From the category archives:

Skype for Personal

Over the past week I have been experimenting with two relatively new features that build out the Skype video experience:

HD video using the recently released FREETALK® TALK-7140 HD webcam and Skype for Windows 4.2
Skype Group calling using the beta release of Skype for Windows 5.0

FREETALK® TALK-7140 HD Webcam
At a price point that makes [...]

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Categories Communications Technology, Skype For Business, Skype Hardware, Skype for Personal, Using Skype, Video calling

New Skype Subscriptions: The Reality

by Jim Courtney on Fri, May 7, 2010 7:05 pm

Yesterday Skype introduced new subscription or calling plan options that provide more flexibility in terms of matching a subscription option to an individual user’s specific needs. In summary:
Ongoing Plans
The previous local country, regional and worldwide calling plans remain in place with three two changes that I have encountered:

some price increases: for instance, while “Unlimited [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Service Providers, Skype News, Skype Operations, Skype for Personal, Using Skype

This morning Skype issued a press release, Call Your Friends and Family Anywhere in the World For Less, announcing new consumer calling plans (subscriptions) that cover over 170 countries and introduce more granularity into the choices such as calling time, termination country(ies) and plan period (1-, 3- and 12-month).
While still awaiting to see the [...]

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Categories Communications News, Mobile Applications, Skype News, Skype for Personal, Using Skype

Over the past six weeks I have attended four local social media and technology events – a PodCamp, a monthly social networking seminar, an annual project management ski day and  WordCamp Toronto 2010. At each I was able to bring along a few Skype Everyman headsets to be given away as prizes.
Prior to selecting [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Skype Bytes, Skype For Business, Skype for Personal, Using Skype, Voice On The Web

Three weeks ago Skype made available the “Gold” release of Skype 4.2 for Windows. In the interim I have had the opportunity to experience many of its new features, several of which I have found improve the call experience in somewhat subtle but very beneficial ways.
Call Quality Indicator
This is what I have found [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Conversation Providers, Skype For Business, Skype News, Skype for Personal, Using Skype

Yesterday’s announcement that Skype will become available as a supported service on Verizon Wireless has to have sent a tsunami through the wireless operator world. To review the offering:

A Skype client will be included on nine models of BlackBerry and Android smartphones in late March; current customers with these devices will be able to download [...]

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Categories Communications News, Embedded Skype, Mobile Devices, Skype News, Skype Partner Solutions, Skype Platform, Skype for Personal, Skype on Mobile, Using Skype, Wireless Carriers

“I thought you were on at 4 in the afternoon”, says a confused Manhattan Best Buy visitor. “No, we tape at 9 in the morning”, replies Oprah. “Oh, then Hi Oprah!”. Placing a Skype webcam setup in a Best Buy store found an adolescent customer who was looking for a Mother’s Day gift and [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Skype News, Skype for Personal, Using Skype

When attempting to “trash” a service via Comments to a post, make sure (i) you have made appropriate attempts to contact a service’s support operations and (ii) give them a chance to respond. A recent attempt to “trash” PamFax in a Comment turned out to be the result of the user attempting to fax [...]

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Categories Service Providers, Skype Partner Solutions, Skype for Personal, Using Skype

Voice On the Web’s Subscription Calling Plan page has been updated. Also Skype is offering a 25% discount on Skype Calling Plans if purchased prior to May 6, 2009.
Earlier this week Skype announced the addition of an “Unlimited Country” plan to the three plans available to Skype users in the U.S. and Canada.  At the [...]

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Categories Skype News, Skype for Personal, Using Skype, Voice On The Web

Thursday evening I was checking out Truphone’s latest release only to learn that their somewhat delayed version that provides access to Skype is still on hold. At that time I went browsing for other applications on the App Store and came across one that I have had previous experience with on the BlackBerry: IM+ [...]

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Categories Conversation Providers, Mobile Applications, Skype Partner News, Skype Partner Solutions, Skype for Personal, Skype on Mobile

Since its launch Tuesday, Skype for Windows 4.0 Gold has received some interesting coverage:

David Pogue, New York Times: in addition to his column discussed here yesterday, he has produced an amusing video: Skype 4.0: The Cheapskate where a video starring Mr. Cheapskate shows a Skype video session with his daughter, Kim Cheapskate, obviously a student. [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Skype News, Skype Software, Skype for Personal

Columnist David Pogue in a New York Time article reviewing Skype 4.0 starts with the AT&T video phone demonstrated at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and user experience from then. Not a lot of calls due to technical and psychological issues. He talks about why Skype has been so widely accepted (did he remind [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Skype News, Skype Software, Skype for Personal, Using Skype

Over the past eight months 1.2 million Skype users have participated in the Skype for Windows 4.0 beta program (stage 1, stage 2, stage 3). During this beta period, not only current user feedback was sought but also feedback from new users installing Skype for the first time. The goal was to provide a user [...]

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Categories Skype For Business, Skype News, Skype Software, Skype for Personal