Last week was one of the biggest news weeks at Skype Journal in a while.

Skype took on the entire US mobile carrier industry. Chris Libertelli, Skype's government affairs counsel, filed with the Federal Communications Commission to open wireless networks to anyone's device so long as it doesn't hurt the network. Unlocked mobile phones, anyone? Phones that can pick and choose which carrier to use for which call? MobileCos competing without shiny new phones on rates, quality and service alone? This could be great for consumers, fantastic for independent business and technology innovators, and uncomfortable for carrier marketers.

Skype 3.1 for Windows launched in Beta with the people's SkypeFind business directory as its biggest feature. Coverage included an exclusive interview with the Skype executive heading up SkypeFind (thanks, Sten), a comprehensive walkthrough and analysis (thanks Dan), a look at SkypeFind's branding, and a painful moan from a vulnerable Skype partner trampled by SkypeFind. Business directories are a first step toward commerce conversations and markets for conversation.

Jim Courtney's Interruption 2.0 Manifesto dove deep into managing your presence and attention, asserting your right to define and control. An important corollary to the Cluetrain, Attention, and New Presence manifestoes.  

The SkypePro bundle went live in most of Western Europe. Strategic pricing and bundling that makes Skype look great compared to most landline services.

Skype crossed the half-billion download mark. And Skypers didn't even throw a press release, let alone a party.

Last week's banner image was of Vonage's "Free Phone Call" phone booths at the Consumer Electronics Show. Popular, convenient, and reinforcing the lie that Internet telephony is just plain old telephone service.

The banner of the week before was of the stylish Ipevo free.2 USB phone. I'm trying out a working prototype. So far it's very small, nice and fun to use. "Cute." Ipevo brings desperately needed sophistication to the design of Skype gear. Fashion and design are part of mainstreaming new technologies. More from Ipevo soon.

Elsewhere:

iMessengr: 13 All-in-One Web-Based Messengers to Chat at Work or School. None of them support Skype; no Skype server software or Skype-hosted web services with cloud access. Maybe in March? April?

Gus Verdun: Ten new features of AIM 6.1.16.1 Beta. Small stuff.