AltiGen Communications and VoSKY announce a partnership bringing advanced Skype-based applications and cost savings to AltiGen’s VoIP solutions for call centers. The addition of the VoSKY Exchange VoIP application gateway to AltiGen’s complete line of VoIP Phone Systems will equip call centers with a new remote agent, Web Click2Call, VoIP trunking and global DID functionality utilizing Skype, the world’s largest VoIP network.

VoSKY Exchange is a Skype-certified plug-and-play rackmount appliance that adds enhanced Skype-based VoIP applications as well as Skype trunks to AltiGen’s complete line of VoIP Phone Systems through analog FXS ports, eliminating the need to use PCs or headsets for Skype calls. When deployed as part of an AltiGen call center solution, VoSKY Exchange offers four key enhancements to AltiGen’s robust call routing and management capabilities. These include:

Skype has reached a new milestone of 100,000,000,000 minutes of VoIP phone calls on the Skype network. Since its launch in 2003, the VoIP service has attracted 276 million users and was purchased by Ebay for $4.3 billion in 2005. However, Ebay admitted last year that it had paid too much in purchasing Skype.

eMotive Communications launches RingJam 2.0 for Skype Extras. The company also partnered with Universal Music Group to give RingJam 2.0 users access to UMG's market-leading digital music catalog. This features chart-topping artists including Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, U2, Fergie, Abba and Ella Fitzgerald, among thousands of others.

Also as part of the RingJam 2.0 launch, Skype Extra users will now be able to call friends and announce themselves using video clips provided by Guinness World Records, Fun Little Movies and StupidVideos.com.

Domestic and business Skype users in London are still reeling from the announcement that they are being ditched on the 20th December, but now a free rescue package has been put together by a leading UK based VOIP technology company. Voipfone will be offering to help the anticipated 10,000 Skype users with London 0207 numbers who have been informed that as of 20th December 2007 they are having their numbers disconnected. Those who take up the offer will also discover that once they have switched over they will pay less than they currently do via Skype.

A free-phone rescue helpline has been set up by Voipfone to help Skype customers easily switch over their 0207 numbers; 0800 5200 949.

Challenger Mobile has received a heightened level of interest in the company´s turnkey white-label Mobile VoIP platform from wireless carriers and service providers across the globe since the Hutchison 3/Skypephone joint service announcement on October 29, 2007.

In their joint press release, Hutchison 3 (branded as 3) and Skype announced a partnership in which Skype users in a limited seven-country geography can sign-up for 3G mobile service on 3´s network, after which they can place free Skype calls to other Skype users. To receive free Skype-to-Skype calling, users with existing mobile phone service must either switch their account to 3, or purchase and carry a second, Skype-enabled handset, and sign a contract with Hutchison 3 to handle the billing for all non-Skype calls. If a user is outside of Hutchison 3´s network, roaming charges apply, which can be exorbitantly expensive. The Skypephone is dual-band and will not function in the United States.

Skype and 3 have launched a new affordable handset that lets you make free Skype to Skype calls and send free Skype instant messages from your mobile phone to other Skype users no matter where they are. The 3 Skypephone is a fully-featured 3G Internet phone with Skype built-in. In addition to Skype calls the phone makes conventional calls and can be used to access 3's broad range of other internet services.

3 Skypephone functionality:

With 3G, a 2-megapixel camera, mp3 player, mobile TV and internet, 3 Skypephone keeps you occupied even when you run out of things to say. Plus, it's small and shiny, and comes in black or white, with blue or pink trim. 3 Skypephone also includes:

• Fully integrated Skype functionality with contacts, call logs and presence.
• Access to Java and 3D games and two preloaded games
• 2.0 Megapixel camera
• Internet browsing
• Bluetooth
• Weight: 86g
• Size: 100 x 44 x 13.6mm
• Battery Standby: 320 Hours
• Battery Talk Time: 270 Minutes
• Battery Video Talk Time: 170 Minutes
• Screen Size: 2.0” QCIF (176 x 220)
• Colour: 262K
• Internal Memory: 16MB
• External Memory: expandable to 1GB microSD

MySpace and Skype announce a partnership to empower the MySpace community with voice communications. With more than 110 million monthly active MySpace users and 220 million Skype registered users around the world, this partnership connects two of the most popular communications platforms on the Internet to create the world’s largest online, voice-connected community.

The announcement unveils MySpaceIM with Skype, a new product that integrates MySpace’s popular IM client—currently the world’s fastest-growing IM platform with more than 25 million installed users—with Skype’s free, high-quality voice-calling capability. The partnership will also enable users to link their MySpace profiles and photos or avatars to their accounts on Skype. Both products will be available to users starting in November.

I just noticed a new Skype press release "Skype and Wal-Mart Partner to Bring Internet Communications to the Masses", floating around that reads nearly the same as the one they put out on May 14th and was reported on here at VoIP Monitor. This isn't new information to avid readers and writers on VoIP related news, but perhaps the masses weren't buying enough Skype minutes at Wal-Mart checkout lane. Perhaps it's a last ditch attempt to get the word out to customers before pulling the plug on this partnership. Share your thoughts or let us know if you've actually purchased Skype minutes or products from a Wal-Mart.

This is a video review of the Philips 841 VOIP Phone. This is a great phone with many cool features and is recommended to any one that has and uses Skype. The VOIP841 is the first DECT cordless phone with Skype that works without a PC, offering consumers total flexibility and independence from the PC. A full color graphic display and outstanding sound clarity bring the emotion back to calls.

Skype users can now make conversations even more fun-packed by sharing video content with their friends and family across the world. Following new partnerships with leading independent video sharing sites Dailymotion and Metacafe, Skype 3.5 for Windows lets you download your favourite videos from these sites and add them into your Skype ‘mood’, giving colour and personality to your online profile.

User’s moods are a way of sharing your feelings with friends and family and are becoming increasingly popular in the Skype community because they are a simple, more personalized way to share all sorts of things with other Skype contacts.

It appears that Skype was convicted for selling a VoIP phone, the SMCWSKP 100, made by SMC Networks, which uses the Linux kernel, without also supplying the source code, which is a prerequisite of GPLv2.

Skype apparently tried to rectify its mistake by providing a pamphlet with the packaging that provided a URL to where the source code could be obtained. However, that was not enough to satisfy the open source purists that brought the matter to the attention of the German court nor the court itself.

Summaries of the proceedings can be found here and here - translations from German to English over the net are a bit dicey but the gist of the matter is reasonably clear if you use Alta Vista's Babelfish.

In short, anyone who sells a Linux-based product must provide the source code with the product or face the consequences in the country in which it is sold. At least that's the case in Germany.

Exactly what punishment Skype can expect to suffer for its transgression, however, is not exactly clear.

Skype is now available on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, bringing Skype conversations anywhere in the world where there is an available wireless internet connection (WiFi). Skype for the Nokia N800 will be available for download for existing users. There will also be Skype download links on the latest release of Nokia N800 devices which will be available at retail and on the Skype online store. From coffee shops and public parks to offices to hotels or even on the beach - users will now be able to make Skype calls anywhere they can find a WiFi hotspot.

VoSKY announces the availability of its VoSKY Ultimate BizPak, which combines the new Skype Small Business Pack with its Skype co-branded PBX-to-Skype Gateways to make it even easier for SMBs to use Skype in the business environment.

Skype VoSKY Exchange gateways allow SMBs to improve communication and collaboration while reducing communications costs. With Skype Pro, businesses are able to make zero per minute rated landline calls within UK from standard office phones attached to the company PBX. Connection fees apply. They will also open up SMBs to new opportunities, and enhance interaction with customers and partners that are part of a potential market of 196 million Skype users.

Skype has selected Teleglobe voice termination services to provide call termination for SkypeOut, a feature in Skype software that allows users to make cheap calls to landlines and mobiles around the world.

Skype connects to VSNL’s international global network via the Teleglobe VoIPLink service, a redundant, scalable and cost-effective way to exchange VoIP traffic worldwide, that facilitates interoperability, quality and codec support. SkypeOut is terminated using the Teleglobe Voice Termination Service, assuring high-quality retail voice termination for SkypeOut users.

SoundTech announces the LightSnake Internet Chat, a USB headset with microphone that offers computer users one solution for many multimedia audio and voice applications. The LightSnake Internet Chat features SoundTech's patented "Live when Lit" technology that glows when connected and flashes when sound is being transmitted.

The LightSnake Internet Chat is ideal for anyone who participates in multiplayer gaming or voice chats over the Internet. The Internet Chat features clear, crisp audio and in-line volume controls perfect for listening to music or for VoIP calls with services such as Skype. In the office the Internet Chat built-in microphone can be used for voice input on videoconferences or speech recognition applications.

The LightSnake Internet Chat is fully plug-and-play compatible with a Mac or PC* -- no driver installs are necessary. In addition, the Internet Chat features a stereo output allowing a favorite pair of headphones or powered speakers to be used in place of the included Internet Chat ear buds.