pretty much anything else that helps productivity. ;)

PamFax is offered by the folks that created Pamela, an early Skype recording tool. The service uses Skype's P2P connection to allow a fax to piggyback over a Skype call. Your recipient doesn't need a Skype account since the fax data is essentially carried by SkypeOut. Rates start out at 0.17 Euros a page and go up from there based on where the recipient is. Payment can be made right from your Skype credits. Not only is PamFax integrated with Skype, but it has hooks into Word and Excel as well; no need to leave those apps to fax a doc or spreadsheet.

(via Skype Journal)

SpinVox launches Speech-to-Text for Skype voicemail

Reason number 42 to use Skype even more: your Skype voicemails can now be converted to text and sent to you via SMS thanks to a deal with SpinVox. The just announced service (PDF) will initially launch in English, Spanish, French and German; there's no information yet on if the service will provided free or if it will require additional payment to Skype.

Since the service will use SMS, nearly every mobile device will be capable of receiving the textual translations, which will include the Skype ID of the caller when available. If you'd rather just be on-line with Skype using a cell phone, I recommend checking out iSkoot, which we ran through just last month. This service turns your Nokia, Palm or BlackBerry into a Skype client.

(via GigaOm)

Skype from your mobile phone with iSkoot

I won't be surprised if Apple sends a cease & desist to the folks who make iSkoot for using an "i" word but I can tell you the program and service works really well.  What iSkoot does is install a program on your supported handheld that works just like Skype on your desktop for the most part.  You can work with your contacts, make and receive Skype calls, all from your mobile phone.  You must have SkypeOut credit to receive Skype calls on your handset but if the call is normally free on Skype it is still free in iSkoot.  There are versions that support Nokia S60 devices, Palm Treos and they recently added BlackBerry support which is what I've been testing.

I downloaded and installed iSkoot over-the-air and went straight to work.  I can see my standard contact list and can make Skype calls and chat sessions with anyone on my list.  It looks like and works just like Skype except it is really using the iSkoot servers to route the call to and from the mobile phone.  I called several people and had chat sessions with a few others and the program worked flawlessly.  Everyone I spoke with said it sounded just like a mobile phone call and it sounded great from my end.  Kevin installed iSkoot on a Nokia N80 and we had an iSkoot to iSkoot call which worked perfectly.  This means you can now make VoIP calls with your mobile phone handset without a WiFi hotspot.  It is also a cost-effective way to make international Skype calls from your cell phone.  iSkoot is in beta and is free for now, don't know if it will stay that way when it goes live.

ThoughtFix live blogs his N800 Skype experience, videos first call

Nokia N800 owners are undoubtedly excited about Skype on their Internet Tablet, but none may he as thrilled as ThoughtFix. He's been furiously refreshing his view of the N800 firmware page and it paid off: he live blogged his whole firmware upgrade experience complete with a first-look video of Skype on the N800. How excited was he about Skype for his handheld? Let's just say he testes Skype's authentication function by mistyping his Skype ID. ;) Check it to see how well this popular app runs and not just N800 to PC (or other computer): Skype Out support is there to, as is text chat! Guest cameo on the first call: Steve Paine on his Samsung Q1P. Nice!

Nokia releases firmware upgrade for N800- Skype is there!

Kevin first shocked the world when he announced that Nokia would be soon releasing Skype for the N800 Internet Tablet.  N800 owners have been chomping at the bit to get Skype running on the capable Internet Tablet.  Wait no more, faithful N800 owners, as Nokia has released a firmware upgrade that adds Skype among other things.  The upgrade also adds Flash support, something owners have been clamoring for too.  Nokia also claims that performance has been improved over the previous firmware version.  I know I'll be downloading this baby today as I can't wait for Skype on the N800.  Hopefully they will soon support video calls using the internal web cam.  You'll need the Internet Tablet Upgrade Wizard on your Windows PC to apply the firmware upgrade which you can find here.

(Maemo.org)

Skype on the Nokia N800: it's alive, it's ALIVE!

I'm getting ready to leave NYC and the Digital Experience show, but had to share one tidbit before leaving. Among the many booths I stopped at was the Nokia booth. The big news there wasn't a new device, it was a service, and that service is Skype! It's been a long time coming, but Skype support for the Nokia N800 is right around the corner. I got a chance to see it, but it won't be available as a download until some time in July. The Nokia N800 already supports Gizmo for VoIP, but the addition of Skype adds more choice to make a good mobile device an even better one.

Quick update now that I've braved the 100-mile return drive and I'm headed for bed: I forgot to address the possibility of using the N800 integrated web-cam for Skype video calls. Based on my conversations with the Nokia representatives, it doesn't appear that this Skype release will support it. In the future? That's a definite maybe, but it's also purely speculative on my part...

New Skype versions use Skype audio engines, required for Skypecasts

Jim Courtney explains why you should upgrade your Skype client: the latest releases for both Windows and Mac use a Skype-developed audio engine for improved call quality. I often use Skype with the internal mic on the Mac or the integrated array microphones on the Samsung Q1P without major problems, but I'm looking forward to trying out the audio improvements in this new version. For Windows users, it's v 3.2 while on the Mac side, you'll want v 2.6.

Related to these upgrades: you'll have to have these updated versions if you want to participate in Skypecasts, which are public Skype conference call sessions. We still need to try one of those for a jkOnTheRun topic with the readers. Anyone interested?

Gizmo adds IM support for AIM and MSN

One of the reasons I haven't used AIM or MSN Messenger in years is due to the IM chat built in to Skype. I use the voice service of Skype far more than the chat function, so while Skype is up and running all the time for me, AIM and MSN Messenger aren't. I've tried multi-platform IM clients also, but my dependency on voice services keeps me coming back to Skype and I don't want to waste resources running two apps with similar capabilities.

Gizmo is a Skype alternative that I've tried in the past as well, but I may revisit it now that they've added support for the two big IM platforms. If you're a Gizmo-gabber, check your Contacts upon your next login. You should see a contact named "Add AIM, MSN, Y! buddies". I'll let you guess what that contact does. ;) Actually, you can't yet add Yahoo! buddies as it's listed as "coming soon" along with iChat and Jabber. Once those are added, you should generally be covered for IM regardless of your friend's chat services. Well, other than Skype anyway....the new service is available for Windows, Mac, Linux and supported Nokia devices.

Bluetooth support for Skype native in Vista?

I don't remember seeing this in Windows XP and I'm too lazy to reboot into that partition today, but I caught this in Vista and wanted to share. As I was nosing around my Bluetooth device settings I saw the above dialog box showing that you can natively control Skype calls with Bluetooth headset. If I recall correctly we couldn't do that in Windows XP with some third party software, but it's been a while since I Skyped in XP and I could be wrong.

In any case, if you have a hands-free Bluetooth headset and use Skype, check the Audio tab in your Bluetooth Devices dialog in Vista to enable this function. I enabled it on my Q1P and made some test calls with Skype, but I had to manually set my Skype audio device to the Motorola HS820 for some reason. According to the Windows Help for this function, Skype should automatically recognize and route calls to the device so you may have better luck with your particular headset.

How to: use a Netgear SPH101 Skype phone in a T-Mobile Hotspot

Yesterday's post on the new, unreleased Netgear Skype WiFi phone have generated more than a few e-mails to me; readers are asking how they can use the Skype phone in a T-Mobile Hotspot. I verified with Jeremy my suspicion that it required a firmware upgrade and he's confirmed. The firmware is a beta, so use at your own peril! You can find it right here on Netgear's site. If I see anyone with this phone during my Starbuck's travels, I'll be sure to ask how it's working out.

Remember that you'll need to have an active T-Mobile Hotspot account; the SPH101 will only connect to U.S. based T-Mo hotspots.

Netgear's next WiFi Skype: smaller and better connectivity

Jeremy Toeman takes us through a video tour of Netgear's headquarters, which is cool enough by itself. Add the fact that he bumps into Netgear's CEO, Patrick Lo, who just happens to have a beta version of a second generation WiFi Skype phone and you've got a must-see video. Details aren't readily available, but I can already see one big area of improvement. If you read my review of the first-gen SPH-101, you'll know I wasn't too happy with the stubby pointer in the middle of the front face. You can see that the stub was replaced by four directional buttons. The phone appears to be a little smaller overall and Patrick indicates that the battery life is better. Best of all: Netgear is working on getting seamless connectivity in hotspots and mention that all of the older phones can now connect to T-Mobile hotspots. Not sure on the deets of how they're doing that, but it's good news nonetheless. Now lets see what kind of price point these second gen Skype phones come in at. I'd still like to see them under $129 or even better: $99.

Mobile tech: UK for coffee, US for breakfast

This morning I had the great pleasure to appear on a podcast with an old mate from the U.K., Ian Dixon. Ian, James and I all worked together in our early days of podcasting; if you're not familiar with Ian's work, let me share a few tidbits. Ian is a Microsoft MVP in the Windows Media Center area and he provides a great podcast and a video series on Media Center. He also has a Windows Media Center book available and sure enough, he's a UMPC owner too! In fact, Ian asked me on his podcast for a conversation on UMPCs; the show should be available in a few weeks and we'll get a link up once it goes live. I had a great time this morning and I just got to thinking how amazing it was that we could actually do what we did.

Think back just three or four years ago. It would have required a bit of special recording equipment and we likely would have used a dedicated phone line for the show. Today, I literally rolled out of bed and fired up Skype at 8 am EDT with my cup of coffee. No muss, no fuss and I could have done the interview from nearly anywhere I had a good data connection. There was no cost for the voice conversation and I had near total flexibility in my location. Can you imagine a few years back if someone said "Hey, I did a UK interview in my pajamas from my PC at 8 with coffee and had breakfast in the US by 9 today." How much has your life changed in the past few year thanks to mobile technology? Mine sure has....otherwise, I would have had to change out of my PJs for the show!

Wired VoIP with call recording: IPEVO's TRIO USB Skype phone

The IPEVO TRIO reminds me of a vintage handheld CB radio without the antenna but updated for today's times. The TRIO is a wired USB Skype handset complete with speaker phone and audio recording functionality. The speaker phone is full-duplex and the phone offers Digital Sound Processing capabilities, but I'm intrigued more with the recording mechanism. The product website states that the phone has software built in to handle Skype conversation recording output as a WAV file. Makes you wonder if you've ever been recorded on Skype without your knowledge! At $79.95 direct, it's not a bad value if it works as advertised and you don't mind being tethered to your computer.

(via Everything USB)

Skype for Mac gets upgraded to v.2.6

I've been running the beta version of 2.6 for about a month with nary a hiccup, but it's always good to upgrade to the public release when available. Skype announced the newest Mac version today along with official support for their new 'call transfer' feature, which could be used for good or evil, I suppose. Don't worry Skype contacts, I won't blind transfer Skype calls to you as a prank. One few minor but annoying Skype for Mac item that James and I noticed since purchasing MacBook Pros: no support for groups of contacts. Maybe we'll see that next time around?

WalMart introducing Skype to mainstream consumers

Skype dips another toe in the mainstream consumer electronics pool today: Om Malik breaks the news that WalMart will carry nine Skype hardware devices. Unlike a limited run or pilot program, the Skype units will become available in all WalMart locations; my assumption being: all U.S. locations. The juggernaut retailer will also sell Skype pre-paid cards for service in $20 denominations. Even with my heavy-duty Skype use, that would cover me for a good year.

While I'm sure this move will help Skype's revenues, I still believe that the third-party Skype devices on the market need to drop in price. We've reviewed the Netgear SPH-101 Skype WiFi handset and while it worked well, I don't see most consumers dropping $150, $200 or more for a handset that can't be used for E-911 calls or can be tricky (if not unusable) in a WiFi hotspot that requires authentication through a browser. If the handsets can be had for $99 (or less) and be used in more locations, Skype will find quicker consumer adoption and faster revenue growth in my opinion.

It wouldn't hurt to have device demos via SkypeOut and a small wireless network in those WalMarts either, but that's not the typical approach I've seen for any product in WalMart. Hey Skype folks: if you want me to set up a kiosk to give it a go, just give me a shout. If WalMart can provide me the WLAN, I'll even bring my own router for the demos.

Update: the official company press release just became available. My quick read indicates that WalMart will be offering low-cost Skype-certified items, such as headsets, webcams and handsets starting in the $15 - $30 price range. No mention of the more expensive items like wireless handsets.

jkOnTheRun review: Netgear SPH-101 Skype Phone

I won't argue that there are some great VoIP and chat services better than Skype. For better or worse though, I keep coming back to my first love and have stuck with Skype as my primary voice and chat service. Last year, I caught news of Skype handsets from several manufacturers: Linksys, Belkin and Netgear. Each and every time the idea of a WiFi Skype handseat appealed to me in every way except for the price. I simply thought the cost was too high for a single-function device when I could use the same service on several devices I already had.

Maybe a hands-on review will change my mind. Perhaps the experience is well worth the three-figure priced tag. As a prior Netgear Blogger-in-Residence, Dave Zatz hooked me up with a review unit. Let's put the Netgear SPH-101 through the grind, shall we?

Skype adds auto-recharge account function

Skype wants you to worry about one less thing in your already complicated life: your Skype credit. The P2P phone service added an auto-recharge function that will add credit from PayPal to your Skype account whenever it dips below a certain amount. The amount will vary based on currency, but Skype indicates that it's roughly around $2 U.S., which makes sense. For people that use the paid Skype services frequently, this is a simple way to ensure your service isn't interrupted due to a lack of Skype credit. Which reminds me, my SkypeIn and Skype Voicemail accounts are set to expire this month...good timing on the auto-recharge!

Give Mom the "Gift of Gab" this Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, that one day a year when we all call our Mums and wish her a happy day.  Skype and Intel have teamed up for the “Gift of Gab” promotion that lets US and Canadian residents call anywhere in the world all day Mother’s Day, May 13.  You can’t beat free calls so come on, give Mom a call.  Doesn’t she deserve that after all you’ve put her through? 

Convergence done right: Asus AiGuru S2 Skype phone & Vista Side Show

From my mailbox to you: I just received the new AsusWorld magazine and right near the centerfold was the Asus AiGuru S2. I know the device isn't that new, but somehow I missed the fact that this WiFi Skype phone doubles as a Windows Vista Side Show device. You won't get much on the 128 x 128 pixel LCD screen, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

On the Skype side of the house the S2 supports 802.11b/g and handsfree speakerphone conversations. The 720 mAh battery provides 3 hours of gabbiness or up to 25 hours of waiting for that next call. The handset also doubles as a music streamer for your Windows Media Player tunes via wireless, not bad! Unfortunately, the printed word is more mature than the Internets since Asus only has the product predecessor on their site. Now, if you read this far waiting for a pic of the centerfold product, shame on you; we'll post no such thing here.

Skype hack for Mac: restore Auto Gain Control and Echo Cancellation

The rumors are true; I'm now addicted to reading through Skype forums. After last week's nugget on how to enable VGA res on an integrated iSight for Skype video calls, I decided to tackle another issue. Ever since I started Skyping on a Mac, I've had a terrible problem that basically will not allow me to use the integrated microphone for Skype calls. The issue revolves around the input levels for the mic: on a Skype call, the levels would quickly jump up on their own. The result: a constant feedback echo or loop on the call because the higher mic levels pick up the audio from the speakers; the conversation just cycles until I mute the mic. After poring through the forums, it turns out I wasn't alone. Even better yet, I found a potential fix and got it to work after a little more XML tweaking....

How to: boost Mac's iSight resolution for Skype video calls

Slow news afternoons are made for browsing forums; that's where I've been for a bit today. Specifically, I was nosing about the Skype forums since I'm such a big Skyper. Using Skype on the MacBook Pro is a joy thanks to the built in iSight camera and there's a way to boost the resolution for Skype video calls thanks to a simple tweak. I'm not sure what the supported res of the iSight is, although I believe it to be VGA or 640 x 480; someone smarter than me in the ways of the Mac will chime in for sure here. Unfortunately, Skype doesn't natively use the full resolution of the iSight cam; here's how to change that.

MOBIVOX bridging traditional phones with Skype

Currently in private beta, MOBIVOX is a service that lets you call your Skype contacts from any land line or cellular phone. Download Squad has a first-look writeup as part of the beta; they're reporting that the beta should go public fairly soon. The ability to contact and speak to your Skype contacts can be pretty handy if you're computer-less for any length of time; something we frown upon around here. ;)

Sounds like there might be a few kinks in the service just yet, but it certainly shows potential. MOBIVOX actually uses voice activation for your Skype calls; simply say the name of your contact and which number (home, Skype, etc...) you want called and MOBIVOX will connect you. Sounds interesting and I'm looking forward to the public beta.

Send money, import web contacts with Skype 3.2 beta

We all knew this was going to happen, but now that that it is, it's actually getting interesting. Skype announced beta version 3.2 for Windows and one of the new features is the ability to send money to a Skype contact via PayPal right within the Skype interface. Remember that eBay owns both Skype and Paypal. I use both Skype and PayPal quite a bit, so I'm definitely going to try the new features the next chance I get; no, that doesn't mean you can ask me to send you money. ;)

PayPal isn't the only new feature; also included in the new beta client is the ability to take and use video snapshots and contact importing from Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail and Gmail.

VoIP: is Windows Mobile second fiddle to Symbian?

After reading this post by Matt Miller, I'm starting to think maybe so! Since I've used Pocket PC / Windows Mobile devices almost exclusively for seven years, I realize my perceptions might be jaded. It's all too easy to get your perspective locked into a hardware or software platform, which is why I recently ordered my Mac Book Pro. Now Matt has me seriously thinking of borrowing a Series 60 device just to broaden my horizons!

From a VoIP standpoint, I've used Skype on Windows Mobile every now and then. There aren't too many other options for me. Matt, however, has a bunch of choices on his Series 60 devices: Fring, Gizmo Project and TruPhone. Each has its own pros and cons; after reading up on Matt's experiences, TruPhone looks appealing due to its feature set and recent support addition for Google Talk.

Matt says "While web surfing via WiFi on a mobile phone is enjoyable because it is faster than the EDGE speeds I get with my carrier, the "killer" application for WiFi on a mobile phone is VoIP". Some of you might say, "why is VoIP a killer feature on a phone when you can just make phone calls" but I see Matt's point if you travel a bunch and want to keep that cellular bill down. Is anyone using mobile VoIP software on a regular basis? What are you using and how is the experience for you?

Update: on a related note, GigaOm reports that Gizmo Project just added voice support for Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Jabber and Google Talk! VoiP + IM = productivity!

GrandCentral adding Gizmo support: one number to rule them all

We've mentioned GrandCentral before, but in case you're not familiar: it's a phone service that provides you a single phone number. You then control when and where calls to that number get forwarded to, so that you can be at home, work, on a cell, etc...and always get your calls routed to where you are. I have a GrandCentral number, but I'm not using it just yet; I use call forwarding between cells at the moment.

Paul Kapustka over at GigaOm mentions that GrandCentral will be supporting Gizmo Project numbers as well, which adds a VoIP / SIP component to the mix. I'm still hooked on Skype, so I'm outta luck, but the ability to forward your GrandCentral calls to a computer via Gizmo for free is pretty appealing if you're always on-line. Hey...that would be me.... ;)

25 ways you can enhance and extend Skype

It's no secret that I really enjoy using Skype, so when I got a note from Rich McIver this morning telling me about VoIP News' article called "Hacking Skype: 25 Tips to Improve Your Skype Experience", you know I got sucked in. Glad I did because this is a great collection of tips and tricks for Skype; many of which I'll be looking into using. Here's some of my faves:

• Find new music with the Last.fm plugin for Skype
• Collaborate on Skype with video and a shared whiteboard (shown)
• Skype caller ID on your television and WMCE / Vista PC

The list goes on...all greeat stuff. Sniff....this reminds me of my very first Skype "hack": how to record Skype voicemails as MP3 files....almost two years ago. I'm gettin' old...

My iPhone could give you your iPhone

I almost forgot the February 5th is "National iPhone Contest Day" here in the U.S.; thankfully, Chris Davies reminded me. I thought I did my part for the unofficial holiday when I mentioned earlier today that qipit is giving an iPhone away. Not so, says Chris: My iPhone is giving two iPhones, one 8 Gigger and one 4 Gigger. There's mention of an iPod nano prize, but compared to the iPhones, that will get lost in the 'shuffle'. Heh....

So how does one win an iPhone from My iPhone? All of the details are right here, but I'll clue in to your mission if you choose to accept it. You'll have to get a paper iPhone from sneakmove and do that bling thing for your entry to sing. Jazz up the already snazzy iPhone and submit your entry by the end of the month. After that, your creation will be judged by a blogosphere panel; no word on the judges yet, so start saving up your bribes now. ;)

Netgear's SPH101 Skype phone: voice only, no text

I'll have plenty more to say about Netgear's SPH101 WiFi Skype phone in the near future, but wanted to share one tidbit now. I use Skype for most of my Instant Messaging needs and was hoping I could use the SPH101 for that functionality; sure it would be tough with a phone-based alpha-numeric keyboard but I figured for short messages it might work.

Unfortunately not as shown by the pic below. I signed in to our MobileTechRoundup Skype account and tried to send a text message to the Skype phone but got the message below. I'm not criticizing the product for not having the feature (it is a phone, after all), but did want to mention it for any Skypers that might be considering it. I joked with James this morning that maybe we'll see a Sidekick-like Skype phone with a keyboard; they can call it the Skypekick. ;)

Thanks to Netgear's CES Blogger in Residence for sending me the review unit. I'll have more thoughts and impressions in a full review.

Skype signs deal to tweak Windows Mobile client

Skype has signed a deal with HelloSoft to use its VoIP technology to enhance the Windows Mobile version of the Skype program.  HelloSoft uses advanced data compression that results in a low-footprint client perfect for Windows Mobile devices.  Once the new technology is incorporated into the Skype program users should be able to enjoy better quality calls.  Skype for Windows Mobile requires WiFi or true 3G connectivity like EV-DO or HSDPA to provide bandwidth sufficient for good voice calls.

(via BetaNews)

Gizmo gets Flashed, makes calls from the browser

Although I've been a heavy Skype user for over two years, I still keep an eye on Gizmo. Apparently, so does Om Malik because he's reporting that Gizmo just went sans client. Once the service launches, you'll be able to get a small browser plug-in from Gizmocall.com so you too can be VoIP'ing right through your web browser via Flash support. Moving away from an installed client application definitely opens up the door to more potential adoption of the service; something I think Skype might want to consider.

I'm sure we've got both Skyper's and Gizmo gabbers out there: is a web-based VoIP app appealing to your gift of gab? I've stuck with Skype mainly due to the mobile client; since some mobile browsers don't support Flash, I think I'll keep my VoIP needs with Skype...for now.

Skype 2.2 adds Smartphone support, new features!

Have a Smartphone Edition Windows Mobile device and feel left out of the Skype party? Well, get your dancin' shoes on because your Skype hosts have just invited your device to join in!