Skype has released a new version, 3.8.0139, which fixes a security vulnerability. However, when we last checked, it was not available via the Check for Updates option within the client, and required a manual download. If you worry about things like this, you might want to head off to the Skype download page to pick up the new version today.
We don’t cover many new software applications for the Mac, something we hope to resolve over the coming months, but as we already cover the other Skype platforms, we feel we should give a passing mention to the new Skype for Mac. This adds better support for NAT-PMP and UPnP, which should mean it’ll cope with a wider variety of routers. It also adds support for authenticating proxies, which are common in some university environments, and lots of bugfixes (listed here). Download from Skype directly.
Skype have updated their Windows client to v3.8, which significantly reduces background noise, offers less delay, fewer call drops, and fewer cut-outs. Also, if you change your headset, headphones or microphone, there’s no need to mess around with sound settings, as v3.8 takes care of it behind the scenes. They’ve also implemented their own uPNP functions, which should be more reliable, and fixed a number of bugs (crashes, problems with Vista, and failing to change to Away). Also, as some people were using offensive images, a new friend request will no longer show the requestor’s profile image by default.
The new version is available from Skype’s download page.
According to an article by Fresh Plastic, the 3 SkypePhone is now available at both Woolworths and Sainsburys at just £39.99 on PAYG. Even better value, this includes a £10 TopUp credit, reducing the real cost. We’ve been a fan of the 3 SkypePhone since launch, and since then 3 have made a small, but significant change to Internet Access. For 50p a day, £2.50 a week, or £5 a month you have always been able to access the Internet direct from the phone, but for the last few months, 3 have opened up a new option for customers; Mobile Broadband.
Mobile Broadband costs £10 per month, but importantly allows you (under the T&Cs) to connect your PC through the 3 SkypePhone to access the internet. Technically, the cheaper Internet Access is limited to direct access from the mobile itself, and this limitation is removed for the Mobile Broadband option. Now, some people question whether this is worth the extra £5, given the fact that the same £10 also buys you 30 days credit for a PAYG USB Modem too. Well, remember that it also gives you free Skype access on the 3 SkypePhone, and with the ability to configure the phone to provide the PC access via Bluetooth, then you can have the same access without anything attached to a Bluetooth capable laptop. For many, this Skype access makes the 3 SkypePhone better value. Even if you only topup with £10 per month, and use this all for mobile data (ie you don’t use it for phone calls) the device will feel useful because of the Skype access. Of course, looking at the other point of view, the 3 USB Modem will get higher data speeds, so that may be a deciding factor for that option instead.
Price drop story courtesy Fresh Plastic [Via 3mobilebuzz]
After the launch of the Skype Mobile Beta last week, Darla Mack has given the software a thorough review, which can be read here. As Darla is in the US, the prices are all US prices, but you’ll still get a good feel for the application. Of course, you may decide a 3 SkypePhone is a better option, and certainly offers a cheaper way of bringing Skype to a mobile phone.
After a long wait, Skype have released a beta version of their mobile client. This is a Java app, which gives them a good range of compatibility across many handsets, but does not provide an integrated solution for Symbian or Windows Mobile users that many would like. Also, although it uses the internet data connection for presence and IM messaging, it makes a traditional phone call to connect into the Skype infrastructure to get VOIP connectivity, so there is still a real cost to these calls (if only that they will come out of your inclusive minutes). Skype even advertise it as “no WiFi needed”, but fail to mention that it really can’t take true advantage of a WiFi connection, even if you have one. Overall, Skype themselves hint that the 3 SkypePhone might be a better solution for many, and right now, I think I agree.
More details direct from Skype.
For only £2.24 per month (including VAT), Skype are now offering unlimited (*) calls to a single country (which in terms of the UK means calls to 01 and 02 numbers only). This is quite a good price. If you ring lots of other European countries, then for £3.39 per month you can have unlimited (*) calls to 20 European countries. Finally, for £7.99 per month you can call 34 countries, including the US and Canada (both of which also include calls to mobiles in the deal). The deal also includes free Voicemail.
(*) Like many many badly worded deals, it’s not unlimited at all. It’s capped at 10,000 minutes per month (although that does equate to something like 5.5 hours a day across the whole month).
Here’s an interesting view of 3’s data usage. It’s interesting for two reasons; firstly as it’s rare for a network to release information like this, and second as it shows the impact the release of their USB Modem solutions has had on their network. The six month period covers the release of the 3 SkypePhone and the increased marketing behind their USB Modems.
In other news, the 3 SkypePhone is currently on special offer at 3 - you can (for a short time) get the phone for free on a 6 month contract (instead of the more normal 12 or 18 month contracts). Even better, this 6 month contract is enough to qualify you for half price mobile broadband, although you will need to keep the contract running to benefit from the reduced mobile broadband pricing.
Data network story courtesy of The Inquirer [Via Tech Digest]
Although you’ll need a jailbroken iPhone (until we get the formal SDK and new firmware), fring is now available for the iPhone, bringing support for VOIP calls (Skype), and IM (MSN Messenger, ICQ, GTalk, AIM, and Yahoo!). More details, including how to setup the pre-release version, are available from fring.
Skype have already updated their v2 Skype for Linux client. They have added uPNP support (allowing better connectivity options for those behind a NAT device), and fixed a couple of key bugs:
In case you missed it, a week or two back Skype released a major update to their Linux Skype client, with builds available for for Ubuntu, Debian Etch, Xandros, Fedora, OpenSUSE, Mandriva and Centros. As well as numerous bug fixed, the main new feature is the support for video calls, which brings the Linux version in line with the Windows and Mac versions.
Panasonic have just released this in Japan. It’s a Skype phone, but the interesting feature is that it also contains a FON hotspot and the handset uses WiFi to connect. This means once you configure this new FON hotspot, and add the details into the handset, you can take the handset with you and then connect via any FON hotspot and still make and receive Skype calls. It’s not got the convenience of the 3 SkypePhone, but does show a good example of technology convergence.
No details on availability outside Japan have yet been announced, but we think Panasonic will soon be selling this worldwide.
According to Symbian Freak, we may see the launch of a native Skype application for the Nokia Series60 smartphones in the next week or two. Although we’ve seen many solutions that have enabled access to Skype on a mobile (eg Fring), a native Skype app may be even more useful for people at home on WiFi connections. Apparently, there’s a chance the app won’t be released directly by Skype, although no one is yet telling the name of the company who will release it.
As discussed before here, Sony have now (finally) released the new PSP-Lite firmware (v3.90) which includes Skype support. You additionally need the PSP Skype Headset. This offers a full Skype experience, including SkypeIN and SkypeOUT. It is currently only available via the Network Update facility direct on the device, but a PC download option should appear soon.
According to Engadget, Sony has had to delay the launch of their Skype service, as the hardware involved failed Skype certification. This should only be a delay of a few weeks.
At CES, a new term seems to have been common - MID. MID is a Mobile Internet Device, and according to Intel, the big difference (compared to UMPC devices) will be that although UMPC devices are high spec units running full OS (eg Windows XP), MID devices are lower spec devices running Linux. Intel will be supplying the chips and chipsets, and various manufacturers will be producing the actual devices, but they are likely to have touchscreens, WiFi (and/or WiMax), and will run Mobile Internet Linux. Skype have confirmed that their Skype client will come preinstalled on these devices. For those devices with webcams, Skype video will also be supported.
These devices are similar to the Nokia Internet Tablets, which already supports Skype, and with Skype coming to PSPs, and the 3 SkypePhone, Skype seem to be bringing their proprietary client to many different platforms.
Everex have announced their Cloudbook PC, which is a rival to the Eee PC. This includes the gOS Operating System (a Google optimised version of Ubuntu). It has a 1.2Ghz VIA processor, 512Mb memory, 30Gb Hard Drive, DVI output, 4-in-1 media card reader, a1.3 megapixel camer, and should last up to 5 hours. It has WiFi, and like the Eee PC, does not have Bluetooth.
The preinstalled software includes Firefox, gMail, Meebo, Skype, Google Documents & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, Google News, Google Maps, Wikipedia, Google Product Search, GIMP, Blogger, YouTube, Xine Movie Player, RhythmBox, Faqly, Facebook and OpenOffice.org 2.3 (includes WRITER, IMPRESS, MATH, DRAW).
It will be available before the end of the month in the US, no UK availability information has been announced.
Sony have confirmed that Skype will be coming to the PSP-Slim via a firmware update later this month, but that it will not be available on the original PSP.
The Skype functionality includes SkypeIN and SkypeOUT though, which the 3 Skypephone doesn’t have.
