Download: Skype for Symbian S60 3rd Edition Beta

Skype and Nokia announced at the February 2009 GSM World Congress that Nokia would pre-install Skype on its S60 smart phones by 2009q3. It won't happen this year but the limited release of Skype for Symbian shows progress.

This is a real client, not a Skype Lite thin client. It works over 3G and Wi-Fi You won't get the full Skype experience. You do get chat and calling. You don't get public chats or the ability to initiate a conference call. No video calling. No Wi-Fi via the Boingo-provided Skype Access service. No call transfer.

A few cautions. First, don't try this Beta on your phone unless it's on the list. Second, install it in memory; it's too slow if you run it off your SIM card. Third, Nokia's PC Suite backup won't backup Skype. So upgrades to Symbian or your firmware delete your Skype chat history. Fourth, you cannot forbid Skype from using 3G. If your data plan is capped or expensive, Skype may use it even when Wi-Fi is available. Skype doesn't ask or give you the choice. Last, it's an early beta, still with bugs or design defects that drop calls, give you confusing messages, make loud noises. Caveat downloader.

Cautions aside, go get it. Symbian S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 devices (Nokia E71, E63, E66, N82, E51, N95, N95 8GB, N81, N81 8GB, E90). Symbian S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 devices (Nokia N96, N85, 5320, 6210 Navigator, 6210 Classic, N78, N79).

Your Nokia isn't on the list? Check out Skype-compatible IM+ for Skype, Nimbuzz, fring or minifring.

Full text below of the Skype for Symbian User Guide (pdf).

---

User Guide

Skype for Symbian 3rd Edition Feature pack 1 and 2

Introduction

Skype for Symbian S60 enables you to use Skype on smart phones running the Symbian S60 3rd edition, Feature Pack 1 and 2.

This guide describes how to:

• Install Skype for Symbian S60 smart phone
• Configure Skype for Symbian S60
• Use Skype for Symbian S60

Installation

Environment requirements

Skype for Symbian can be installed on any S60 Feature Pack 1 or Feature Pack 2 phone.

However, currently it has been verified to be functioning optimally on following phone models and phone firmware releases;

• E 71 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 210.21.006 RM- 346
• N 96 S60 3d Ed. FP 2 12.043 RM-247
• N 85 S60 3d Ed. FP 2 10.045
• 5320 S60 3d Ed. FP 2 04.13 ( 01-12-2008) RM-409
• 6210 Navigator S60 3d Ed. FP 2 4.13 RM - 367
• 6220 Classic S60 3d Ed. FP 2 4.13 RM- 328
• N 78 S60 3d Ed. FP 2 20.149
• N 79 S60 3d Ed. FP 2 20.175(06-04-09) RM-348
• E 63 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 100.21.110 (14-11-2008) RM-437
• E 66 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 210.21.007 ( 27-02-2009) RM-343
• N 82 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 31.0.16
• E 51 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 300.34.56 RM - 244
• N 95 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 31.0.017
• N 95 8 Gb S60 3d Ed. FP 1 20.0.016
• N 81 S60 3d Ed. FP 1 11.0.045
• N 81 8 Gb S60 3d Ed. FP 1 11.0.045
• E 90 S 60 3d FP 1 300.34.84

It is recommended to update phone’s firmware to the latest one.

Installation on phone models not listed is not recommended.

Skype for Symbian requires at least 6 Mb of free storage space on your phone to install.

To function effectively, Skype for Symbian requires a high speed wireless Internet connection over a wireless (Wi-Fi) or 3G networks. The procedures to configure Wi-Fi and 3G features are beyond the scope of this document, but are typically performed by selecting ‘Applications->Tools->Settings->Connection->Access points’.

Recommended installation method

Skype for Symbian can be installed via various means, installation methods include;

• OTA (Over the air)
• Via Nokia PC suite
• Via sending application sis file to phone via Bluetooth.

Supported installation locations

Skype for Symbian should be installed to phone main memory.

Installation to removable memory card is not recommended and can result in application performance degradations or launch failures.

Starting Skype for the first time

Notifications

On first start user is notified of details of client usage.

Application access

User asked to allow the application access to wireless connectivity and mobile network.

No emergency calls

User is informed that Skype for Symbian is not a substitute for an ordinary phone and cannot be used to make emergency calls.

Choose a connection

Please choose an access point that Skype will use to establish internet connection. In a while, you will be signed in to your account and will see Skype Contact list screen.

Creating new account

Accept terms of service.

To create a new account, please fill in all fields.

When you finished filling in ‘Create Account’ form, press ‘Done’– if the Skype name that you have entered has not been already taken; the new account will be created for you.

Signing in to existing account

If you already have an account you can choose ‘Sign In to Skype’. Fill in ‘Skype Name’ and ‘Password’ fields, then press ‘Sign In’.

Using Skype for Symbian

Main menu

Main menu provides quick access to all client features.

Contact list displays user contacts.

IMs contain chats and their history.

History contains a log of sent and received calls, files, voice mails ,SMS-es and authorization requests.

Contacts screen

The Contact list screen displays Skype users and phone numbers (for SkypeOut calls) you have added to your contacts list. It displays the current online status of each user, and allows you to manage your contacts.

Setting own Presence status

To set own online status, press ‘Options’ and select ‘Change online status’ from menu.

List of available Presence statuses:

• Offline – you are not currently signed in to Skype.
• Online – you are ready to make and receive calls or chat messages.Your status will be set to Online automatically when you sign in.
• Away – indicates that you are online but away from your Pocket PC.
• Do not Disturb –indicates that you are busy. Skype will not notify you of incoming calls or chat, although a Call tab is added to the tab bar when a call is received.
• Invisible – allows you to remain online while others see you as offline.

Options menu

‘Options’ menu allows you to among other things;

• Add a Contact to add known contacts.
• Search for Skype Users to search for other Skype users based on selection criteria.
• Change Skype Settings.
• View ‘About Skype’ to provide information about the running version of Skype for Symbian.
• View ‘Help’ screen.
• Sign Out to end your Skype session.
• Exit to close (as opposed to send to background) the Skype application.

IMs screen

This screen displays a list of active chats. You can open an active chat, set the chat topic, leave a chat and add or view chat participants.

History - Calls screen

This screen displays a history of received, dialed, and missed Skype and SkypeOut calls. It is possible to place a call directly from this screen by pressing ‘Green’ button.

History – Files screen

This screen displays a history of files sent and received to device. Individual files can be accessed from this screen.

History – Voice mails screen

This screen lists received voice mails. From this screen you can send, play and manage your voice mails.

History – SMS messages screen

SMS messages send by you are listed here. You can view and manage individual messages from this screen.

History – Contact requests

Unanswered authorization messages, contact details requests are displayed on this screen.

Settings – Call forwarding

Here you can manage the way Skype forwards incoming calls when you are offline, available options are;

• Don’t forward – calls are not forwarded
• Skype voice mail – calls are forwarded to your Skype voicemail (requires purchase of Skype voice mail service)
• Other number – calls are forwarded to a specified number. (requires Skype credit and forwarding set up.)

Settings – Privacy

Here you can restrict which other Skype users can contact you. Privacy settings for chats and Calls are separate. Settings available for both types are following;

• Anyone – any Skype user can contact you.
• Only people in my Contact list – Skype users already in your contact list are allowed to contact you.
• Only people with my details – Skype users with whom you have shared your details are allowed to contact you.

Settings - Connection

You can change different connection related settings here:

• Default access point
• 3G cost alert – if enabled, Skype will require explicit user permission to establish 3G connection.

Making a Call and Starting a Chat

• To make a call, highlight one of your contacts, and press ‘Green’ button.
• Alternatively, press Joystick Middle button – ‘Communication’ menu will be displayed. Select ‘Call’.
• To start a Chat, press Joystick Middle button – ‘Communication’ menu will be displayed. Select ‘Start Chat’.

Incoming Skype Call

When you see an incoming call balloon, you have several options:

• Answer the call by either pressing ‘Green’ button, or by selecting ‘Answer’ from ‘Options’ menu.
• Reject the call by either pressing ‘Red’ button or by pressing ‘Reject’ soft button.

Note that during Incoming Call notification, ‘Red’ button does not dismiss Skype to background, but rather rejects incoming call.

Terminating ongoing Skype Call

• To terminate active Skype call either press ‘Red’ button, or ‘End call’ soft button.

Dial a number

In order to make a call to any number, perform following actions:

1. From Contacts screen, press ‘Options’.
2. Select ‘Dial number’.
3. Input correctly formatted phone number and either press Green button or select ‘Call’ from Options menu.

You can change your dialing prefix by pressing ‘Options’ ‘Country codes’ and selecting the country. Appropriate dialing prefix will be added automatically to phone number input screen.

Sending Voicemail

You can send a voicemail to other Skype users who have voice mail service enabled.

1. From Contact list, highlight a contact.
2. Press ‘Options’ select ‘Send Voicemail ’
3. After voice mail greeting is played, recording of your voice mail is started.

Managing contacts

A contact is any Skype user you allow to talk or chat with you, or a SkypeOut number. Use Skype’s privacy features to decide who can and cannot contact you.

Known contacts

If you know the Skype name of a contact to add, perform the following tasks:

1. Select ‘New Contact’ from the Contacts ‘Options’ menu.
2. Select the ‘Search Skype users’ option.
3. Type the Skype name of the contact – Skype will search for it, and display the results.
4. Highlight desired contact and then select ‘Options->Add to Contacts’.
5. In the ‘Enter a reason’ window, type a message to introduce yourself.

The new contact will appear on the Contact list. If the user authorizes you to see online status, the Contact list displays the current status for the user.

Alternatively, to add a SkypeOut contact, perform the following tasks:

1. Select ‘New Contact’ from the Contacts ‘Options’ menu.
2. Select the ‘Add phone number’ option.
3. Enter the phone number into window and then select ‘Yes’.

Unknown contacts

If you do not know the Skype name of a user you want to add to your contacts list, perform the

following actions:

1. Select ‘Options->Search’ from the Contact list screen.
2. Type a name in the ‘Name or e-mail address’ of the Search screen, optionally specify search criterion using the remaining fields and then select ‘Ok’ button.
3. After a short delay, Skype for Symbian displays a list of Skype users that match your search details.

Authorizing contacts

When a user requests to add you to a contact list, Skype for Symbian displays an authorization request notification. Open the notification to respond to the request.

Existing contacts

To manage existing contacts, perform the following tasks:

Highlight a contact you want to manage, and then select ‘Options->Contact’ submenu.

From here you can perform following tasks:

• View the contact’s profile.
• Rename the contact.
• Remove the contact.
• Block the contact.
• Request authorization (only if you are not authorized yet).

If your contacts list is large, you can use the quick search facility to find a contact quickly and easily. While on the Contact list screen, simply press a button on the keypad – respective letter will appear in the text box to view only those contacts whose names begin with that letter.

Backup/Restore

Skype for Symbian is not included in the Backup performed by Nokia PC Suite. This means that if you Backup and later restore your smart phone, your Skype installation will be lost together with all your Chat history.

---

tags: skype, symbian, nokia, download

Call me at +1-510-316-9773, Skype me, follow @skypejournal and @Phil Wolff.
Visit our Skype Journal private technologist roundtable, one of the longest running public Skype chats.

Skype Eats More Young: RIP Skype's software developers relations program.

Skype clients have APIs. Thousands of developers wrote Mac, Windows, and Linux software controlling a Skype client through the API. Call recording, desktop sharing, games, commerce; thousands of products.

While Skype will maintain the API, the developer relations program around it is over. The commerce component: Dead. "Skype Certified" software: Dead. Support: Dead.

Skype will continue to engineer the communications API.

They won't help you promote your software.
They won't help you test and improve your software.
They won't help you co-brand your software.
They won't help you distribute your software.
They won't help you sell your software.
They won't help you process payments.
They won't help you keep up to date on API changes.

Not that they'd executed terribly well on these in the past.

But that's what they're defunding.

Presumably all that energy and money will go into a new program for developers. Skype moved some of its devrels people to new teams, some to a team working on the public version of Skype's future cloud communications platform.

Was there a good reason to kill off the old program before the new one was up? Skype won't say. Will the old community fare poorly on the new platform? Does the current community of developers not build a million dollars in yearly value to the Skype brand? Do these developers have anywhere else to turn?

This Dear John letter went out today to registered developers along with a blog post saying much the same thing. 

Subject: The future of Skype Extras Program
From: [Someone at Skype]

Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:52:23 +0100

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am contacting you on behalf of the Skype Extras Program.

Unfortunately I have to announce that the Skype Extras program will be shut down, effective September 11rd 2009.  Despite the incredible breadth of Extras developed for Skype, simply not enough people were using them to justify our continued support of the Extras program.  It was a tough decision for us, but we want to ensure that we prioritize our time and resources to deliver our core products such as voice and video, expanding Skype among business users, and expanding Skype into mobile and other platforms. The following changes will be effective from September 11th onwards:

• We have decided that we will no longer certify new Extras. However, all existing Extras will stay certified until their expiration dates and all unused test tickets will be reimbursed.
• We will continue to distribute applications through the existing Extras Manager in Skype for Windows but will no longer add new Extras to the Extras Manager.
• All public API documents will continue to be maintained Skype will also support accessories via the Public API.
• The Skype Shop <http://shop.skype.com/extras/>  will continue to support the currently listed Extras

This decision also influences the payment terms that are currently in place. After December 11, Skype will no longer allow the use of Skype credit by 3rd Party Extras developers. A final invoice detailing the full amount of the gross revenue received from Skype users must be submitted within 45 days of this date. After the 25th of January, Skype will no longer be able to process publisher invoices.

We understand the impact that this decision will have on our community. If you have any additional questions regarding the payment terms or any of the other listed changes please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

See also: Alec Saunders' Go Big, or Go Home. But Please, Spare Us The Whinging….

tags: skype, devrels, extras

Call me at +1-510-316-9773, Skype me, follow @skypejournal and @Phil Wolff.
Visit our Skype Journal private roundtable, one of the longest running public Skype chats.

Skype Domination: Platform Agnostic Style

Guest post by Andy Yang, who blogs with The Mobile Experience team.

I never realized this but Skype is everywhere! Regardless if you are a PC, Mac or Linux user, you can grab a version at your convenience. In the smartphone world, Windows Mobile, iPhone/iPod Touch, and Android have their versions of Skype mobile; even non-officially supported phones has a solution. If you are still using your cordless home phone or going with dedicated Wi-Fi or Skype Phone, there is a solution to Skype for you. Lets not forget the Sony PSP and Nokia N800/810 integration.

Now that I've made my point and spent last 15 minutes hyper linking the references above, what I am trying to get at is how easy Skype has made itself to users of all walks. Being that this company has made its service completely platform agnostic, it has tremendous power to reach a wide range of users and become the de facto internet-based communications tool. I can't think of another IM or VOIP application with this broad reach across various hardware and software.

As for my family, Skype has been an indispensable tool when traveling abroad. Given all the available Skype options, we can easily keep in touch so long as internet is available never having to worry about having pre-paid SIM or phone cards.

Skype, in my opinion, may be the best mobile communication provider for a non telecom operator. Of course, with Gmail's Video and VOIP support over browser recently launched, it can pose a potential threat to Skype's territory as it would technically be platform agnostic. But until mobile browsers are powerful enough to take advantage, Skype is still much ahead of the game. Way to go Skype!

[Editor: See also: Skype Journal's product map]

tags: android, iphone, ipod touch, mobile apps, psp, skype, skype mobile, symbian, wifi, windows mobile, mobile

Call me at +1-510-455-4384, Skype me, follow @skypejournal and @Phil Wolff.
Visit our Skype Journal private roundtable, one of the longest running public Skype chats.

A Partnership Is Worth Zilch When....

... your partner fails to provide an obvious path to download and install your software.

In early July last year I wrote about the launch of Dell Video Chat, based on a newly announced agreement between Dell and SightSpeed to use SightSpeed's video services. The bottom line was that Dell Video Chat would become available on an expanding range of Dell PC's.What follows is a story about what turns users away from Windows PC's and why Apple is doing so well with its iMac's and MacBooks these days. But it also has to be an embarrassment to Dell.

As background I should say that recently I have watched as two non-tech persons have started up their MacBooks for the first time. Turn it on, asks for your name and contact information, upgrades the software, takes your photograph with the built-in webcam, finds the WiFi, connects to the Internet (and finds other PC's on your LAN). In about 20 to 30 minutes you're up and running. No hassles, no new software to install; it just happens!. And subsequently these people do not come back to me for technical support, especially on security, operating system upgrade and new software installation issues.

This weekend I am helping an acquaintance getting transitioned to a new Dell Vostro 220 desktop PC. Due to one critical business application that only supports a Windows installation this person could not change to a Mac. In the course of starting it up I found there was a webcam embedded onto the monitor and installed the appropriate webcam software. (No, Dell did not pre-install it even though a monitor with embedded webcam was included in the initial order.) Ran a client called Dell Webcam Central. You could take photos or record video while seated in front of the monitor.

Then I noticed in the upper right hand corner an option to "Switch to video chat". Recalling that I had written about Dell Video Chat last summer I clicked on the link. And got a dialogue box stating: "You have not installed the video chat application 'Dell Video Chat'. Do you want to download now?" Clicked on the "Yes" button.

This took me to a Dell web page that asked for my Dell Service Tag. Entered it and ended up on the standard page of driver downloads for the Vostro PC. Looked through the various categories (after identifying my OS as Windows XP) and could not find Dell Video Chat software anywhere. No application downloads. Nothing about it listed in a sidebar on the same page. Nada, Did a search. No luck.

So, at this point, not being sure if I had installed Dell's webcam software properly I installed Skype on this PC and found it recognized my webcam, including its associated microphone, with no problem. Dell had failed to provide any means (let alone a user-friendly means) to download and install the Dell Video Chat software.

Sort of defeats the purpose of having this SightSpeed-Dell agreement and the associated easy access to the relevant software somehow. It actually turned out to be easier for me to download and install Skype (and have ready access to voice and/or chat conversations with the huge Skype user base).

A couple of points made in posts since my initial one about the arrangement between Dell and SightSpeed have happened since last summer:

• Skype hired Scott Durschlag as COO. In a post about CxO's and their persoanl business networks I pointed out that both Scott and Ron Garriques, now Dell's President of Global Consumer Group, had worked together at Motorola.
• Logitech announced it would acquire SightSpeed in late October.

Aside from Dell's obvious quality assurance problem described above, the sceptic in me might ask:

• Did Logitech's acquisition of SightSpeed somehow sour the Dell relationship with SightSpeed
• If it's all but impossible for a somewhat technically savvy person to find and install Dell Video Chat, is there any Dell Video Chat user registered out there with whom a user could have a conversation?
• Has SightSpeed been tracking any metrics on Dell Video Chat adoption?
• Is there an opportunity here for Skype to leverage a Skype executive's previous relationship with a current Dell executive to initiate discussions about having Dell provide Skype with all its PC's?
• Will "Skype Everywhere" include Dell PC users when they want to hold voice, chat and video conversations simply by default? "No biz dev required."

Just wondering .....Where's the value in a Dell partnership? It's all about execution!

In spite of being a 14-year purchaser of Dell PC's, it's one more nail in the Dell/Microsoft coffin as I contemplate a transition to a MacBook for my next laptop purchase.

And, in case anyone was wondering about what Steve Jobs brought to the table at Apple: a discipline within Apple's corporate culture that focuses on a friction-free and overwhelmingly successful user experience. In spite of Steve's current absence that corporate culture is not going away anytime soon.

Phil's Observations:

• Two More Reasons why SightSpeed is good for Logitech
• Why Did Skype lose the Dell account to Logitech

SightSpeed's CEO Peter Csathy:

• Speculation About SightSpeed's Partnership Success -- "How Did They Do It?"

Powered by Qumana

Skype Everywhere: Coming Soon to IBM Lotus Live Engage

A year ago August IBM's Lotus Sametime Division announced the acquisition of Skype Partner Webdialogs to obtain their widely respected Unyte Desktop Sharing collaboration technology. About four months later we learned, from Lou Guercia, Lotus SameTime's Director of Operations and Strategy, more about Unyte's integration into the Lotus SameTime offerings. In that post on Lou's presentation I asked:

Question: with IBM pursuing excellence on a service that comprises voice, video, chat and file transfer in a secure, encrypted environment, and with the stated goals of "working with their partners", would this not result in a situation where IBM would be licensing Skype technology to provide a comprehensive real time multi-media communications infrastructure?

With announcements this week, including some at IBM's annual Lotusphere 2009 event in Orlando, FL, it seems like that question is starting to get some answers..

Yesterday IBM announced "A Strong Fourth Quarter, a rarity these days". ZDNet's Dennis Howlett, in Can IBM sustain its momentum, goes on to provide some background, pointing out that most of IBM's growth is occurring in its software division. Certainly IBM sees its Lotus Sametime division as a key to sustaining their momentum. Except it appears that IBM has reorganized their SameTime collaborative services into "a cloud-based porfolio of social networking and collaboration services designed for business" under a new name: LotusLive.

In a press release this past Monday, in conjunction with IBM's annual Lotusphere event, Skype announced:

.... it will integrate Skype™ functionality with LotusLive (www.lotuslive.com), IBM’s new cloud services which are designed to help individuals build communities to work smarter, more effectively and more efficiently across and beyond their own companies. Skype’s voice and video calling will add rich, real-time communications capabilities to LotusLive, making it even easier for enterprises to collaborate in the cloud.

At Lotusphere 2009, IBM demonstrated the new Skype integration into LotusLive Engage, "an integrated suite of tools that combines your network [of contacts] with Web conferencing and collaboration capabilities like file storing and sharing, instant messaging and chart creation."

Today we interviewed Peter Kalmstrom, Skype's Program Manager for Toolbars, who had been attending Lotusphere to assist with the demonstrations. Peter made several points:

• This announcement covers only the first step of what will be a series of Skype integrations into the LotusLive offerings.
• The integration into LotusLive Engage is targeted at "businesses looking to collaborate inside and outside the organization to easily expand their networks..." In other words for businesses that need to include, say, sub-contractors, third party consultants, suppliers and buyers within their business operation processes.
• Within a LotusLive Engage contact profile, "Skype" fields have been added such that when a user clicks on a a name to bring up a profile card, the user can launch a Skype conversation and transfer files with a single click.
• The only additional requirement for engaging in a Skype conversation is that the initiating user must have a Skype client open.
• In addition to Skype-to-Skype calls, SkypeOut calls can also be made.
• Where several contact profile cards have been opened, a user can launch a Skype multi-party call to host a conferencing session.
  
• Due to the nature of LotusLive Engage's web architecture, the resulting Skype access is cross-platform; it does NOT require that the user have a Skype web (FF or IE) toolbar installed.
• A session can then also launch a Lotus Web Meeting (also known as a Lotus SameTime Unyte meeting).

Sounds like the Lotusphere demonstrations got the brainstorming going between Skype and IBM. In a concluding statement Peter said:

"We are enthusiastic about the partnership with IBM and we see a lot of areas where we can collaborate and help each other improve our services. We met with a series of executives at IBM during Lotusphere and the general feeling was highly positive."

At the same time IBM announced Salesforce.com and LinkedIn integration into their LotusLive services. Andy at VoIP Watch comments on the competitive "collaboration and communications" space where IBM LotusLive, Microsoft Office Live and Google Apps are the key players.

With the IBM offering, we are seeing one more example of "Skype Everywhere", in this case, being embedded into an offering that is key to IBM's future success in delivering cloud-based outsourced business services.

Phil will have some comments on the technical aspects of this integration along with where he feels there are "deeper" integration opportunities.

Powered by Qumana