Gift Tip 6: Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1

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Skype is an application that runs on your PC with a webcam, microphone, and speakers or headphones. However if you rely on Skype heavily for everyday communications or it is a business tool used around the office, then a standalone unit which isn't connected to a PC may be your preferred option. Alongside handsets that look like standard wireless home phones there is a new option from Asus that combines the best of Skype into a single unit. The Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1T combines a 7-inch touch screen (800 x 480 resolutions) with webcam and voice communication. Effectively it is a complete Skype solution away from your PC screen.
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Posted on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:21:57 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yamaha SoundGadget PSG-01S And Projectphone PJP-25URS For Skype Unveiled

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Yamaha announced today the SoundGadget PSG-01S and Projectphone PJP-25URS, both Skype-certified speakerphones with high-quality voice and audio.
The Yamaha PSG-01S (photo) is a personal speakerphone designed specially for Skype. Its high-quality microphones and speakers enable not only smooth simultaneous communication, but also clear audio recording and music playback via a PC. Read more

Posted on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:34:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

New Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1T Videophone Launched

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ASUS today officially launched a Skype Certified touchscreen videophone dedicated to unlimited video calling over the Internet with the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T.
Part of the existing Asus videophone product family, the AiGuru SV1T is the first to feature a large 7-inch touchscreen.

The touchscreen works in tandem with the standalone device's built-in webcam, speaker, microphone and Wi-Fi capabilities to let you make unlimited video calls for free to other Skype users without the need for a computer. This latest version of the Asus video phones improves upon the first generation ASUS videophone announced last year. Read more

Posted on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:29:50 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

eBay Sells Skype

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The rumors became true today and eBay is selling Skype to an investor group led by Silver Lake and includes Index Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investment Board.

eBay still keeps a stake of 35% in Skype. eBay is expected to receive approximately $1.9 billion in cash upon the completion of the sale and a note from the buyer in the principal amount of $125 million. Read more

Posted on Tue, 1 Sep 2009 10:47:43 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

IM+ Skype App for Pre Out

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A couple of months back, we stated that Pre owners were in for a bit of a wait before the Skype App came to their phone. Today, that wait is over. Shape Services has just released the new IM+ Skype application for Palm OS.

This new app allows Pre owners to call Skype users on their PCs and make long distance calls at low rates. You can download it free for seven days, or purchase it in full for the one-time price of $14.95. Both the free trial and the paid version can be found on the Shape Services website.

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:45:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Is Skype In Danger?

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Here's a bit of bad news for those of us who use Skype as an alternative to having a home phone. A major dispute has arisen between the creators of the popular VOIP client and its new owner, Ebay. The auction site bought Skype back in 2005, but the rights to some of Skype's peer-to-peer technology are still owned by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis.

Zennstrom and Friis are the men behind the creation of both Skype and Kazaa, and they're also the founders of the company Joltid Ltd. Joltid wants to pull the P to P software they still own from Skype, which would render the entire client unusable. Ebay has filed suit against them to prevent this, but the ongoing lawsuit is likely to cause them to miss their desired date for the Skype IPO.

Posted on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:20:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Skype 2.8 For Mac: Out Now

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Everyone's favorite substitute for a home phone has just released a brand new version of itself for the Mac. Skype 2.8 launched today, bringing a bevy of changes and improvements to the old program.

Screen sharing is now enabled, along with special privacy features that allow you to only display certain parts of your screen. In addition to that, you'll now be able to stick notes to your contacts, use large profile pictures, hide the avatars of incoming calls, and use Mood Message chat, which is supposed to add a dash of Twitter to your Skype. You can check out the full list of new and improved features here.

Posted on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:06:31 CDT | by Robert Evans

Skype Version 1.1 Out For The iPhone

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Few things go together better than Skype and smartphones. That's why the Skype application for the iPhone has been so successful. It was released at the end of March and, as of this May, it's been downloaded over 4 million times. That means that roughly one out of every ten of the 40 million iPhone users out there has Skype on their phone.

For a lot of people it's much cheaper and easier to use Skype on their phone to place calls. Long distance calls especially are often cheaper with Skype credit than through a carrier. I'm not sure how happy AT&T is with Skype right now, but it's existence has meant very good business for Apple.

Posted on Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:30:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

No Skype App for Palm Pre...Yet

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It's not hard to see why Skype is such a popular application for mobile phones. It's much cheaper to use Skype as a long distance calling service than to use a regular cell plan. With 443 million+ subscribers, there's a good chance that whoever you're calling has a Skype account as well. The Skype iPhone app was enormously successful, Palm wants the same thing for its so-far anemic App store.

Unfortunately, it isn't going to happen. At least not yet. Skype doesn't think that Palm's webOS has advanced enough as a platform yet to be worth the effort of making a Skype yet. Pre fans shouldn't worry though; Skype has stated several times that their eventual goal is to provide calling software for every mobile phone user out there.

Posted on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:35:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Skype IPO Coming in 2010

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eBay announced plans to split from Skype with a 2010 IPO for the popular internet phone service.

Since it purchased Skype four years ago for $2.6 billion, eBay has long mulled what exactly to do with a product eBay CEO John Donahoe claimed had “uncertain synergies” with other parts of the company portfolio.

Donahoe reiterated as much in a statement:

Skype is a great stand-alone business with strong fundamentals and accelerating momentum. But it’s clear that Skype has limited synergies with eBay and PayPal. We believe operating Skype as a stand-alone publicly traded company is the best path for maximizing its potential. This will give Skype the focus and resources required to continue its growth and effectively compete in online voice and video communications.

The exact timing of the IPO will depend on market decisions, according to eBay.

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:05:00 CDT | by James Douglas

Seller’s Remorse? Skype Founders Look to Buy It Back

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The New York Times is reporting today that Skype co-founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis are looking to buy back the Internet calling service from eBay, the very same eBay they sold it to for $2.6 billion in 2005.

The duo are apparently meeting with equity firms and pooling their own resources to fiancé the purchase, which analysts believe may hover around $2 billion, according to the Times.

eBay CEO John Donahoe has signaled a willingness to sell Skype for the right price. During an earnings call in January he claimed, “I said from the beginning, I think I said it a year ago, Skype is a great standalone business and that I was uncertain of the synergies between Skype and the other parts of our portfolio," according to transcripts.

Posted on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:29:58 CDT | by James Douglas

Skype Application Now on App Store

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Yesterday we mentioned that the Skype application for the iPhone would be coming to the App store today. Skype has officially announced that the app is now available for download from the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Skype says that the app will add Skype calling and instant messaging to any second-generation iPod touch with a compatible headset and mic. Core Skype capabilities include free Skype-to-Skype calls from any Wi-Fi zone. The ability to call landline or mobile phones at Skype rates and sending or receiving IMs from any Skype user via 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS, or EDGE. Read more

Posted on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Skype for iPhone launches on Tuesday

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We already reported about the Skype iPhone rumor on Friday . Now it is official. Skype will launch on the iPhone tomorrow Tuesday March 31st.
As mentioned last week you can already use Skype VOIP on the iPhone with for instance the Fring App. Still lots of iPhone users will be happy to get their Skype service on their phone now. Apparently Skype has been getting tons of customer requests for iPhone support. Read more

Posted on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Skype to come to iPhone next Week?

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GigaOm reports that their sources tell them that Skype will be coming to the iPhone as early as next week. Update: Skype for iPhone is official.

Given that you can already use Skype VOIP on the iPhone with for instance the Fring App (site), the rumor is not that exciting. Read more

Posted on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:39:29 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

New Version of Skype Available

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A new version of the Skype VOIP application is now available called Skype 4.0 for Windows. Skype 4.0 is called the most distinctive new release in the company's history and was designed based on the feedback of tens of thousands of Skype users.

The latest version offers full-screen video calling, clear call quality and is easier to use than ever before. The application has a built-in bandwidth manager to allow users on slower connections to enjoy video calls. On a connection of at least 400Kb/s or higher and a PC with a dual core processor along with a Certified Skype HQ Video Cam users can get full 30 frames per second video calling. Read more

Posted on Wed, 4 Feb 2009 10:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

New Sony PSP Firmware 3.93 brings Skype to Japan

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Sony released a new firmware update for the Sony PSP today in Japan. The firmware 3.93 brings Skype functionality to Japan.

The rest of the world already got Skype with PSP firmware 3.90 in January.

Skype only works with the latest generation of the slim Sony PSP (PSP-2000). Read more

Posted on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:34:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony PSP Firmware 3.90 with Skype available

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Sony released the Sony PSP firmware 3.90 with Skype support in the United States and Europe. As reported Sony delayed Skype for the Sony PSP in Japan.

The firmware 3.90 will enable all owners of the new slim Sony PSP (PSP 2000 series) to make and receive phone calls. Skype will not work with the first generation of the Sony PSP (PSP 1000). Read more

Posted on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:06:56 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Skype and Mics on Sony PSP delayed in Japan [Update]

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Sony announced in early January that the Sony PSP would support Skype by the end of January. Today Sony announced that they would delay the Sony PSP Skype features because the new PSP microphones are not meeting the Skype specifications needed to obtain certification.

Sony planned to introduce the PSPJ-15010 (single pack) and PSPJ-15011 (twin pack) microphones in Japan tomorrow. Update: Just confirmed with Sony PR, the delay of Skype support on the PSP is only in Japan. For the U.S. and Europe the Skype PSP firmware is coming at the end of January. Read more

Posted on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:01:59 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

NetGear SPH200D DECT Skype Phone Review

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Tweaktown published a review of the NetGear SPH200D DECT Skype phone.

Quote from the review: "If you mention VoIP these days most people will think of Skype, which shows how huge Skype has become in quite a short time. The company has been busy pushing hardware for its Voice-over-IP service and we’ve seen some good, some not so good and some really awful attempts at making Skype handsets. Read more

Posted on Wed, 7 Nov 2007 08:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Global Computer Reboots Reason for Skype Outage

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As reported Skype had an outage last week starting on August 16th. Now the eBay company released details on why their VOIP service got disrupted.

The disruption was triggered by a massive restart of our Skype users' computers across the globe within a very short timeframe as they re-booted after receiving a routine set of patches through Windows Update.
Usually the P2P network heals itself, but the massiveness of the reboots apparently revealed a software bug preventing the network to heal. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Skype says Sign-On Problems resolved

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Skype informs on their homepage that the sign-on problems on their site have been resolved.

Skype users had problems since Thursday to make VOIP calls. The company has now voice fully functional again.
Skype presence and chat may still take a few more hours to be fully operational. Read more

Posted on Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:57:50 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr