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Skype Mobile tests in-call reactions and retooled search
With the wide variety messaging apps adding video calls, Microsoft has been steadily rolling out improvements to Skype to keep up with the competition. Starting today, Skype users can help test a few new beta features that should make video calling and messaging an even more enjoyable experience on mobile devices.
Telus gets cozy with Skype, announces Optimus Black 'Skype edition' for summer release
Telus is looking to attract Skype's Canadian constituency by positioning itself as the nation's first carrier to easily enable the VoIP habit -- an addiction we're quite fond of, in fact. In a partnership with Microsoft's latest acquisition, Telus will allow its customers to purchase Skype credits directly from their wireless accounts -- meaning credit cards won't be necessary to call mates in distant locales. For newbies, the provider is announcing a "Skype edition" of the LG Optimus Black, featuring a shortcut to download the app (rather than pre-installing it), and a $2 credit for up to 60 minutes of international calls. If you're thinking a single toonie is a bit meager, we're suspecting Mr. Ballmer was glad to save coin anywhere he could -- after dropping $8.5 billion, that is. The specially-branded phone is set for a summer release and there's no hint at pricing, but if you get your jollies from reading press releases, just follow the break for the reveal. [Thanks, Justin]
Verizon adds Skype to Pantech Crux, LG Octane, and Samsung Zeal
A proper Skype experience still remains pretty tough to get in the US, unless you have the good fortune of being on Verizon or you own an iPhone -- but Big Red's seen fit to expand its reach a little further today with the announcement that three more phone models are supported with the official Skype Mobile app. The new devices are the LG Octane, Pantech Crux, and Samsung Zeal, none of which are being announced today for the first time today... and none of which are even remotely close to smartphone territory, so it's nice to see that Verizon seems committed to keeping Skype available across the breadth of its lineup. The updated app is available right now; follow the break for the full press release, or hit up the Source link to grab the goods.
Verizon's Galaxy Tab won't have Skype, NFL Mobile, or V Cast video apps at launch
Looks like that plan to bring NFL content Verizon tablets is on hold, at least for now -- we just got Big Red's employee training materials for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and they explicitly say that Skype Mobile, NFL Mobile, and V Cast Video won't be available on the seven-inch tablet at launch. That's disappointing for a variety of reasons -- particularly the loss of Skype, which would have made up for the lack of voice calling ability -- but we're hoping the holdup is mostly due to app-compatibility issues and not corporate politics. We'll find out, we suppose. Hit the gallery for the rest of the training docs.%Gallery-105942%
Skype updates Android app for Verizon users, lets you keep the WiFi on
Well, it looks like you still won't be able to actually make calls over WiFi, but Verizon Android users can now at least keep their WiFi connection active while using Skype Mobile -- something that was curiously not possible before. That's just one of the improvements in the latest version of the app (also updated for BlackBerry), which also includes features like incoming caller ID, support for copy and paste and emoticons in IM conversations, and the ability to automatically set your location as your mood message.
Skype Mobile with video support coming to Android Market later this year?
Skype's PR folks have been unusually loquacious today, as they've responded to a query about whether HTC's EVO 4G would get a Skype client with a deep and meaningful forward-looking statement, underpinned by a promise of an Android app "for all consumers globally to download regardless of carriers." This universally available addition to the Market should arrive "later this year," but what's important about it is that it's preceded by a lengthy spiel about Skype's ambition to "set the bar on mobile video calling," which it also intends to do this year. Does this necessarily mean that Skype video calling is coming to Android in time for us to wish granny happy Hanukkah over video chat? No. Is it a well constructed insinuation to that effect? Hell yes. Read the full statement at the source, or find the juiciest excerpt after the break. [Thanks, Jeremy]
Skype Mobile for Verizon on Android hands-on (with WiFi off)
It's been a little over a month since Verizon announced it would unleash the VoIP hounds on select smartphones, an interesting move given AT&T's wrangling with the FCC over Google Voice and begrudging approval of Skype over 3G. Early this morning the Skype Mobile app hit the Android Marketplace for Verizon devices (and only Verizon devices), and while it does work on 3G, it curiously doesn't work on WiFi -- at all. Click on through for some screenshots and our impressions. %Gallery-89001%
Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th
We knew it was coming, and now we have a concrete date. Starting this Thursday, March 25th, Verizon Wireless customers with one of nine select smartphones (Motorola Droid and Devour, HTC Droid Eris, various BlackBerrys) and data plan will be able to use Skype over the 3G network. As we heard before, Skype-to-Skype calls will not affect your VZW minutes, and now you've got the option to use the app for cheaper international dialing using the mobile app. Full list of compatible devices after the break, a list we're hoping gets expanded in the not-so-distant future.
Verizon to allow unlimited Skype calling over 3G starting next month
We may be way off base here, but we're pretty sure the game just got upended. Days after AT&T appeased the masses by finally enabling 3G streaming over the iPhone's SlingPlayer app, Verizon Wireless has delivered some big gargantuan news of its own. Starting next month, all Verizon Wireless customers with smartphones (and an accompanying data plan) will be able to make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any user in the world over its 3G network, which is something that AT&T users have been able to do since last autumn. Let us repeat that: VZW, which is known historically as one of the most controlling carriers in this great nation, is opening up its 3G network for limitless Skype calling. The forthcoming Skype Mobile application will also support Skype Out calling, instant messaging between Skype users and an ability to "remain always connected... to see friends' online presence." Nine smartphones will be compatible at launch (the full list is after the break), and we're guessing that more will be added in due time. Giddy yet?
Java-based client spreads Skype far and wide
Why should smartphone and 3 Skypephone users have all the fun? Skype has finally released a client written for mobile Java, enabling the ubiquitous VoIP pipe to be used on a wide, wide variety of phones (Skype says they've tested it on about 50, but it's likely to work on far more than that). Though it's naturally scaled down a bit to fit in its tiny target footprint, the client still manages to pack in support for Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls, chat, group chat, and your buddy list -- pretty much everything you need to make it functional. If you're going to have a go at it, just make sure you're on a sufficiently generous data plan, k?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Update: Turns out the data plan doesn't have to be that generous. Straight from Skype: "Tom has 20 Skype contacts and signs in twice a day for a total of 90 minutes. He IMs for about 25 minutes each day and makes 20 minutes of Skype calls. Tom would use just under 1 MB of data in one month." Thanks, everyone!
