Esna Technologies has added Skype VoIP/Video support to its market leading unified communication desktop software, UC Link. As part of its ongoing goal for interoperability and Rich communication and collaboration tools, Esnatech has integrated its UC Link desktop software with Skype VoIP and Video services for enhanced real-time communication services. Users of the Esnatech Telephony Office-LinX UC platform will have their live Skype VoIP & Video status tied into existing office infrastructure and applications so other users can see if they are available or not, on their office telephone, or off the network. It will bridge the Skype VoIP/Video world with Enterprise telephony and Groupware status.

Voxbone announces that its geographically-independent number service, iNum, now supports HD calling between dozens of VoIP networks and Skype, the global leader in Internet communications.

Greatly expanding availability of emerging HD voice technology, Voxbone will transcode, or translate, between Skype's super-wideband SILK codec and the widely deployed HD codec, G.722, Voxbone announced at eComm Europe 2009.

Skype announced the selection of Net-Net OS-Enterprise session border controllers from Acme Packet for its Skype for SIP beta offering. Acme Packet is the leader in session border contro solutions and the sole SBC partner for the Skype for SIP beta program.

Skype’s deployment of Acme Packet’s SBC simplifies the interoperability and feature compatibility of the Skype for SIP beta offering with enterprise IP-PBX equipment and next-generation unified communications platforms which utilize the SIP standard. As a result, Skype for SIP will allow those enterprises with an on-premise IP PBX to take advantage of an innovative IP-enabled communications tool and to benefit from end-to-end interoperability. The implementation of an SBC by Skype as part of the Skype for SIP beta program also enables the delivery of high-quality, real-time interactive communications, while minimizing the exposure to risks for those companies who sign up for the trial.

InnerPass announces that the number of Skype users leveraging InnerPass to share and collaborate has passed 1.5 million. InnerPass is the only business application to combine meetings, Internet communications via Skype, and persistent file sharing and storage. InnerPass adoption using Skype has been doubling every 60 days and currently serves over 30,000 users a day with persistent business collaboration services.

Skype announces the beta version of Skype for SIP has been certified as interoperable with the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series for Small Business. This will enable small and medium-sized businesses who manage their networking and communications needs with this affordable UC solution to communicate more efficiently by directing their outbound calls to mobiles and landlines via Skype, while also allowing them to receive inbound calls from Skype users.

Skype and ShoreTel announces interoperability between ShoreTel's UC system and the beta version of Skype for SIP. ShoreTel is the world's first UC vendor to achieve interoperability with Skype for SIP. The nearly 11,000 ShoreTel enterprise customers can now register to try Skype for SIP in beta, giving them the opportunity to save money, save time and stay ahead by integrating Skype into their communications portfolios.

eBay has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Skype communications unit in a deal valuing the business at $2.75 billion. The buyer, who will control an approximately 65 percent stake, is an investor group led by Silver Lake and includes Index Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. eBay is expected to receive approximately $1.9 billion in cash upon the completion of the sale and a note from the buyer in the principal amount of $125 million. The company will retain an approximately 35 percent equity investment in Skype. The transaction, which is not subject to a financing condition, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Skype announces it is providing users with a greater amount of sharing and collaboration than ever before. Skype’s latest free feature, screen sharing, is now widely available for both Mac and Windows users. It allows callers on Skype to easily share what is on their screen, simply by calling another Skype contact and showing all or part of their screen to the other person, at no cost. For business users, screen sharing is a great feature for sharing a presentation, showing a demo or collaborating on a document. For consumers, it’s an easy way to share photos, videos or other creative projects.

IPEVO announces that 18 USO centers across the Pacific Region will deploy its S0-10 Skype Desktop Phone and S0-20 Wi-Fi Phone for Skype devices. Using Skype and the IPEVO phones, more than 890,000 troops and their families that use the centers each year will now have a free communications link back home, without the need for a computer to make calls.

Virgin America is the first and only airline to offer Gogo In-flight Internet service on every flight. As of today, guests on any of Virgin America's 100 daily flights have the option to surf the Web, check e-mail, or log on to their corporate VPN - all from the comfort of their seats at 37,000 feet. Virgin America marks this in-flight WiFi milestone with another first for an airline: an air-to-ground Skype video call with Oprah Winfrey which will air this Thursday, May 21 on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Skype for iPhone, will be available on the Apple App Store beginning today. The app also adds Skype calling and instant messaging to any second generation iPod touch with a compatible headset and microphone.

“Skype software for the iPhone has been the number one request among our users. We are delighted to deliver on this request and put Skype into the pockets of millions of people around the world who are carrying iPhone and iPod touch devices,” said Scott Durchslag, Skype’s Chief Operating Officer. “Skype for iPhone will open up new ways for more than 400 million Skype users to stay connected and take their Skype conversations with them. Skype for iPhone is an experience that offers the same simplicity, ease-of-use and quality our users have come to expect from Skype, combined with an elegance of design and richness so loved by Apple’s many customers worldwide.”

Skype announces the beta version of Skype For SIP for Business users. SIP, short for Session Initiation Protocol, is an open standard and the leading voice over Internet protocol used in businesses telephony networks at millions of locations globally. According to IDC, 438,000 IP PBXes were shipped worldwide in 2008.

Plantronics introduced the Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Stereo Headset for PC-based communications and multimedia. The .Audio 655 is the industry's first headset to take full advantage of the crystal clear audio quality of calls in the all-new version of Skype for Windows.

The .Audio 655 is the first headset certified to work with Skype's new SILK speech codec, which was introduced earlier this year. This new audio codec delivers exceptionally clear conversations and achieves wideband audio quality (16kHz) using 50 percent less network bandwidth than previously required. Moreover, it introduces a new standard for speech quality -- super wideband audio (24kHz) -- which delivers crystal clear, richer and warmer sound to those using a compatible headset and a high quality broadband connection. Skype's bandwidth manager interacts with the codec to adjust quickly to fluctuating bandwidth conditions to produce the most reliable sound.

SpinVox launches voicemail to text conversion for all Skype voicemail users. SpinVox conveniently converts voice messages to text in English, Spanish, French and German. The messages are then sent by Skype as an SMS text directly to a designated mobile phone for users to read.

Skype and Nokia announce a partnership that will bring the world’s leading Internet communications experience to the Nokia range of mobile computers. Under the terms of the cooperation, Skype will be integrated into Nokia devices, starting with the Nokia Nseries. The Nokia N97 flagship device will be the first to incorporate the Skype experience in the 3rd quarter of 2009.

The Skype experience will be part of the address book of the Nokia N97, enabling presence – seeing when Skype contacts are online – as well as instant messaging. Nokia N97 owners around the world will also be able to use 3G and WLAN to easily make and receive free Skype-to-Skype voice calls, in addition to low-cost Skype calls to landlines and mobile devices.