Version 2.0.0.43 Beta for Windows.

Remember your first Skype experience? I was stunned by how easy it was. And the clarity of the sound, just like being right there. Immediacy. And the IM packaging of phone controls. It hit me so hard I had to tell everyone, call everyone, drag my friends and family to Skypeland.

If you've been using Skype, the Beta version of Skype 2.0 for Windows won't give... ... continue reading.....

I just received the following scary notice from Skype (Full text below). It suggests that Skype passwords for some users --- at least those that had also logged in at share.skype.com the Skype Corporate blog have had their Skype passwords and thus their SkypeOut account access compromised.

My Vonage experience came to an unpleasant ending today. I've been a Vonage customer since February 2004. Over time it just became less and less relevant. It neither provided the cost savings or the enhanced services that would really change the way I communicate. I was never willing to pay for a softphone that should have been free, etc. I've long wondered about how long the PoIP players have and think the outlook for... ... continue reading.....

Niklas Zennström speaks on intellectual property rights. (Tony Hallet, Silicon.com) "Software patents are hindering innovation. Patents should be granted when there is real innovation and real investment in innovation." "We allow third-party developers to develop on our platform. It's a great way to do it. We are helping them be successful. But there is a mental threshold you have to go through. People [at Skype] say 'Maybe we could have done that'."

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Henry Gomez, formerly eBay SVP of Corporate Communications and Governement Relations reporting to Meg Whitman, is taking on the new role of General Manager North America. Henry will provide a focus for enhancing Skype's performance and growth in North America, which has lagged other parts of the world. While a small US team worked hard, it failed to secure the presence at retail and online that Skype needs to be successful. I'm looking forward to... ... continue reading.....

Would you like to animate your Skype profile? Reallusion has launched CrazyTalk for Skype which enables messaging with facial expressions and character animation. Thus they say making your Skype conversation more amusing and creative. Your friends will have to get CrazyTalk for Skype too to play. It's a free download to get started.

CrazyTalk for Skype is a dynamic animated messaging tool featuring customizable...

Uri Levanon visualized what I wrote about in my Skype as Personal Memory and Skype as Collective Memory posts. His designs highlight alerting.

This diagram shows a reminder in the Skype contacts tab tying a to do list and tags to a contact.

This mockup shows... ... continue reading.....

Brightcove will serve video from commercial producers. Facebridge will let users distribute their own videos. 2006 will be the year that Skype turns millions of Skypers into podcasters, vloggers, and videographers. Who at Skype is working on vid distribution alliances? The long tail of edge created content will dominate in time but there is still good money in Skype as a TV and movie player for the next few years.

Rich Tehrani has a... ... continue reading.....

A reader provides a great pointer to CherryWare on integrating your mobile with Skype and using proximity to manage your call device and PC security. He explains it like this.

"This program can trigger any command or program when your bluetooth device is out of range or back in range. I just asked it to shutdown Skype and lock my session when I walk away (out of range) thru a bat file.... ... continue reading.....

I’m sure this is something that’s been raked over before, but I don’t see a common understanding of what ‘Net Neutrality’ actually is. Despite many of the Internetorati demanding... ... continue reading.....

Guest blogger: Jan Geirnaert.

I wonder when I will be able to get it in South-East-Asia. Emerging markets, yet, but no place to get it here.

I want to buy a wifi-phone that supports other software too. I want it to have a phone number too. I want it to have preloaded credit too, and I need it to have a cd-rom in a pouch with... ... continue reading.....

The next generation of Skype add-ons has arrived. These new applications offer a promise of remote access to your desktop and more importantly to your Skype Client. The functionality I liked best was the ability to call my SkypeIn number from my mobile phone and place a call to a Skype Contact or make a SkypeOut call.

Skype can act as a free international trunk line.

The story goes like this: I am... ... continue reading.....

I've been trying to embrace what my brother calls "extreme gratitude," in a Skype context. On this Thanksgiving day I'm grateful for:

Skype the Provocateur. Showing VoIP could be a consumer hit, Skype lit a fire under hundreds of software companies, portals, mobile operators, cable operators, and phone companies. I'm glad they've unleashed a torrent of attention and resources to re-imagining and building the conversation economy. And I'm pleased I get to chronicle this... ... continue reading.....

From about and around:

• Senior Product Manager, Skype Integration: PayPal. (San Jose, California, and London, UK).

• Chief Financial Officer: eBay Inc.. Not just a great job at a global powerhouse, the previous CFO is now President, Skype.

• Mac Software Engineer: Butler Internaltional. "Conduct technical feasibility study and prototyping on Mac OS X to: Improve USB Webcam user experience and integration in communication applications & scenarios; Support Acoustic Echo Cancellation in...

A new Skype Certified third-party software application will be announced in the next few days called Skypito. The following description if from their web site.

Skypito is the World’s first solution for safe online voice communication and chatting for kids. The Skypito application uses Skype technology. In addition to safe verbal and written communication, Skypito introduces online gaming technology with open source for third party game developers.

Skypito is a free product. The...

• Tom Online comes to Skype's aid in China (ChinaTechNews.com). Skype's closest partner in China is negotiating with China's telcom operators on Skype's behalf.
• US Verso Tech confirms sale of Skype-blocking software in China (Forbes). How do you say "negotiating power" in Mandarin?
• Microsoft roars into VoIP market (Computerworld). "Industry observers say the catalyst for this is Skype..."
• Radio Shack to offer a range of Skype-related Products (The New...

1000 beta testers wanted! Are you using Skype in your business? Are you wanting you combine your Skyping with a collaborative workspace tool? If you are happy trying a highly developed beta product then this is an early opportunity to get in the front door and build the future. Sign up at Verosee and DOWNLOAD without waiting here.

How would I describe Verosee and my initial experience? It's like continue reading.....

Skype Technologies products were sold today in United States RadioShacks for the first time. The Skype Trial Pack comes with planograms placing it with computer or wireless products, depending on the store layout. It is going to 3500 of RadioShack's 7,000 stores. Not in the rollout: smaller stores, those in Canada and Mexico, and some locations where sales were thought less likely. If it's not available near you, RadioShack.com is selling the... ... continue reading.....

Skype the three month old puppy.

Why would anyone call their product a SkypeKiller?

Update: A note from the publisher:

Dear Stuart,

I am François Amigorena, IS Decisions' CEO, SkypeKiller's editor.

Please don't get us wrong: we are not in any way Skype or any software editors' enemies. We just want to make sure we...

By Michael Gough with Bill Campbell

Stuart covered the ‘SkypeKiller’earlier this week here. The SkypeKiller application is meant to sow more fear, uncertainty and doubt in to the hearts of Skype users. IT Managers already know how to perform this task.

SkypeKiller is an application written by some folks in Herdon, VA. (the heart of the US 3 letter agencies) that goes out on a company network and deletes Skype from a... ... continue reading.....

ZD Net reported here that 3000 retail stores in Radio Shacks network will be promoting Skype.

The story is bigger than Radio Shack.

Skype is seeking retail partners around the globe. See Skype Partner page.

Partnering with Skype has many benefits and here are just some that our retail partners can take advantage of: • Gain access to Skype’s 55 million and ever growing user base. • With over 1 million...

Prosecutors in Germany and the US and a judge in Canada, are searching for the hidden information of “Who knew what; when?” to uncover the truth.

Hidden in your Skype Chat Messages is information you also might want to recover. It is easy to do. Fast too. With the cursor in the sent (top part) Chat Message window simply right click and select “Find”.

This is especially valuable... ... continue reading.....

The SkypeKiller has arrived and I can only shake my head. Some business practices are shameful and misleading. This is at the top of the list. SkypeKiller promises to secure your network from Skype by actively uninstalling it across your network.

With SkypeKiller, Skype's eradication on a whole network, or on your own selection of computers, only takes a few minutes and doesn't require any intervention on...

by Lee Dryburgh.

I took some pictures of the Skype marketing team in action near Torrington Place, London.

One of their flyers reads "Death to the don't-make -me-open-it phone bill", "...you can say goodbye to phone bills that would scare a small island... ... continue reading.....