Skype for Apple iPhone OS4

David Ponsford demonstrated Skype as a background app at last week's Apple briefing on the iPhone OS 4, coming mid-2010. John Chang, Skype's lead iPhone developer, helped with the demo. David came to Skype from SpinVox Skype's voicemail-to-text partner.

Several features announced at the OS4 preview event affect Skype. Multitasking, location services, data encryption service, and a user alerting service. David answered a few questions by email.

Skype Journal: Now that two apps can be running at the same time, will OS4 let Skype expose its own APIs to third party Apple developers to build iPhone or iPad plug-ins? Are apps now allowed to talk with each other?

David Ponsford: Co-operation between 3rd party apps was not something that was discussed at the iPhone OS 4.0 preview by Apple.

Skype in the iPhone's background, shown on a second status bar, at the top.

SJ: What does Apple's encryption service add beyond what Skype for iPhone does now? Could there be efficiencies? Will OS4's encryption protocols be compatible with Skype's? Aside from encrypting Skype-to-Skype and Skype-to-Server communication, might they be used to increase the privacy of Skype data stored locally on an Apple mobile device?

DP: We are still evaluating Apple’s new enterprise features. All Skype-to-Skype communications are encrypted, as a matter of course. Our users’ privacy is of paramount importance to us.

SJ: Which of Skype's features will be turned off when running in the background? Will Skype's SILK codec be available during background calls?

DP: We are still evaluating all the new features available to us as part of the iPhone OS 4.0 developer preview that was released on Thursday. Early indications are that that Skype-to-Skype calls will still use the full capabilities of the SILK codec, even when they are in the background.

SJ: I haven't seen any Skype alerts on the iPhone so far. Does Skype use the existing alert service? For which notifications? Will you change the types of alerts Skype uses to communicate with a user? The frequency?

DP: Thursday’s technology demo of iPhone OS 4.0, in which Skype participated, used the new local notification system to show that an incoming Skype call was happening.

SJ: Apple is creating stronger technical and experience design differences between the 3GS and earlier iPhones, the iPod Touch family, and the iPad. Will Skype need to offer different software for the platforms or will you be able to offer one OS4 app that adjusts to each device?

DP: It is too early for Skype to give a definitive answer on this specific point; however, it will be our goal to make a single download available to all iPhone users that want Skype, making it super simple to get Skype for your iPhone, with all the features available for it.

SJ: Now that location services are available to Skype through APIs, what will you consider before making it easy or automatic for users to pipe their location into their Skype's presence?

DP: If Skype believes there is a significant benefit to our customers to offer location-based services, we will look at how these can be offered, while making sure that privacy and other customer experience issues are taken into account at the same time.

SJ: Skype on Verizon Android and Blackberry phones is promising betting integration with native address books. Do the OS4 APIs make it easier to offer similar sync, data population, and dialing features in Skype?

DP: Skype will be evaluating the new APIs available to all developers in order to understand what new features they offer us in order to create the best user experience possible for our users.

SJ: How did you wind up on stage in Cupertino?

DP: My dashing good looks, confusing accent and need to get Gold status on Virgin Atlantic...

SJ: What's Steve Jobs' Skype name?

DP: I don’t know this one. J

tags: skype, apple, iphone, mobile, ipod, os4

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Balancing power: Google v. AP, Yahoo! v. Geocities users, AT&T v. Skype

We try to be good to one another. Sometimes it's just about power.

The Associated Press newswire told search engines to pay for showing stories, or to stop showing them. [Ironic link above: AP story hosted on Google.] How quickly would AP enter bankruptcy if none of their stories showed up in Google News or search results?

Google's playing nice. They can, because they have the power in this relationship.

Yahoo! will kill Geocities later this month (26 October 2009). Millions of web sites, stores, online communities, blogs will vanish, along with their google juice. Geocities is a chunk of history for some, an online home for others. Yahoo! gave six months warning in its eviction notice. Yahoo! will move you to their paid hosting service. 

Yahoo! holds the power over Geocitizens in this landlord-tenant relationship. [Kudos to The Archive Team and the Internet Archive for trying to back up Geocities.]

AT&T blocked wireless access to VoIP on the iPhone for two years. Just to see what Skype and Google would do. They had power over Apple before the first iPhone launched. Less so now that Apple is a worldwide success.

Renters get power over landlords from their contract and from their government's landlord-tenant laws. Those laws rebalance power, create some process for notice and appeal, and define penalties for abusing process or power.

Skype is in the middle of a network of alliances, partnerships, antagonists, and dependencies. While some relationships are defined by market forces, many are driven by the struggle for industry and government power. Skype steps lightly. For every Skype government affairs person, the telecom industry has thousands. For every euro Skype spends on publicity and advertising to influence the public and regulators, the telecoms spend thousands. Skype is deft and agile, a guerilla going up against vested interests, avoiding brute force confrontations they could lose.

Meanwhile Skype earned its own power. Skype spent six years defining a global brand people love and trust. Skype quietly framed regulatory issues in Brussels and Washington placing Skype on the side of democracy and freedom. Skype proved its legitimacy as a profitable business (although still a rounding error in AT&T's 2009q2 Net Operating Cash Flow of $15.8 billion) and a competitor (8% of international minutes).

Skype is investing in its power. Geek cred will come if its Skype as a Platform service is successful. Skype is spreading its political attention to smaller governments. Skype has new PR, advertising, marketing partners to reinvigorate Skype's brand for what the company will become. Skype is building products to diversify its business model and create new sources of income.

Skype is approaching a half-billion users. Skype will no doubt be a US$2 billion a year company by 2013. Skype will sit at the table with Internet and telecom giants.

So I'm left with an incomplete thought.

Will Skype be as tender with its power as Google? Will Skype be as courteous as Yahoo! with trusting customers? Will Skype abuse market power through partnerships as AT&T?

Winston Churchill said the price of greatness is responsibility. What in Skype's cultural DNA says do no evil?

tags: skype, power, politics, ethics, morals

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Text of AT&T letter to FCC re VoIP over iPhone

Here you go: AT&T saying it had not previously consented to VoIP over its airwaves.

AT&T to FCC re: iPhone VoIP

 

October 6, 2009

Ruth Milkman, Chief Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington DC 20554

Re: AT&T Response to Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Letter, DA 09-1737 (July 31, 2009); RM-11361; RM-11497

Dear Ms. Milkman:

On behalf of AT&T, I am writing to provide you with an update to AT&T’s August 21, 2009 response to the Bureau’s questions about the Apple iPhone. In our response, we explained that AT&T currently offers a variety of devices that enable VoIP applications to make use of our wireless network (including our 2G and 3G capabilities) and the devices’ Wi-Fi connectivity. We further explained that the iPhone currently supports VoIP applications that make use of the device’s Wi-Fi connectivity, but VoIP capabilities were not available on the iPhone for use on our wireless network. We also stated that we were taking a fresh look at the issue and would promptly notify the Commission of any such change in our policies. AT&T has completed its review of the matter and today we informed Apple that, effective immediately, AT&T consents to Apple enabling third-party VoIP applications for the iPhone that use our wireless network, including our 2G and 3G capabilities.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Quinn, Jr.

cc: Chairman Julius Genachowski
Commissioner Michael J. Copps
Commissioner Robert M. McDowell
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker

tags: att, iphone, apple, competition, iskype, skype, fcc

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3G iSkype! Thanks, AT&T. (About frakking time.)

Skype confirms AT&T will announce lifting of the ban on VoIP over the AT&T network, this week at CTIA San Diego. The week Skype launched Skype for iPhone, someone showed the app calling over 3G on unlocked iPhones. Soon we won't have to think about our connection before calling.

It only took an FCC investigation into anticompetitive practices.

I eagerly await details. When? App upgrade required? iPhone OS upgrade required?

(now if only I could get 3G signal where I want)

(now if only Skype wouldn't choke on my 1k+ contacts)

(now if only iPhone would let Skype work in the background)

(now if only iPhone wouldn't hang up Skype calls when I get an SMS)

tags: skype, fcc, att, usa, us, competition, iphone, apple

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Skype news roundup: CNN ad deal, AOL open to interop, $50 IPEVO speakerphone

Products:

Skype for iPhone: Now Legally Available for Canadians. Congratulations, Canada! tip: type (flag:ca) in Skype chat.

Skype For Asterisk "is available to download now from Digium for $66 USD per concurrent call or from Digium Authorized Resellers and Distributors worldwide, and comes with 90 days of installation support from the time of purchase."

Skype For SIP channels are on sale for € 19.95  per month (without VAT – EUR) plus Skype's standard per minute call rates (no country, global calling plans).

ASUS Eee Reader could be built for Skype video calls, near the £100 mark. via Times Online.

IPEVO TR-10i speakerphone is now $49.99. Value hat tip to Michael Rose.

Business:

Skype to run ads on CNN's Connect the World show. Off-air chats to follow.

Om interviews Brad Garlinghouse, formerly the Yahoo! exec who owned Yahoo! Messenger, lately an in-house advisor at Silver Lake Partners (soon to own 50%+ of Skype), and soon to be president of AOL's email and AIM service. Interop with Skype is on the table. Mmmmm, peanut butter!

Exabytes per month worldwide in our mobile broadband future. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes. How much will be people lifestreaming video? Skype video multicasting?

tags: skype, asterisk, iphone, canada, sip, asus, eee, ipevo, cnn, exabytes, bradgarlinghouse

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Re: Apple bans App Store’s 3rd-most prolific developer

Apple ejected Perfect Acumen's 900 useless apps, ostensibly for copyright infringement, wrote Gagan Biyani for MobileCrunch.

My advice to Apple and other mobile app store operators?

Be upfront and consistent with your developers. New policy? Set expectations through proper notice and change management. Developers need a playing field everyone can trust.

As for the rules, stick to technical merit.

Utility should be left to buyers.

A store should help users choose well, distinguish gems from rubble. A store should help users talk about products, before and after buying, with suppliers and with each other. 

Tolerate crap in the store.

There should be horrible, disturbing, wastes of screen space. Just like there's lots of crap everywhere else on the Internet.

Mounds of trite and useless apps show developers experimenting with your medium, show evolutionary pressure is at work, induce newbies to jump in to do better. You're doing plenty by checking basic safety issues, like does-this-app-brick-my-iphone or is-this-app-malware. 

Be a common carrier.

Let the infringed sue the infringer, the offended mouth off, the developer express controversial notions and values. Let the marketplace of ideas choose freely. Stick to helping people find and run apps.

Software is speech.

Safeguard that speech.

Even when you'd never invite it home for supper.

tags: apple, iphone, devrels, appstore, perfectacumen, policy

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Will FCC's ATT/Goog/Apple check affect iSkype?

The US FCC is investigating Apple and AT&T over Apple's rejection of several VoIP applications from the iPhone, including Google Voice. At the same time, the Electronic Frontier Foundation petitioned the Library of Congress to legalize doing what you want with your iPhone.

Could this lead to mobile net neutrality rules? Could this lead to mobile Carterfone rights, including the right to tether without carrier permission? If this leads to rulemaking, could Skype be free to communicate over 3G wireless? Will this inquiry conflict with the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition or Justice Department's Antitrust Division's competition promoting duties.

tags: skype, google, apple, ebay, goog, voip, eff, fcc, ftc, carterfone, regulation, competition, anticompetitive behavior, netneutrality, mobile net neutrality, neutrality

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Skype for iPhone 1.1

Update. Skype for iPhone 1.1.0.91.

Adds voicemail, sending SMS, and localization for Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish and Traditional Chinese as well as English. Skype displays the language in your iPhone-wide settings.

Download from the iTunes Store.

tags: skype, iphone, download, release, 1.1.0.91, sms, voicemail, mobile, apple

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iPhone tethering fees violate Carterfone principles

AT&T prohibits tethering unless they sell you permission. From Plan Terms, Prohibited and Permissible Uses:

"Furthermore, plans(unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, BLUETOOTH® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose."

"Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited"

Fine print in your contract extends AT&T control into all the devices you use.

Mobile Net Neutrality says neither your handset maker nor your wireless carrier should alter your service based on the content or endpoints of your communication. You wouldn't let your ISP dictate what software goes on your PC or which web sites your surf. Why should your mobile operator have that power?

Yet Apple supports AT&T's ban on VoIP in theory, and full Skype in practice.

Mobile Carterfone says mobile customers should be free to connect to mobile voice and data services without a mobile carrier approving or dictating the device. You wouldn't let your ISP dictate what PCs or printers you connect to your DSL or cable modem. Why would you give your mobile operator that power?

Yet Apple supports AT&T's upcoming iPhone tethering fees.

Tethering fees give AT&T the power to approve or disallow your use of your phone as a modem. This is unheard of in most of the world.

AT&T is expected to add a surcharge of 30% to 50% for the privilege of using your existing device and bandwidth you already bought.

Tethering fees feel strange. The charges should stop at the first device, the connecting device. An operator should charge for primary connectivity, not downstream connections.

What other imaginary services could your phone company bill?

• Cell-handoffs. Get the first 5 free and then 10 cents a go. Neil Stratford
• Secondary listening. Special speakerphone detection modes to charge you extra for other people overhearing the call. Neil Stratford
• Voice by the word. Charge for voice the way they charge for SMS. 10 cents for 15 words.
• Volume detection. Shouting must mean the message is very important so charge more for louder conversation. mort

photo credit: cc-by Holly Gramazio.

Thanks to the Voice on the Web chat room.

See also:

• Power, Freedom And Money, a presentation on Skype, Apple, and the Carriers from April 2009
• FCC Chairman slams Skype Mobile Carterfone proposal; not dead yet, Skype Journal, April 2008
• Skype Journal nominates Chris Libertelli for the EFF's 2008 Pioneer Award, Skype Journal, January 2008
• FCC votes today, Skype glad FCC considering 'openness,' a far cry from 'delamination'. Skype Journal, July 2007
• Competing against Skype 102: Lobbying, Skype Journal, June 2007

tags: skype, iphone, att, at&t, tether, tethering, freedom, connection, connectivity, ripoff

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Apple's iPhone 3G S: still no video calling

The new iPhone 3G S seems designed to prevent video calling applications.

The feature is called "Video Recording," not a webcam.

The phone sports a great new camera, built for video. But only the one camera, facing away from you, the wrong way for video calls. Video calling needs a camera next to the screen, something Nokia's N series phones do well.

This isn't great news for Skype users. iPhone programmers can use the webcam to store video to a file, but won't be able to write apps that manipulate or route the stream. This means Skype for iPhone won't be able to add video calling any time soon.

Why didn't Apple make that leap?

1. It could be simple manufacturing economics: it's too early in the iPhone's life to get the cost of video components down.
2. It could be learning curve: vid-to-file is easier to design and manage than streaming video.
3. It might be battery life: video eats up CPU and batteries quickly.
4. It may be a carrier issue: mobile operators have been hostile to anything that looks like VoIP. Anticompetitive behavior, anyone? 

Skype for iPhone demo at the Apple store

Here's Justin, Captain Computer, demonstrating Skype for iPhone, at the Southpoint Apple Store in Durham, North Carolina, USA.

tags: skype, apple, iphone, demo, video, usa, durham

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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

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Yahoo! Messenger for iPhone 1.1 adds a landscape keyboard

Yahoo! announced an update to Yahoo! Messenger for iPhone. download on iTunes or update from the App Store. Some bug fixes, the landscape QWERTY keyboard, and a new feedback form.

There's still room to grow: no voice or video chat, no making or taking phone calls, no chat rooms or multichat, no gateway to Yahoo!'s IM partners (Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Lotus Sametime), no file transfer, no Yahoo! address book.

Yahoo!'s mobile messenger line also includes Y!IM for Sidekick, BlackBerry, and other phones.

screenshot credit: Yahoo!

tags: yahoo, yahoo!, y!messenger, messenger, iphone, download, mobile

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Skype 1.0.3 for iPhone - hotfix

Download the update. Three bugs fixed. Discuss in the Skype for iPhone forum.

tags: skype, iphone, hotfix, download

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Skype for iPhone 1.0.2 - hotfix

Upgrade in the App Store. Raul's announcement. A few bug fixes. Still free.

Still in the App Store's Top Ten Free Apps list at #10. #1 at the moment is the new F-MyLife app, storytelling about how your life is F'd.

tags: skype, iphone, hotfix, bugfix

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1 in 10 iPhone users downloaded iSkype

Skype crossed the two million download mark in a week. Apple's sold roughly 20 million iPhones. So 1 in 10 iPhone users downloaded Skype. A happy way to start the quarter.

Meanwhile, just for context, Apple is counting up to its one billionth download. So Skype's all-time share is 1 in 500. In the US it's already down to #3 among free downloads, behind #1 Awesome Ball and #2 iFighter (congrats on one million downloads!).

Note: Skype isn't including iPhone or other mobile application store downloads in its realtime stats feed. I'm sure they'll be add in for financial statements, but the Skype.com download statistics are no longer complete.

tags: skype, iphone, iskype, apple, mobile, downloads, statistics

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Skype Mobile Battle: iPhone vs. PSP

Guest Post by Andy Yang of The Mobile Experience Blog

Skype, one of the most used IM/Chat/VOIP/Video-Conferencing application for PC and Mac is slowly working its dominance up the mobile alley and we love it! I've always known it's support for Windows Mobile, Nokia devices and Wi-Fi Phones (Skype Phones) but it was the recent integration with Sony's Playstation Portable firmware upgrade as well as the hot-off-the-press Skype for iPhone/iPod Touch that is really cooking up some serious mobile progress. With Skype application for BlackBerry phones coming soon, Skype is in a very good position to become one of the leaders in mobile application. Having Skype on the go across multiple platform is definitely going to enhance our mobile experience, this is very exciting indeed.

In this article, I will attempt to compare Skype for iPhone vs. Skype for Playstation Portable. I'll update this entry when the BlackBerry version becomes available.

The iPhone (iPod Touch) and Playstation Portable is arguably two of the most popular gadgets for travelers on the go. When I review communication gadgets or software, I always like to imagine myself traveling abroad where I would not have access to a local cell phone and would like to keep in touch with friends or family at the luxury of my own mobile gadget. The appeal of Skype has always been there for me for that reason, that is why a laptop has been essential for all my travels until smartphones started to feature applications to support various communication needs such as Fring. That said, I think iPhone or Playstation Portable (PSP) are two of the most carried devices for travelers. I can just see myself in an airport lounge dialing international long distance over Wi-Fi to keep in touch with loved ones via either device.

Skype for iPhone

The iPhone and iPod Touch needs very little introduction. With a large touch screen display and portrait layout, it makes a very good UI candidate for Skype (much like its desktop counterpart).

Everything is integrated so well together on this handy little app. For example, your contacts from your iPhone is automatically hooked up with Skype in addition to its default contact list. To see who is online, you can easily toggle the software button towards the top of the screen.

One of the big advantage of iPhone is it's integrated microphone that Skype can take advantage of without the need of additional headset. The VOIP function will only work in a Wi-Fi environment (at home, coffee house, airport lounges, etc...) whereas the text Chats can work over your phone's standard data plan.

I love the fact that this little app does everything its desktop counter part can do, including editing one's profile or add more Skype-out funds over the handset. Overall, its an amazing application that has been done right, I love it and its free to download!

Pros: Excellent UI and layout, very easy to use and intuitive. Perfect integration to leverage iPhone's hardware (buttons, camera, etc...) Everything your desktop Skype can do can be done here!

Cons: No VOIP over 3G data, no web-cam video conference, app must be installed separately (only mentioning this because PSP is part of firmware OS)

Skype for Playstation Portable (PSP)

I love the convenience of having my beloved PSP-3000 as a gaming device and knowing it can also surf the web with Flash while keeping up with the communications needs via Skype.

No application to install here, its part of the firmware 3.90+ upgrade. While the PSP doesn't have a touchscreen UI and the horizontal layout is not taking advantage of the screen real estate as much, it does offer a full suite of Skype features. The SkypeOut and VOIP PC calls are there along with text chat.

Because the onscreen keyboard is driven by the directional keys and based on the 12-button numeric pad, it can be frustrating when compared to the overall iPhone experience.

The one part I have to gripe about is the need of an external microphone. My Griffin Tune Buds Mobile with integrated mic works great but if I forgot my headphones at home then I am stuck with only text chats capabilities. While Sony and Skype recommend you buy their official headset/mic kit, the iPhone OEM headset with mic should work as well. Sony should have integrated a mic solution, after all, this is their 3rd revision to the PSP franchise.

Lets hope Skype will be available for the DS or DSi someday. Overall, I still enjoy having the option of running Skype on my PSP. While its unlikely I'll be traveling only the PSP, I can see myself using the PSP for Skype to conserve the battery life for my iPhone while traveling abroad. Due to the nature of not having any data connection, the entire operation is rendered useless if I am not nearby a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Pros: Fully integrated as part of PSP firmware, no application install required. PSP's large display is great for Skype.

Cons: Lack of integrated Mic (and Camera for profile picture, etc...) Wi-Fi is required all the time for any communications (including text chat)

Winner: Skype for iPhone! With voice call quality being relatively the same, I have to go with iPhone because you just can't beat the convenience of having your iPhone with Skype with you at all times. The integrated mic makes the entire package there and ready to go 24/7. The touchscreen plays well with the UI and it has instantly become one of those default applications I must have on my iPhone.

tags: skype, psp, sony, playstation, apple, iphone, iskype

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Download Skype app for iPhone 1.0.1 from iTunes

Download from iTunes app store.

Unless you're from Canada. "THIS APPLICATION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN CANADA AND THE USER WARRANTS THAT THEY CANNOT DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FROM CANADA."

tags: skype, itunes, app, apps, store, download, iphone, itouch

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Hat tip: Clive and Steven from the 3rd Party Skype Software public chat.

Apple, AT&T hobble Skype for iPhone 3 Ways

BBC News' Rory Cellan-Jones is right when he asks Is Skype on the iPhone a big deal? 

1. No-VoIP Clause (Wi-Fi tethered). Apple's deal with AT&T (and presumably Apple's other carrier partners) forces Apple to force Skype off of mobile networks for voice or video calls. So Skype can only make or take calls when connected to the Internet through Wi-Fi.
2. No background apps (no Skype dialtone). Apple's iPhone OS prevents multiple apps from running. So I can only have Skype dialtone when it is in the foreground. You need Skype dialtone, connection to the Skype network, to share presence, to get chat updates, to receive Skype calls. When iPhone OS 3 launches at the Apple WWDC, this may get better.
3. No eye (no video). Apple doesn't have a camera looking at the user. Needed for video calls.

So Skype for iPhone is less than what it could be. Will customer pressure change AT&T's and Apple's attitudes? 

See the only Skype for iPhone video demo, courtesy of the BBC.

tags: skype, apple, iphone, att

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+iPhone: Updating the Skype Product Family mindmap

Added Skype for iPhone to the Mobile Software branch of the Skype Products mind map.

UPDATE: 30 March 2009: Added Skype For SIP, Skype for iPhone, Skype co-brand clients, Skype for Asterisk SDK. Changed from eBay extension to eBay toolbar.

tags: skype, iphone, products

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Skype for iPhone – the screenshots

Slide show: (screenshots below)

Splash screen:

Connecting:

Contact list:

Contact profile:

Recent conversations:  

A chat:

Calling:

In a call, speaker on:

In conference call:

Conversation history:

My profile:

Set profile picture:

screenshot credit: Skype.

tags: skype, iphone, screenshot, screenshots, pictures, apple

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Truphone Adds AIM to iPod/iPhone VoIP App

Truphone, the internet telephony application for mobiles, has added AOL Instant Messenger to the list of IM systems it can interact with. Now, in addition to Google Talk, Skype, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo, you can chat with your AIM buddies while on Truphone on an iPod Touch or iPhone.

I have written about the Truphone app before, and this AIM announcement makes the iPod/iPhone version of Truphone a much more useful portable communications platform.

Truphone is also set to make another announcement tomorrow that they are calling 'major'. I'll post about it when I get more info from Mobile World Congress.

Skype Journal columnist Jason Harris, engages communities for corporations and explores internet telephony, mobile technology, and the leaders who bring them to market on his Techcraver blog and on Twitter.

Skype at CES 2009, Part II: An Overview and Observations

There's a "new sheriff in town" when it come to running Skype; CES 2009 was a "coming out" event for the new executive team.

CES 2009 provided an opportunity to catch up personally with many of the vendors we have covered in Skype Journal including Skype, Truphone, SlingMedia, Philips and Research in Motion (BlackBerry). I also had a chance to attend a most informative afternoon session of Jeff Pulver's Social Meia Jungle event. Unfortunately Palm closed their suite after only two days of CES; thus, I missed an opportunity to learn more about the Palm Pre on Saturday. As Palm had just been awarded a CES "Best of Show" award, that was a "Huh?" moment when there was only a security guard at the suite's door.. I also wanted to catch iPevo and Nokia but did not have time to get to their booths.

With respect to Skype we had three activities: the Skype press conference, an interview with new COO Scott Durschlag and Skype's first reception event Friday evening. It was our first opportunity to observe the new Skype executive team in action. While I will be providing some more detailed posts, here are a few observations:

• For the first time, a senior C-level Skype executive personally acknowledged Skype Journal's participation as a playing a significant role in the Skype ecosystem. Scott thanked us for our loyalty to Skype through all the challenges of the past two years. (That does not mean we'll always be cheerleaders; it's important that we maintain a skeptical and critical viewpoint within the context of the overall IP-based communications space.)

While we have had co-operation in the past, usually via Skype's public relations agency, from many Skype employees at an operating level, it's important for the media to be able to communicate regularly and openly with those at the C-level who are providing overall direction and developing high level strategy. Josh has initiated such openness through his blogging and interviews; now we are seeing it on a person-to-person basis.

• On the other hand many times, last week in both the press conference and our discussions, Scott acknowledged the existence of several previous controversial issues, such as technical support, platform development, the role of partners and internal management structure issues as requiring attention by the new management team. The newly recruited management team will be introducing a new level of experience and maturity to address these issues; execution over the next few months now becomes critical.
• One future post will cover Skype's new operating and management structure focused on products and geographical markets.
• Another will cover Skype's overall focus as a software platform developer and the standards being set for these developments. Within this context I'll provide my perspective on what is meant by "liquid communications".
• We'll soon have a follow up post about our discussion with Scott of what Skype's new executive team learned from the TOM-Skype privacy breach last fall and how it became a bonding exercise within Skype as well as establishing some new operating parameters to avoid a repeat.
• Skype is NOT shoving its partners under the bus. The new executive team is determining what innovation Skype will drive and what innovation they can expect partners to drive. Andy Abramson articulates his perspective on the issue:

Most of all, Skype is not sitting back. The are pushing the envelope, but at the same time sending mixed messages externally to partners and developers. But that too will change. Some recent hires have brought maturity to the table.

• We learned the answer to "Will There Be a Skype Client on the iPhone?"
• Finally, for the first time since I have been writing about Skype, we can see some well-articulated high level vision for where Skype is heading, where they need to focus and how they want to play in the real time communications market space at a strategic level.

Looking forward to writing about the evolution of Skype as it grows from a $500MM per year operation with 500 employees into a business with a revenue level and valuation that finally justifies eBay's initial investment in Skype.

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Access Your Skype Contacts via Truphone

Over the past few years we have seen the evolution of several conversation communities, some simply employing instant messaging; others employing both instant messaging and voice. Skype is the primary example with its support of IM, voice and video as well as auxiliary features such as file sharing (and, as announced tonight, basic screen sharing) but we are also seeing these services diffuse into Google, via GTalk's voice and chat capability, MSN Live via Live Messenger, and, in spite of its trying to define who they are, Yahoo.

Truphone is a mobile voice calling service that I have used for a couple of years from a Nokia N95-1; it became critical in a situation I encountered in Germany two years ago. I have liked both the quality of the voice calls as well as the user interface, especially its use of the device's native address book for initiating a call. While they have had some hiccups with their recent product launches, Truphone has become the leader in providing low cost calling from the iPhone while breaking the carrier barrier via Apple's App Store. I will soon be reporting on Truphone Anywhere for BlackBerry. Now, under recently appointed CEO Geraldine Wilson, Truphone is making a move to grow their user base rapidly by leveraging the user bases of other services.

This evening at the MacWorld Showstoppers event Truphone announced an enhanced Truphone for iPhone providing connectivity to these four conversation communities. Supporting both instant messaging and voice conversations, voice calls to, say, Skype contacts are free provided they go over a WiFi connection. Calls to these communities can also be made over a carrier's 3G network, usually at the cost of a local call. In addition Truphone is providing access to Twitter as one additional messaging service accessible via Truphone's iPhone application.

In my interview this evening with new Truphone CEO Geraldine Wilson, she pointed out:

• Using Skype as an example, Truphone's enhancements set up an appropriate Skype client on a Truphone gateway and complete the call to the Skype contact, taking advantage of Skype's peer-to-peer architecture such that there are no resulting termination charges.
• By introducing instant messaging, Truphone is recognizing the key role IM is taking on in IP-based conversations where a conversation may start over a chat session and migrate to a voice session if deemed appropriate.
• Truphone sees the introduction of these enhancements as a key to building the Truphone user community; Truphone generates revenue through offering low cost calling to/from the landline and mobile PSTN network.
• Truphone is looking at adding BlackBerry and Android to their supported platforms for this service over the next few months. Key here are devices that support an application store in order to make user access to these services simple and trivial.
• To avoid high roaming charges it is recommended that Truphone for iPhone be used either over a WiFi connection anywhere worldwide but only over a user's home country 3G carrier.
• These new features go live on next Monday, January 12.

Some outstanding questions:

• Given that the Truphone application needs to be active for conversations, how will this work when other applications are open? Currently if I have Truphone as the open application on my iPhone, I can receive free Truphone calls and my presence will be indicated to other Truphone for iPhone users if I am in their "Favorites" tab. However, if I am in another iPhone application, I cannot receive "free" Truphone calls over WiFi; nor is my presence indicated to others. I look forward to seeing how the enhanced Truphone handles Instant Messaging when Truphone is not the "open" application on the iPhone. This is where BlackBerry's full multi-tasking capability is a major advantage over the iPhone.
• Calling Skype contacts involves providing your SkypeID and password. What security is in place to maintain the confidentiality of this information. What other security aspects are compromised as a result of placing the calls via a connection to a gateway that supports the caller's Skype client.
• What is Skype's reaction to having Truphone siphon off what could otherwise potentially be SkypeOut revenues while leveraging the Skype user base and using the "free" aspect of Skype? We know Skype is working to launch mobile phone applications, probably this week at CES. With iSkoot and the Skypephone on 3's networks, as we learned at last year's eComm 2008 iSkoot presentation, a portion of carrier revenues are shared between Skype and iSkoot.

A major step forward in making low cost calls worldwide, Truphone's moves once again emphasize that WiFi is becoming an ever growing alternative connection option to making wireless calls. At the same time it will be interesting to see how the business model plays out in a world where the cost of voice calling continues to move towards zero.

GigaOm: Truphone Brings Skype to iPhone and iPod Touch

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Phil Wolff's 26 incriminating 2009 Skype Predictions

Last year's Jim Courtney's 2008 predictions and mine. 
In 2009:

1. MacWorld sucks without Steve Jobs.
2. Steve Jobs steps down as Apple CEO.
3. Skype brings back Skypecasts with a new feature: with one click, introduce spammers, con artists, and sexy webcam girls to each other.
4. Skype for Neocortex. Mood based on serotonin levels. Very high quality audio and video by tapping directly into the optic nerve and auditory system. Some side effects.
5. Skype for Lovers. Extension of Skype 4.1. Just one buddy to dial. No interruptions. Ultrasimple UI: click the heart.
6. Skype's new platforms have more active developers than BT Ribbit. More than Google Android. Fewer than Apple iPhone.
7. Litigation. 1530 sleep deprived patients sue Skype for keeping them up late.
8. Google Central will be exciting.
9. Google Video Talk adds multiparty video.
10. The Emerging Communications Conference (eComm) will sell out.
11. Yahoo! fires thousands of people. Decimates the messenger team. Hires a new executive team. Reorganizes. Again.
12. Skype introduces multiparty video. The kids love it. WebEx hates it.
13. Skype for Asterisk gets video call support. Dating sites love it.
14. Skype for WoW builds on Skype for Asterisk. The raiders love it. 
15. Skypephone comes to the Americas via partnership with with US mobile carriers. Wal-Mart will carry it. Nothing for Canada.
16. 3 INQ1 sales will cut into 3 Skypephone sales in the UK.
17. U.S. Mobile Carterfone rules (to free mobile phones from carrier contracts) will be considered by the FCC.
18. VoIP falls from telecom jargon. Even VoIP bloggers stop using the term. The public starts using Skype as a generic name for internet talk.
19. eBay's auction businesses will do well in tough times, better in the second half of the year.
20. Skype will make $630 million in FY2009.
21. Peak Skype usage will top 18 million simultaneous users.
22. Skype will serve 23 billion minutes in 2009Q4.
23. Skype scores product placements in:
    
    
    • Hannah Montana: The Movie, spurring the rise of Skype pajama parties.
    • The Sinatra Club, using the new Skypeoke feature.
    • Star Trek, as ancient technology.
    • Startups will rally to Running Out Of Angels (March 2009).
    • 24 as Cisco cuts ad spending.
    • In My Pocket (2009) is not about mobiles.
24. Skype issues new krypto since its old cryptographic source code escaped from TOM-Skype control
25. Skype Video for Mobile. Skype buys a streaming video service for smart mobile camera phones.
26. China approves SkypeIn and SkypeOut.

tags: skype, predictions, 2009, inq1, skypephone, wal-mart, canada, asterisk, video, ebay, voip, carterfone, WoW, 24, china, tom-skype

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