Skype

"Well, I'm gonna' get out of bed every morning... breath in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out." – Sam Baldwin, Sleepless in Seattle (Tristar – 1993)

Hopping out of bed, checking voicemail, checking our email, checking a few gotta' see Web sites, having a cup of coffee is the fairly typical start of most people's day around the globe, around the calendar.

Two billion plus computers, four billion plus plus mobile devices, a gazillion (and growing) Web sites, blogs, social nets and instant in-touch services have shrunk the world--and the clock--to fit nicely in our screen(s). Read more

By Jeff Zbar
www.homeofficehighway.com

To meteorologists and remote workers alike, The Cloud is a beautiful thing.

One makes his living off cloud formations. The other has discovered a mobility, flexibility and an untethered experience working in the cloud. These include teleworkers, telecommuters, road warriors and others released from place-based work.

For those not clear, the "cloud" — according to Wikipedia — "is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the cloud that supports them." In other words, all your applications — and even your documents, if you want — are stored and hosted via a computer with an Internet connection and a Web browser.Read more

January 9, 2009 -- Skype just announced the release of a lite version of Skype, a ‘thin’ client for Skype that can be downloaded on Android-powered devices, as well as more than 100 other Java-enabled mobile phones.

This launch builds on successful public testing last year and the incorporation of user feedback to an earlier beta version which was only available on a limited number of mobile devices. The updated beta now makes Skype software broadly available to millions of mobile users worldwide, including for the first time, mobile users in the U.S. The lite version delivers core Skype capabilities including:

• Make Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
• Send/receive instant messages to/from individuals or groups
• Make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones
• Receive calls to your online personal phone number on Skype
• See when your Skype contacts are online/available to chat Read more

October 23, 2008/PRNewswire/ -- iSkoot yesterday announced that its mobile application, iSkoot for Skype, launched in the Android Market, Google's new mobile application store. iSkoot for Skype is the first VoIP solution available in Google's Android Market.

iSkoot for Skype makes it easy and affordable for people to keep in touch with friends, family and contacts with an always-on-the-go lifestyle. iSkoot for Skype leverages the voice-optimized circuit-switched wireless networks of mobile carriers, allowing for full operation even without access to WiFi or 3G networks and ensuring the best possible call quality. Normal carrier voice and data charges always apply. Read more

January 14, 2008--Belkin International, Inc. just introduced its new Desktop Internet Phone for Skype, which allows you to make free Skype Internet calls without having to turn on your computer. Simple to setup and easy to use, the new phone brings the Skype experience to more people and at an affordable price.

AVAILABILITY

• March 2008 in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia Desktop Internet Phone for Skype (F1PP010EN-SK) – US: $99.99
  
• Features speaker, speed dial, call hold/release, call pickup/park, mute, redial, hold, call-timer display, and contact list
  
• Contact list supports over 500 sets of Skype and SkypeOut contacts
  
• Automatically logs into Skype after initial login
  
• Plugs into port on wired/wireless router or a live Ethernet port so you can immediately start making calls
  
• Supports inexpensive SkypeOut calls to landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires purchase of Skype credit on Skype.com)
  
• Supports SkypeIn, a personal and portable Skype number that people can call you on wherever you are in the world (requires purchase of SkypeIn subscription on Skype.com)
  

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Please note, just as with Skype running on a computer, Skype embedded in a desktop Internet phone or other handset is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

You can view and purchase them at www.belkin.com, as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.

SOURCE Belkin International, Inc.

January 7, 2008 – Sony just announced that it would introduce Skype features to the new slim and light PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system (PSP-2000 series). More than 246 million members are registered for the use of this communications software, which enables users to communicate with other Skype users around the world over the Internet. Calls between Skype users are free of charge.

By introducing Skype on PSP, the following features and services will be made available to PSP users (*1) (*2):

• Free voice calls between Skype users
  
• Skype contact list management (view existing contacts, add new ones)
  
• Skype presence (see which friends are online and available to talk)
  
• SkypeOut calls to make calls to landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
• Optional SkypeIn number that lets users receive calls on Skype from landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
  
• View and modify Skype settings and account details (including username creation, SkypeOut settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding)
  

PSP users worldwide will be able to start using Skype features and services through a simple system software update scheduled in late January. After updating the PSP system software, a Skype icon will be added to the Network category in the home menu. PSP users who do not yet have a Skype username can register by clicking the icon and following the instructions. PSP users who already have a Skype username can immediately sign in by clicking the Skype icon and entering their username and password. Read more

November 2007— Give the gift of gab this holiday season with the newest gadgets from Skype, the world’s fastest-growing internet communications company.

Whether you’re shopping for a road warrior, a college student or a far-flung family member, Skype offers helpful gift suggestions like webcams, WiFi phones, dual-mode phones and headsets. Skype Certified™ devices and accessories make staying in touch during the holiday season and all year long easy, fun and, most importantly, inexpensive (or even free). Read more

Skype and Logitech have partnered to deliver High Quality Video over the Internet. Logitech reports that High Quality Video on Skype offers “image-perfect detail and clarity”, to help people connect better without having to buy expensive video-conferencing equipment. High Quality Video brings VGA-quality video calls (640-by-480-pixels) at up to 30 frames per second to people using a broadband connection, a High Quality Video-certified Logitech webcam and a PC with a dual-core processor. Skype 3.6 for Windows is expected to be available as a free download at skype.com in early November and will support 28 languages. The Logitech QuickCam Software version 11.5 is available now for free download at www.logitech.com/downloads. Read more

Oct. 30, 2007 — Skype and Logitech today announced a collaboration to deliver a new standard of video calls over the Internet: High Quality Video. With High Quality Video on Skype™, people worldwide can enjoy free video calls that are sharper and smoother than ever before. The experience is so good, it might be better than being there.

“This is a major leap in the clarity and smoothness of free video calls over the Internet,” said Gareth O‘Loughlin, Skype’s general manager, mobile and hardware devices. “High Quality Video is a tremendous opportunity to delight our more than 246 million users and take their Skype experience to a whole new level. One in four Skype calls already involve video, so we know our users love to show and not just tell. High Quality Video will take Skype conversations to a whole new level of realism. In the past, only big businesses could afford this kind of video quality. It’s now time to take it to everyone else.” Read more