Skype
Google and Skype Invest in FON - A Global Wi-Fi Hotspot Community
FON is a new global community that shares their Wi-Fi connections everywhere in the world.
FON was launched 90 days ago by Argentine entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky and has already over 3,000 registered so called Foneros. Now, FON got 18 million Euros from Google, Skype, Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures.
FON's goal is to have 1 million hotspots around the world in 4 years.
To participate in the FON Wi-Fi network you need a Wi-Fi router that is compatible with the FON Hotspot software. You guessed right, FON works currently only on the most open consumer router, the Linksys WRT54G/GS/GL versions 1x to 4x. FON is using the new investment to support other routers and improve the software.
With the backing of Skype and Google this can actually be a successful attempt to generate a global Wi-Fi hotspot network.
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Posted on Mon, 6 Feb 2006 03:14:13 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr
CES 2006: VoSKY Exchange - Skype For Businesses
Small and mid-sized businesses can now take advantage of Skype’s free and low-cost Internet call rates with Actiontec’s VoSKY Exchange, the first Skype-certified product that allows Skype’s Internet telephony service to be used in an office environment.
This PBX add-on enables every phone extension in the office to make and receive Skype calls without any changes to existing PBX equipment, phones or user PCs. Designed for businesses of 10 to 300 employees, VoSKY Exchange is a videocassette-sized device that plugs into the PBX on one end and a Windows XP computer on the other.
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Posted on Fri, 6 Jan 2006 15:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr
CES 2006: NetGear Skype WiFi Phone
NetGear together with Skype announced the world's first WiFi Skype phone at the CES 2006.
Update:
Pre-order the NetGear Skype Wi-fi Phone Now
The NetGear Skype phone works without a PC and just needs access to a WiFi network.
The NETGEAR phone is pre-loaded with Skype’s software, ready out-of-the-box to use with a wireless network. All a user needs to do after turning on the phone is enter a Skype username and password.
In addition to the Skype Wifi phone, NETGEAR and Skype also announced that the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router (WPN824) with Smart MIMO technology.
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Posted on Thu, 5 Jan 2006 17:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr
eBay enters VOIP Business with Skype Purchase
eBay Inc. buys Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock.
eBay put golden hand-cuffs in place with a further payout of up to $1.5 billion by 2008 or 2009 if financial targets are met. This would mean the whole package could reach
$4.1 billion.
Not a bad paycheck for 3 years of work. Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis founded Skype in 2002.
At $2.6 billion eBay pays $48 per user. At $4.1 billion eBay would pay $75 per user. Still ok compared to Dot Com Bubble times.
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Posted on Mon, 12 Sep 2005 09:18:32 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr
USB Stick VOIP Phone F1K for Skype
We reported about the World's smallest VOIP phone two weeks ago. The AnyUser ImPhone is only selling in Asia. Today mPlat informs us that they have a similar USB Stick VOIP phone that works with Skype available internationally.
The F1K USB 2.0 Stick phone has an integrated 16 bit audio DAC with earphone phone buffer. The F1K has 128MB storage available, that can also be used to store the Skype chat history.
The F1K Flash phone sells for $46.90 online.
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Posted on Thu, 23 Jun 2005 05:30:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr
Computex 2005: VOIP/Skype Phone Round-Up
Several manufacturers at Computex 2005 showed their new VOIP handsets. Some of them are just handsets for PCs and do not have Wi-fi integrated. Most of them look like mobile phones. Not sure what the idea is here as I would need to carry two phones. I am more a believer in Mobile Phones with integrated Wi-fi.
Wistron (photo) shows VOIP service independent phones in mobile phone look. The Wistron SRP-81 and SKPD-1 apparently feature an integrated Wi-Fi sniffer. The Register has more details on the Wistron phones.
Then there are the Senao SI-7800H-L and SI-682H VOIP phones, which also feature a mobile phone look. More about those on Engadget.
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Posted on Thu, 2 Jun 2005 13:32:03 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr
Skype How-To Guide on Smartphones and More
Laptop Magazine has a nice How-to guide on using Skype on PCs but also on mobile windows devices. Skype is the most popular VOIP service. It is free and it works - a winning combination.
Quote:
"That's where Skype for Pocket PC comes in. However, you'll need a relatively fast PDA or very recent phone to take advantage of this application. Skype for Pocket PC requires a minimum of a 400 MHz processor, built-in Wi-Fi, and Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC or later. "
More details.
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Posted on Wed, 11 May 2005 00:13:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr
Skype IP Phone VPT1000
We reported about the Persol PBT-002 Skype VOIP phone on Friday that is available in Japan. We asked if there are any IP Phones available in the USA for the free Skype service.
PCPhoneLine offers the VPT1000. This portable phone is not a simple USB phone audio device but is an integrated gateway and USB phoneset with dualmode Skype and SIP calling support. The product was specially developed by PCPhoneline.com for Skype users giving them the ability to place and receive calls via the Skype network and simultaneously place and receive calls via any one of over 30+ SIP networks including the ability to receive incoming calls from people with regular landline phones. The phone measures approx. 12cm x 4cm x 1.5cm. The VPT1000 sells for $49.00 at PCPhoneLine. (thanks Quan).
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Posted on Mon, 8 Nov 2004 02:31:04 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr
Skype enabled IP Phone: Persol PBT-002
Persol a japanese PC peripherals company has developed software that makes its PBT002 IP phone compatible with the Skype Internet telephony software. The software is free for Persol's PBT002 customers.
The new software will allow users to simply dial the phone numbers they are calling.
I use Vonage for internet telephoney. I think it is important to have a real phone. This software phones just do not work for me. To use a free service like Skype with a real phone is quite a cool value proposition. I did not find a vendor of an IP phone in the US that offers that. Does anybody knows one? if yes please email us.
More details on Nikkei.Net (subscription) and on Persol site (Japanese).
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Posted on Fri, 5 Nov 2004 02:16:28 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr
Skype - Kazaa's Voice over IP Review
PCStats reviews the Kazaa's Skype VOIP service.
Quote:
"It is likely that almost all computer users are familiar with email, and probably instant messaging as well. In a matter of a few years, the Internet has completely changed the way we communicate with each other, with one exception, the Telephone. Today we are going to look at Skype, an Internet Phone application currently going through a free beta-test, and generating a lot of buzz. We'll also examine how Internet telephony works, and why you should care. It's been said that Internet based voice calling will replace traditional telephone networks, the only question being how long it will take. Skype could be one of the applications that make this a reality."
Full Review
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Posted on Tue, 30 Mar 2004 00:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr
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