Archive for: skype
So much has happened in the last few months with regards to Skype. eBay which bought Skype for $2.6 million back in 2005 has finally settled its litigation with Skype’s founders, and now the sale and restructure has been finalised.
The result: Skype now owns all of its technology, the founders received 14% of Skype and two seats on the Board of Directors, eBay keeps 30% of Skype, and the rest is owned by outside investors.
1. eBay now owns 30% of Skype, outside investors (including Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board) own 70%.
2. 14% or so is owned by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, the founders of Skype who have been added to the investor pool.
3. The Skype deal values the company at $2.75 billion, which is a little higher than the price eBay paid for Skype in 2005.
4. Joltid Limited is an investor in Skype. Joltid is owned by the Skype founders and was a major part of the legal dispute between eBay and the founders. The company held a key P2P technology that Skype now owns as part of this deal.
Thats the full recap on the new situation for Skype. Hopefully now Skype can move forward and start more innovations with their product.
There has been a lot of talk about Skype and now Gizmo5 this week, so we thought we would let everyone know about 5 new VOIP service that are on the rise.
Truphone (www.truphone.com), London, became the first true Internet calling application in Apple’s App Store when the company introduced Truphone for the iPhone a year ago; it’s now available for the iPod touch, BlackBerry, Nokia and Android devices. Truphone enables free to low-cost mobile calling over available Wi-Fi or local wireless networks for owners of iPhones and other smartphones who travel out of their home service areas. It’s especially advantageous for international travelers who want to make inexpensive calls from their mobile phones wherever in the world they may be. Further, Truphone eliminates the uncertainty of expensive roaming charges altogether, so people who call using Truphone know what they’re paying and what they’re getting. And calls between Truphone users are always free. The company’s Truphone Local Anywhere service, coming later this year, aims to eliminate the high cost of calling other countries by making all calls “local.” Truphone Local Anywhere will become the mobile service of choice — delivering cost savings and convenience — for anyone who travels, or lives abroad and needs to stay in touch with family, friends and business colleagues, wherever they may live.
ShoZu (www.shozu.com), London, is an intelligent social media hub currently used by people worldwide to enrich connections with the people in their lives by effortlessly exchanging video, pictures and commentary between mobile devices and favorite social networks, photo sharing sites and information resources. The company’s patented technology provides fast, easy, one-click uploads of photos and video clips from the mobile to the Web, full-resolution photo and video delivery without compression, an emerging suite of services that push content to the phone, the ability to work in the background even if a connection is dropped, and other unique features that simplify and enhance the user experience. The company was founded in 2000 and has formed partnerships with some of the leading players in the mobile ecosystem, including Motorola and Samsung.
Boingo Wireless (www.boingo.com), Los Angeles, is the global market leader in Wi-Fi. Boingo makes it easy for consumers to enjoy Wi-Fi access on their laptops or mobile devices at more than 100,000 hotspots worldwide — including airports, hotels, cafes and metropolitan hot zones — with a single account. Through its Concourse Communications Group, LLC subsidiary, Boingo operates wired and wireless networks at 20 of the top 100 North American airports.
Hi Def Conferencing (www.hidefconferencing.com), Hoboken, N.J., from Citrix Online is a multi-party communication service that delivers crystal-clear quality and realism in audio get-togethers. The service uses advanced audio processing of up to 5 times the bandwidth of legacy telephone systems, making it easy to hear the subtleties of participants’ speech, accents and inflection – dramatically improving comprehension. Hi Def Conferencing also brings clarity to what users pay. As a predictable, fixed-fee service, it eliminates the billing surprises typically associated with other conferencing services. For a flat monthly fee, high quality conferencing is within the reach of everyone – encouraging ad hoc group collaboration with family members around the world. Participants access Hi Def Conferencing easily over traditional landlines, mobile carriers or broadband VoIP services, such as Skype.
iotum (www.calliflower.com), Ottawa, is a Voice 2.0 company that aims to reinvent business conversations and shape a world of relevant communications where devices, social networks and Web services work seamlessly together to let people communicate with whom they want, when they want and on the device they want. iotum’s business is to design and provide a simple, supportive and intuitive environment to enrich business conversations. iotum’s products and services bring greater meaning and productivity to typically stale and static multiparty communications and meet the growing teleconferencing needs of a broad range of customers across many industries. Iotum’s flagship service, Calliflower, makes it easy for people to plan and participate in engaging and meaningful conference calls that bridge business and social networks.
Ever wanted to be a presenter on Sports Center. Probably not. I mean really; how often does that dream cross your mind. However you may just be in with a shot of fulfilling the dream (whether or not you have it) with StarCommentator.com. Basically it’s a collaboration between ESPN and the popular video calling service Skype. Users use a video record function embedded on the site and their webcam to record a quick audition specific to the sport they want to present on the show.
Users must first go to www.starcommentator.com and click ‘Audition’. Then you choose from tonnes of different sports such as Football, Formula One and cricket. When auditioning, you read a small script about the sport from an online tele-prompter above the video recording screen. The contest organizers will then review the submissions. And even if you suck you might as well still enter because they’re giving away a tuck load of booty as seen below.
Check it out at www.starcommentator.com
Sony Ericsson has announced an all new XPERIA X2, which will run on Windows Mobile 6.5.
XPERIA X2 comes bundled with tons of features including QWERTY keypad, 8.1MP camera, a 3.2 inch sized screen with WVGA resolution and a wide variety of communication possibilities. X2 comes with 14 specially designed preloaded XPERIA™ panels and 16 more to download, users can work with no boundaries with the XPERIA™ X2. From Skype, Mytopia and Google, to games, CNN and Windows Live, the panels ensure users are up-to-date with what matters most to them.
Features include:
- 8.1 megapixel camera
- Up to 16x digital zoom, Auto focus, Geo tagging and Image stabilizer
- Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
- Equalizer
- Sony Ericsson media player
- Music tones (MP3/AAC)
- Equalizer
- Sony Ericsson media player
- Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
- Handwriting recognition
- Windows Mobile® 6.5
- Motion gaming
- Video streaming
- Video viewing
- YouTube application
- A-GPS
- Google Maps
- Modem
- TV out
- USB mass storage
- USB support
- Wi-Fi
- Adobe® PDF Reader
- Microsoft® Office Mobile
Skype is the most popular method of making online voice calls across the globe. It’s free, fast and effective. Recently they have brought out numerous updates and upgrades that only improved the service making for better video calls and streamlining the call process. However, a recent surprise concerning Skype came not from the company, but the Kremlin.
In Russia, an activist group called the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs are lobbying to have the service removed or at least hindered in Russia. They argue that the service is not giving Russian services a fighting chance as Skype dominates the market. Other VoIP providers on the hit list were Google Voice which operates a service similar to that of Skype.
“Most I.P. telephony market brands, such as Skype and ICQ, are foreign, and that is why we have to protect the domestic producer.” These domestic producers such as MegaFon would indeed do better if there was no Skype in Russia but it would have disastrous consequences.
For one thing, may Russians rely on Skype as a lo-cost business tool. If it were to be taken away the only way to communicate with other devout Skype users across the globe would be regular phone or a less popular Russian service that would undoubtedly have compatibility issues with foreign VoIP services.
Another is that this would represent a step backwards for the Kremlin towards 1988. I don’t know what I would do if my Skype suddenly vanished – business costs would increase a ton!
There has been a lot of news from Skype lately, Skype new headset, Skype Windows and iPhone improvements, and Skype 4.0 release. Just to jump on the bandwagon Skype has now released their 2.8 version for the Mac. This new version brings two totally new and unique features namely Screen sharing and Skype Access.
Screen Sharing is a key new feature in Skype client for the Mac which allows one easily to see/share all or a portion of their desktop with another Skype user during a call. And for those on the move, Skype Access allows them to pay for Wi-Fi hotspots using their credit.
More new features include:
- Improved chat management
- Quick Add
- Mood message chat
- Larger profile pictures
- Hidden avatars in incoming contact requests
- Add notes to contacts
To download this new version of Skype, simply head over to the Skype website.
Skype is an amazing tool which is growing more and more popular on a daily basis. There are still a lot of problems with Skype but mainly the issues come with the quality of microphone and even webcam when talking to someone on the other side of the world. Skype has finally realised this and they have started to make and sell their own microphone.
Today the company unveiled the FREETALK Everyman headset, a USB super wideband audio headset. While first and foremost the goal was to ensure great call quality, Skype also notes that this headset is, “lightweight and folds flat so you can throw it in your bag with your laptop.”
This roadtest review gives a full overview of how it works. Their conclusion? It’s good, but the best part is the price: $22.88. Good-quality headsets usually cost much more than that.
You can buy the FREETALK Everyman headset here.
Skype have been a busy bunch recently in this dead summer heat; buzzing around releasing this and that.
A few months ago, Skype 4.0 graced our desktops throwing new updates our way. These included a new, more attractive interface and better interactivity. However, they held back. Basic features such as the contacts list and calling functions were upgraded but they decided to leave the fuzzy warm extras for later when we had all begun to forget their previous efforts.
Now Skype have made two great leaps in the world of Windows. Firstly, they have updated Skype for computers by allowing you to access multiple contact lists in applications and e-mail providers such as Outlook, AOL, Gmail and Yahoo! Mail. They have also added ‘Screen Sharing’ which allows you to share a portion or all of what’s on your screen to the person you’re chatting with. They have also released a fresh Skype for Windows Mobile OS allowing you to chat for free on devices such as the Samsung i900.
Then, they marched right on over to Apple, booted in the front door and were asked to wait while the Apple big boys took a look at Skype 1.1 on the iPhone. Much to the relief of the Skype boys sitting in reception getting rather bored with the long wait, Skype was eventually approved for the iPhone and is now available to download as an app.
Now, you can access your Skype voicemail on your iPhone and sent SMS from Skype. The program was also spruced up considerably to be a easier on the eye and boasts multilingual capabilities ranging from French to Polish to Traditional Chinese.
I can’t wait to see what those worker bees at Skype will release next; with any luck they’ll take advantage of growing 3G video capabilities.
Video conferencing used to be a tech heavy, equipment demanding effort that was unheard of for the common person at home. Nowadays with the bevy of online tools available, video conference is accessible to just about anyone with a desktop/laptop and a webcam.
TinyChat helps to facilitate such an opportunity by allowing several people to join a video chat room at once, much like a group IM, only this time you can see everyone!
TinyChat recently did a massive update that propels this online application into the forefront of the video chat options. This past weekend they released not just an updated product, but a new site that really highlights their offerings and the creativity of the team behind it. Looking under the hood first, here’s what we find with the update:
- New design for main page / Chat pages
- “On Focus” Support will alert you of new messages via flashing title and a sound (optional) if the tab or window doesnt have focus.
- More intuitive private messaging system
- Ability to join a chat with pidgin / Trillian / Any Jabber client – We also have a IRC -> Jabber Proxy in place
- Tons of bug fixes, Scalability tweaks and other stuff you wont notice.
- Proper Embed system allowing you to make a room to host on your site
- Moderation system, so you can kick and ban bad users
- Ability to ignore a user
*taken from TinyChat’s blog.
This most certainly makes the service that much more attractive to the already booming user base it has established. Their understanding of the social space is also helping them develop strong ties to their expanding community, listening to the request being made by their supporters. Already in the plans for the next update are things such as country flags associated with the user, private messages via command, recording playback, and the ability to boot people from the chat that are not participating effectively.
There is no doubt that TinyChat is going to experience continued growth and their site welcomes its users and new members alike to interact with them. This easy and free to use application is a must have for anyone who continues to have group chat via IM, and does not want to pay for an account with Skype. With the added benefit of embedding it into your site and sharing it across various social networks, this is definitely an option for the vid-curious.
You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook today!
The new Skype is here. Skype 4.0 for Windows have launched which offers full-screen video calling, crystal clear call quality and better usability. There’s also the usual free voice and video calls to other Skype users, instant messaging, SMS, and call to landlines and mobile devises at cheaper rates.
Additionally, a new built-in bandwidth manager ensures that consumers have the very best Skype video calling experience possible even on a low-bandwidth connection. If you have a fast enough connection (recommended 400 Kb/s or higher), a dual-core processor PC and a Skype Certified High Quality Video webcam, Skype delivers up to 30-frames-per-second High Quality Video.
