Skype

Services
December 29, 2010
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Massive Skype outage explained by company’s CIO; $1 service credit to affected users

By on December 29, 2010 at 11:02 PM.

Massive Skype outage explained by company’s CIO; $1 service credit to affected users

If you’re a frequent Skype user, you probably noticed, or heard about, a massive outage that the service was experiencing last week. In a blog post today, the VoIP company’s CIO, Lars Rabbe, explained exactly what happened to cause the interruption.

On Wednesday, December 22, a cluster of support servers responsible for offline instant messaging became overloaded. As a result of this overload, some Skype clients received delayed responses from the overloaded servers. In a version of the Skype for Windows client (version 5.0.0152), the delayed responses from the overloaded servers were not properly processed, causing Windows clients running the affected version to crash.

Users running either the latest Skype for Windows (version 5.0.0.156), older versions of Skype for Windows (4.0 versions), Skype for Mac, Skype for iPhone, Skype on your TV, and Skype Connect or Skype Manager for enterprises were not affected by this initial problem.

However, around 50% of all Skype users globally were running the 5.0.0.152 version of Skype for Windows, and the crashes caused approximately 40% of those clients to fail. These clients included 25–30% of the publicly available supernodes, also failed as a result.

Along with its official mea culpa, Skype has begun sending emails to some of the affected users offering a $1 service credit. Skype asserts that it has taken measures to prevents such an outage from happening again. More →

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mobile
December 29, 2010
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Skype teases upcoming mobile video sharing solution

By on December 29, 2010 at 11:32 AM.

Skype teases upcoming mobile video sharing solution

Skype put up a new teaser site Wednesday that suggests a new mobile video sharing feature may be introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show next week. Under the heading “I wish I could share moments like these,” the site displays various videos presumably recorded on cell phones. Unfortunately, it appears as though this imminent mobile video solution from Skype may be a video sharing product, where users can record video clips and then share them with contacts. Mobile video sharing solutions are quite old at this point, and consumer interest has moved toward live mobile video chat such as Apple’s FaceTime and the Qik video chat application found on various Android devices. The specifics of Skype’s mobile video offering are still a mystery, however, so let’s hope the chat and VoIP giant has something a bit more modern in store for us at CES.

[Via Gizmodo] More →

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Software
December 9, 2010
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Skype updates Symbian client for N8, C7, E5 handsets

By on December 9, 2010 at 4:11 AM.

Skype updates Symbian client for N8, C7, E5 handsets

In a brief blog post, internet communication company Skype announced an updated client for newer Symbian smartphones (formerly known as Symbian^3). The updated app will run on Nokia’s N8, C7, and E5 handsets, bringing free Skype-to-Skype calls, Skype Out, and text-chats to the Finnish handset maker’s latest and greatest. The post highlights the Skype’s SILK codec, which will “make sure calls are crystal clear, even when on a low-bandwidth connections.” If you’re a Symbian user and are interested in picking up the new goodies, you can direct your phone’s browser to skype.com/m. More →

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General
December 4, 2010
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Skype gearing up for a huge cloud-based offering?

By on December 4, 2010 at 10:53 AM.

Skype gearing up for a huge cloud-based offering?

TechCrunch is reporting that popular voice service, Skype, is gearing up for a big cloud-based play. This would presumably include web-based voice-calling, and possibly even video and chat services as well. In addition to the web move, it seems that Skype is starting to focus and set the company’s sights on the enterprise world. With Google Voice now available for Google Apps customers (and some sort of Enterprise-styled Google Voice service possibly coming soon), we’re wondering Skype’s next move here. TechCrunch throws out the concept of having Skype possibly integrated into Microsoft’s cloud offerings, or even possibly extending the Skype relationship with Facebook into something much larger. More →

8 Comments
Software
November 23, 2010
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Verizon Wireless adds Skype support to Crux, Octane, and Zeal handsets

By on November 23, 2010 at 3:33 AM.

Verizon Wireless adds Skype support to Crux, Octane, and Zeal handsets

Just in time for the holidays, Verizon Wireless has announced the addition of the Pantech Crux, LG Octane, and Samsung Zeal to its list of supported Skype mobile phones. As the press release reads: “Skype mobile, now available on more than 20 Verizon Wireless phones, including select prepaid smartphones, makes celebrating the holidays simple especially for customers who are far away from their friends and families.” Those interested can text SKYPE to 2255 or visit the Get It Now application on your handset. More →

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Software
November 4, 2010
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Skype 5 beta for Mac now available

By on November 4, 2010 at 10:18 AM.

Skype 5 beta for Mac now available

Today, Skype announced that a beta version of its chat software, Skpe 5.0 beta, is now available for Mac users. The software has several new features, including:

• New call control bar — Hang up, mute and more from a mini Skype toolbar that sits on top of any web pages, documents or photos you’ve got open
• Search chat content to easily navigate past conversations
• Offline IM so that you can send and receive instant messages even if the recipient is offline
• Personalise contacts via user profiles
• Quickly rejoin calls if your Internet connection fails momentarily
• Floating Contacts Monitor to see your online contacts and contact groups

The updated client brings the company’s Mac offering more inline with its Windows counterpart. Hit the read link for all the info. More →

3 Comments
Tablets
November 2, 2010
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No Skype over 3G for Verizon Wireless Samsung Galaxy Tab

By on November 2, 2010 at 7:30 PM.

No Skype over 3G for Verizon Wireless Samsung Galaxy Tab

PCMag.com is reporting that Verizon Wireless’ Samsung Galaxy Tab will be able to utilize Skype voice-calling, but the service will “only work over Wi-Fi.” The report cites Skype as the first-hand source of the information. Currently, Verizon’s Android smartphones are pre-loaded with a special version of the VoIP calling and chat client that allows users to place Skype calls over Verizon’s 3G data network. It is unclear whether this decision was based on a technical hurdle or procedural red-tape. Regardless, it looks like your 5GB monthly data allowance will not be consumed by Skype usage. More →

14 Comments
Breaking
October 19, 2010
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HP announces Palm Pre 2, webOS 2.0

By on October 19, 2010 at 9:49 AM.

HP announces Palm Pre 2, webOS 2.0

The news doesn’t come as much of a surprise following a series of leaks, but HP finally made the Palm Pre 2 and accompanying webOS 2.0 official this morning. Starting with the latter, the newest iteration of Palm’s highly acclaimed OS boasts features such as “True Multitasking” (zing!), “Just Type”, the rebranded “HP Synergy” and more. WebOS 2.0 also introduces us to “Exhibition”, a feature that allows apps to trigger events when a Palm phone is placed on a Touchstone dock or removed from the dock. As for the Palm Pre 2, there are really no surprises as far as specs are concerned. The rumored 1 GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera and glass touchscreen are all present and accounted for. Further details are scarce, so the only surprise is the fact that the Pre 2 will launch this Friday, October 22, in France. U.S. availability is still unclear, unfortunately — HP says the handset will launch “in the coming months” from Verizon Wireless.

Of course most were hoping for a more significant hardware refresh when HP’s first post-Palm smartphone announcement came around, but we have to start somewhere. Hit the jump for the full press release with all the juicy details.

UPDATE: More specs for the Plam Pre 2 are now available. Highlights include a 3.1-inch HVGA multitouch glass display, 16GB of internal storage, GPS, Exchange support, an accelerometer, ambient light and proximity sensors, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 3.5mm audio port. More →

62 Comments
General
October 14, 2010
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Skype 5.0 launches, adds Facebook integration and group video

By on October 14, 2010 at 10:12 AM.

Skype 5.0 launches, adds Facebook integration and group video

Today, internet calling giant Skype announced that the new version of its Windows client — Skype 5.0 — is now available to the general public. The new code brings with it a cleaner, redesigned interface, automatic call recovery, Facebook integration, and group video chat. The new software is available as we type at skype.com; there is a short video walk-through of the new features waiting for you after the break. More →

12 Comments
Software
October 5, 2010
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Skype now available for all Android devices, Wi-Fi only in U.S.

By on October 5, 2010 at 7:19 AM.

Skype now available for all Android devices, Wi-Fi only in U.S.

If you’re an Android using Skype-lover, the day you’ve been waiting for has come. The iron-fisted grip Verizon Wireless previously had on Skype has been relinquished and the popular internet communication application is now available in the Android Market for all devices running 2.1 or higher. With the addition of Android, we are pleased that Skype is now available on three of the most popular mobile platforms today: Android, iOS and Symbian,” said the company’s product manager Mark Douglas. There is however, one catch: “In the US, Skype for Android works over WiFi only.” So sad. What do you think? Is Skype still useful for you if you have to be within range of a Wi-Fi network? More →

45 Comments
General
September 29, 2010
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Facebook and Skype to integrate voice, SMS, and Facebook Connect

By on September 29, 2010 at 10:02 AM.

Facebook and Skype to integrate voice, SMS, and Facebook Connect

AllThingsD is reporting that social networking giant Facebook and internet communications company Skype are planning to announce a “wide-ranging partnership that will include integration of SMS, voice chat and Facebook Connect.” The blog cites “sources close to the situation” and goes on to explain that the partnership will allow users to SMS and call Facebook friends (both video and audio) from Skype. The report states that this functionality will appear in Skype 5.0; which is due out of beta in the several weeks. Both Skype and Facebook have over 500 million registered users respectively making this a blockbuster partnership. More →

18 Comments
Software
August 18, 2010
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Skype mobile application to run on Verizon Wireless BREW feature phones

By on August 18, 2010 at 3:46 PM.

Skype mobile application to run on Verizon Wireless BREW feature phones

It looks like Skype and Verizon Wireless have inked another deal to bring the Skype mobile application to more Verizon devices. In a blog post today, Skype announced they are “expanding the Skype mobile application onto a variety of Multimedia 3G phones with an app based on the BREW platform, including the LG enV TOUCH, LG Chocolate Touch and Samsung Reality.” The post boasts: “The Skype mobile app for Verizon Wireless 3G Multimedia phones works the same way it does on the carrier’s smartphones, letting you make free calls to friends and family on Skype, great value calls to landlines and mobile phones overseas, and send IMs to people on Skype anywhere in the world.” If you’re interested in getting Skype, you can text SKYPE to 2255 or visit the Media Center on your VZW BREW device. We’ve got the full announcement all linked up for you. More →

22 Comments
TV
August 17, 2010
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Panasonic adds Twitter functionality to HDTVs

By on August 17, 2010 at 9:40 PM.

Panasonic adds Twitter functionality to HDTVs

Today, Panasonic announced that they will add Twitter to the list of built-in web entertainment technologies on their VIERA CAST enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray disc players. The company already offers Skype, Netflix, Pandora, Fox Sports, Amazon Video-On-Demand, YouTube, Picasa, Bloomberg, and weather services on VIERA televisions with the IPTV functionality built-in. Panasonic’s VP of corporate development had this to say:

Since we introduced Panasonic VIERA CAST IPTVs three years ago we have added more and more of the top entertainment and social networking sites in the world. The addition of Twitter to VIERA CAST further strengthens the interactive options Panasonic VIERA HDTV owners can now use to communicate with family and friends worldwide.   Consumers with VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVS can now tweet on Twitter, video chat via Skype, share videos on YouTube and digital photos via Google Picasa right from the comfort of their living rooms.”

Maybe the future of HDTV isn’t in 3D and ridiculous refresh rates… maybe it’s applications? We’ve got the full press release for you after the break. Let us know if functionality like this is something that interests you, or if you think it is just something that will get in the way of your television-viewing enjoyment. More →

18 Comments