Skype is an option on two of Dell's cooler laptops, new to the U.S. Anything that gets Skype in front of American consumers is good news for Skype marketing and eBay.
Skype's is a vendor relationship specific to one Dell request for proposal. This is a tiny relationship compared to Google's broader alliance with Dell, where Google Desktop and the Google Toobar will be installed on consumer computers and some business systems. Google Desktop usually comes with Google Talk, a standards based chat and voice client. As softphone vendors fight for market share, distribution arrangements like these become more important.
The XPS M2010
($3500-4700, 20 inch screen, web cam) is a gamer's dream toy, tuned for the Alienware onlife crowd. (MobileWhack brief) Dell will be able to preload Skype on the hard drive. I'm in serious technolust.
The XPS M1210
($1300-2500, 12 inch widescreen) has been on sale for a week in Japan. (engadget review) Skype is part of an optional A/V kit: cam, buds, mic, Verizon or Cingular cellular broadband card.
Both sport Intel dual core processors, so you should be able to host 10-party conference calls. Both are Windows Vista capable.
Dell has been selling Skype accessories before this. Linksys and US Robotics phones, SanDisk and Kensington flash drives with Skype inside, and the Polycom Communicator.
Skype news release...
SKYPE TEAMS UP WITH DELL TO MAKE INTERNET CALLING EVEN EASIER
New Dell XPS Mobile Systems can be configured with Skype; Free Internet Voice and Video Calling with Other Skype Users
LUXEMBOURG, May 31, 2006 -Skype and Dell have teamed up to make it easy to stay in touch. Today, Skype, the global Internet communications company, announced an agreement with Dell, the world's largest maker of personal computers, to ship Skype™ software with new Dell™ XPS™ mobile systems - the XPS M1210 and XPS M2010.
The agreement will allow Dell to provide its customers with easy access to Skype's voice and video Internet calling software. Dell will be able to pre-load Skype on the XPS 2010, a unique mobile entertainment system featuring a 20.1-inch high-definition display with integrated webcam. The XPS 1210 can be configured with Skype as part of an optional audio-video communications package that also includes an integrated rotating webcam, noise-isolation earbuds and mobile broadband capability.
"As the leading notebook supplier, Dell is committed to delivering cutting-edge technology that provides voice and video connectivity virtually anywhere," said Brett Faulk, worldwide marketing director, consumer notebooks. "Teaming with Skype, the trend setter in Internet communications, will provide our customers the very best experience when reaching out and staying in touch with friends and family around the world."
"Dell customers will be able to experience the benefits of Skype, optimized for their computing environment. This gives Dell customers a simple way to use the Internet to talk to their friends and family from home, in the office or on-the-go," said Don Albert, Director of Business Development, Skype North America. "Dell represents a new distribution channel for Skype. New products from Dell will complement the breadth of hardware designed for the convenience of Skype callers."
With Skype, customers can talk for as long as they like with other Skype customers across the world without worrying about the cost or the distance of the call. Unveiled today, the Dell XPS M1210 and M2010 are available immediately worldwide.
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. Nov 7-9. San Francisco. 
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