Intel to sponsor free Mother's Day Skype calling

Skype and Intel today announced a joint promotion to promote Internet calling. Consumers in the U.S. and Canada will be able to place free SkypeOut calls to any landline or mobile number around the world on Mother's Day (May 13, 2007).

Intel said it is sponsoring the "Gift of Gab" promotion as a way to demonstrate how audio and video calling are optimized when using PCs powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The company said Skype conference calls are now clearer and users’ PCs more responsive during calls due to collaborative efforts between Intel and Skype engineers.

More information about the “Gift of Gab” is available at www.skype.com/go/giftofgab.

Skype moves beyond voice with biz guide and paid advice services

Skype today announced Skype 3.1 for Windows which includes two new services that move Skype into applications beyond voice, video and text communications.

SkypeFind is a new, user-generated guide that lets the worldwide Skype community share, rate and review businesses. Users can add businesses along with a review and rating, search for businesses and place Skype calls to found businesses with the click of a button. Initially, SkypeFind will not allow for paid-for listings.

Skype Prime is a new way for people to sell their expertise, answers and advice to other Skype users. The service consists of Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls and includes a "convenient" payment feature. Skype Prime is in Beta and is described as "in the very early stages of its lifecycle". Skype Prime fees are paid using PayPal and subject to a 30% charge by Skype.

Skype and Symantec partner to offer online security

Skype and Symantec have partnered to offer Norton Internet Security and other security products. The products have been "Skype Certified" and will be available through Skype's website at a "special promotion" price.

Full Story on TG Daily.

Actiontec intros next-gen PBX/Skype gateways

Actiontec Electronics today announced a new generation of VoSKY Exchange, its Skype Certified family of PBX-to-Skype gateways.

VoSKY Exchange is a rack-mountable, PBX voice gateway that adds up to eight outgoing Skype lines to an office PBX without changes to existing PBX or phone equipment.

Skype adds on connection fees

If you are using Skype for PC-to-landline calls, you soon could find new and additional charges on your account: The company announced that it will be adding a connection fees to every "SkypeOut" call - in exchange for dropping per-minute charges on a new "SkypePro" package.

The change it usage fees is part of a new strategy to offer "a simple, convenient and cost-effective way for consumers worldwide to call landlines and mobiles over the Internet," Skype said in an announcement posted on Thursday. Initially focused on Europe, Skype decided to apply new pricing models to SkypeOut accounts worldwide during the 2007 calendar year.

Full story on TG Daily.

Netgear SPH200D Review: Wireless, computer-free Skype for homebodies

Skype to reach for TV market with Joost

Skype, the leader in voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP), has unveiled a project that will bring TV to computers and the Internet to TVs in a massive undertaking by the new Skype subsidiary Joost.

Previously known by the codename The Venice Project, Joost (pronounced "juiced") will initially focus on offering free ad-supported online video content that is submitted from content providers like record labels and TV networks.

Full story on TG Daily

Netgear intros standalone Skype / PSTN DECT phone

(Las Vegas) Netgear today announced its Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype.

The SPH200D is a dual-mode 1.9 GHz DECT cordless phone supporting both landline and Skype Internet calls without the need to be connected to a computer.

The base station has an Ethernet (RJ-45) port to connect to a network router and a PSTN (RJ11) connector to connect into a traditional telephone wall jack.

The base can support up to four cordless handsets (sold separately) but only one Skype or PSTN call at a time. The handset has a built-in speakerphone and color display, with an interface similar to that on Netgear's Wi-Fi Skype phone.

The SPH200D is available now at an MSRP of $199.99.

Linksys launches Skype iPhone

Linksys today launched a new phone that many expected to be announced by Apple in early January: A device with the name iPhone will be available from wireless equipment maker Linksys in the first quarter of next year.

But besides the name, there is little the Linksys device has in common with what we expected the iPhone to be. Instead of a cellphone with iPod functionality, the iPhone WIP320 is a Wi-Fi Skype phone that appears to be a clone to already released models from Netgear and Belkin.

Full story on TG Daily

Skype 3.0 officially released

Skype has officially released version 3.0 of its popular Internet chat program. Skype 3.0.0.190 is now available for download and includes several new features.

The program now plugs into Internet Explorer and users can make Skype calls to regular phone numbers with one click. Skype has also added a Skypecast feature where users can participate in moderated chats with up to a hundred people.

Full story on TG Daily