This morning I received a chat message from TechCraver’s Jason Harris asking if I would take a video call. Little did I realize that this was not going to be a normal HD Skype video call like our last one.

Jason is a fan of the Nokia N900 mobile computer which has always supported Skype voice and chat; he had just downloaded the PR 1.2 version of firmware and learned that it included support for Skype video.

So he called me; I answered on my Skype for Windows 4.2 client and found that it was initiating a Skype video call. Very shortly Jason appeared in full motion video using the N900’s front facing camera with VGA resolution. Occasionally the picture froze but quickly recovered. At my end I was using the new FREETALK Everyman HD webcam.

Here’s what impressed:

• coming from such a small device the video quality was certainly acceptable – from the Call Technical Info I was receiving him at 320 x 240 resolution
• the call was supported by the G729 voice codec, the same voice codec used by the currently available version of Skype for iPhone.
• the N900 was using a H264 video codec sending me 320 x 240 at 14 fps – obviously embedded in the new firmware (if not in earlier firmware);
• My video was also going out over the H264 video processor embedded in the Everyman HD at 160 x 120 resolution at 19 fps. When you look at the image Jason was receiving you can see why it would be at such a low resolution.
• the call was being handled at his end by T-Mobile’s 3G network

Now the Skype for Windows Call Quality Indicator was showing a poor quality network connection; that has to be a result of the 3G wireless end as I had just completed an HD video call to Europe with its demands for a minimum 1.2 Mbps upload speed.

Bottom line: For personal video calling this certainly is a good start. As mentioned in a previous post we should be seeing such calling on the iPhone (and iPad) later this year. It certainly has to open the question as to whether Skype is now developing a Skype video calling feature for Skype for iPhone (especially given the new features available in iPhone OS 4.0, such as multi-tasking). And will the new version of iPhone support H264 video codecs?

And my thanks to Jason for asking me to participate in this quasi-history making 3G mobile Skype call.

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At CES 2010 last month I had the opportunity to record interviews with Skype CEO Josh Silverman as well as Russ Shaw, Vice President and General Manager of Skype Mobile and EMEA, and Matt Jordan, Enterprise Business Development Manager.

In this second interview Russ Shaw covers a wide range of questions about Skype on different mobile phones, the business model that complements wireless carriers’ goals and other challenges as Skype executes on its mobile component of “Skype Everywhere”.

In the first segment Russ discusses revenues from Skype for Mobile activities, execution on the Nokia agreement and the Sony Xperia, the challenges of working in the mobile ecosystem and carrier partnerships. Russ emphasizes that Skype for Mobile’s main goal is to get usage on as many mobile devices as possible as part of the Skype Everywhere goal.

In the second segment Russ discusses Skype for BlackBerry (announced last spring but still running a beta trial), their learnings from the beta and how to ensure a positive user experience. He then goes on to explain how Skype can provide a carrier partnership business model that, based on Skype’s experience with 3, can be a complement that builds a wireless carrier’s overall business. He then provides an analogy of how O2 used a freemium model to build their business around free offerings of music; free Skype-to-Skype calling is the basis of a freemium model for carriers. We go on to discuss Skype for Android in the next segment. This is followed by asking Russ to sum up what’s ahead for Skype on mobile smartphones.

But then I ask one closing question that would really support “Skype Everywhere” in a very common user situation; I can only supplement the discussion by pointing out that, when I get into my car, a Bluetooth-enabled BlackBerry is on my belt (with my Otter Box Defender case). And, during the discussion, Canadians will learn about one more Skype service coming soon to Canada.

Bottom line: Is 2010 the year we can access our Skype contacts worldwide from the majority of smartphones? How many carriers will really catch onto the “3” business model and adopt Skype as a formal offering? And will I be able to get into my car and simply say: “Call Russ Shaw on Skype” to make a hands-free Skype call from my mobile smartphone?

Update: As mentioned above Russ talks about the success with 3 using Skype and the Skypephone. Just prior to posting I learned that 3 has now logged 1 billion minutes of Skype-to-Skype calling. In their summary notes 3 states also that “Over 2m people use internet services like Skype on 3” out of their 4 million active UK customers. (BTW, this is not the only story I have heard about how Skype is helping to maintain communications with Haiti; I have seen a few Skype video calls as television interviews as well; probably makes for another story.)

Of interest: Russ has authored an article at Connect World, Mobile operators should co-operate with application and content providers to take advantage of the mobile Internet boom, where he discusses the  issue of mobile operators working with VoIP providers to build their overall business where he supports the success with 3:

There is already some evidence that the entire discussion is based on a misconception, and that, in reality, using the Internet to make calls does not cannibalize the revenues of operators. Some operators, like Three in the UK, have already changed their business model. They are challenging their competitors by partnering with a software company, offering a popular application that allows mobile VoIP calls at no extra cost, providing their customers with a very tangible extra value and comprehensive user experience by integrating the application into a range of mobile handsets. As a result, the group of customers using these services generate 20 per cent higher margins than non-users, voice revenue being a key contribution to this. A survey undertaken in August 2009 revealed that users of this application used on average 17 percent more traditional voice minutes than non-users. Next to this, a comparatively lower churn rate and higher ARPU (average revenue per user) was one of the positive outcomes as well. [Author's bolds]

Other Skype executive interviews from CES 2010:

• Skype for Business: An Interview with Skype’s Matt Jordan
• A Conversation with Skype CEO Josh Silverman

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Yesterday Rogers launched the first Android phones available in Canada with two devices: the HTC Magic (touch screen only) and HTC Dream (touchscreen and slide-out keyboard). Rogers is the first carrier worldwide offering both these devices and also the first North American carrier to offer the HTC Magic.

Over two years ago, in a post Precursor to GPhone? On My Blackberry?, I had predicted any Google-powered phone would include all the Google features found on the BlackBerry (or iPhone).  In this regard today’s demonstration and presentation did not disappoint. Search, Maps with Latitude, GTalk, GMail, News, Google Docs, Sync, Calendar, were all included in the demonstration with the same Google features as found on any BlackBerry or iPhone. However, there were some differentiating features:

• both phones run on Rogers recently launched 3.5G 7.2 Mbps HSPA network, which Rogers claims to approach broadband DSL speeds and to be 3x faster than any other Canadian wireless data network
• there are over 3,200 applications available in the Android Market. Currently these applications are free; however, Google is expected to add a payment system in a few months.
• both phones have a touchscreen with haptic keyboard which, on a brief trial, was definitely impressive (the Dream also has a physical slide-out keyboard)

A few comments:

• While the Skype Lite beta client was seen on the demonstration devices, it does not work at the moment on Rogers. See my upcoming post about Rogers’ position on supporting Skype for more details; suffice it to say it is a Skype issue that needs to be addressed at this point.
• They are currently targeting the consumer market. With a launch involving “Fringe” actor Joshua Jackson (a native Canadian), the entire presentation centered on drawing attention through his promotional tour of the past few days.
• Pricing for these devices are C$149 when purchased with a three year plan. The voice and data plans are the same pricing as for BlackBerry and iPhone but with an one month introductory offering of C$30 for 6GB data usage per month. Interestingly, according to a salesperson in the Rogers Retail Store at their headquarters, the same offer is being made for iPhone purchases during June.
• Rogers continues to demonstrate an ability to outperform AT&T in the U.S. when it comes to fully supporting 3G, and now 3.5G, networks.
• In Om Malik’s post today, With 2M Downloads, Where Is Right on Track, it appears that ”Where” is the most popular Android application. However, for Rogers’ customers the question would be the extent of the Canadian content in this application.
• Yesterday T-Mobile USA’s CTO reported that over 1 million G1 phones have been sold in the U.S. over the first six months in the market. According to mocoNews.net, it appears that T-Mobile USA is going ahead with new Android models and forsaking Nokia’s new N97 offering:
  

  [CTO] Brodman said they are not very interested in Nokia’s flagship N97 device, which hits the market this month. Brodman: “Some of the Nokia/Symbian devices have a lot of functionality, but they are quite expensive and Symbian does not have a lot of traction in the U.S. While Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is a strong partner, we haven’t had a lot of demand for N-series products to date.”

Bottom line: Android opens up new user choices in the Canadian consumer smartphone market. Frankly, the key attraction and differentiator will be the variety of applications available on Android Market along with the overall touchscreen user experience. As a representative application, at yesterday’s launch they mentioned Savvy Shopper that allows price comparisons, using the camera as a bar code reader, for any product in their database.

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I follow several forums about Skype, for instance at LinkedIn and on eCademy. Recently I have noticed a thread on the LinkedIn Skype for Business Group asking about using Skype without a PC. While eventually I intend to have more detailed information in response to such a question in the reference content on this site, let me summarize what is available as of today. The sales channels for these products are largely through the Skype Store (which is country-specific). Unfortunately several players who had good offerings have abandoned their Skype hardware offerings over the couple of years; however, we are starting to see the emergence of new devices.

Mobile Phones

Update: March 1, 2010: Access to Skype on mobile smartphones has evolved to several platforms; there are several posts that provide an update to what is stated below:

• Skype for Mobile – Now Focusing on a True Skype User Experience includes a summary table of options, as of March 1, 2010, for running Skype on mobile smartphones.
• Skype for iPhone: Now Legally Available for Canadians

Update: May 30, 2010: Skype for iPhone now works over GSM 3G/HSPA+ networks:

• Skype for iPhone 2.0 Released: 3G Skype-to-Skype Calling to Require a Fee
• Skype for iPhone 2.0: The End User Experience
• Skype for iPhone 2.0: The Commentary and The Reality

Obviously the most popular is Skype for iPhone. With over 1 12 million downloads since its introduction in late March 2009 earlier this week, the major caveat is that you need either an iPod Touch (with a microphone accessory) or iPhone. In both cases you also need to be at a WiFi access point to take full advantage of Skype’s voice and IM features; however, you can also use Skype IM (presence and text chat) on the iPhone using a carrier’s 3G or 2G/EDGE data plan (but not voice). Currently Skype for iPhone is not available in Canada pending resolution of a patent licensing issue. Skype for iPhone does require that the application be open in order to received messages and Skype calls.

Skype Lite for Nokia has been replaced by Skype for Symbian.

Skype has also been developing Skype Lite for a wide range of Java-enabled phones, including the Nokia N- and E-series phones. Again one can use Skype IM (presence and text chat) for those phones that support a WiFi connection (such as many of the Nokia N- and E-series smartphones). But for voice, one needs a carrier for which Skype is setting up arrangements in ten countries. Skype announced earlier this week that a Skype Lite for BlackBerry will be available in May, 2009.

As mentioned in the first update post above, Skype for Windows Mobile has been withdrawn.

Skype for Windows Mobile has been available for several years, recently released version 2.5 and demonstrated the Skype for Windows Mobile 3.0 beta. They recommend its use via WiFi access points; however, its use on a Windows Mobile smartphone over 3G may have performance limitations, especially with respect to battery life.

If you are in one of the nine countries served by 3 as a carrier, you will find the Skypephone 2 available as well as a few other devices that supports Skype operation. Later this spring Skype will appear embedded into Sony Xperia X1 and new Nokia smartphones.

There are two third party solutions that I have used quite often: iSkoot (BlackBerry, several Nokia smartphones) and IM+ for Skype (BlackBerry, iPhone/iPod Touch, a few Nokia smartphones). On the BlackBerry they can take advantage of the inherent background processing to allow Skype chat sessions to remain active while executing other applications; they also require both a voice and data plan (2G or 3G GSM) in order to complete voice calls; chat sessions are supported over a WiFi connection.

There are several other third party offerings which provide Skype access, including Truphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, some Nokia models), Fring (iPhone, some Nokia) and Nimbuzz (iPhone). Suffice it to say that, while one can carry on conversations via these services while dealing with user interface, performance and/or call quality issues, the best service level is achieved from a service where Skype has full control of the software and network connections.

Skype’s strategy for mobile was recently outlined by Skype COO Scott Durchslag.

Dual Mode Phones

About two years ago several hardware vendors introduced dual mode PC-free phones that allow you to connect to both Skype via a broadband Internet connection and the PSTN. However, currently these devices are undergoing a transition as Skype restructures, the only phone that is readily available today is the Philips VOIP3211 which can be found for several countries via the Skype Store. Update, Fall 2009: The only dual mode phone that is readily available as of fall 2009 is the RTX 3088 Dualphone; feedback here. The one caveat for these phones is that they support voice and presence but have no chat capability.

IPEVO also offers their Skype Desktop Phone S0-10, which only provides Skype calling over an Ethernet connection into a router.

Skype Video Phone

I recently received an evaluation ASUS Eee Videophone AirGuru SV1, which provides support for both Skype voice and Skype video calling along with presence information (no chat). My few conversations with it have been quite satisfactory and the user interface provides easy setup of calls. Basically all operations are done via a five-way trackball where you have up/down/right/left to navigate and a central push button to perform an action. While it is basically a video speakerphone, there are headphone jacks on the rear.

To get started you simply plug it into an Ethernet port on a router or switch with a minimum broadband Internet service and enter the setup routine to provide your Skype account information. Optionally it also supports WiFi access if you are not attached via an Ethernet connection.

WiFi Phones

These are again available via the Skype Store with models provided by Netgear and Belkin that support voice and presence. I have never been a fan of the Skype WiFi phones, especially from a price/performance perspective, as they have very limited functionality and have found them to have battery life issues amongst other problems. But some people seem to like them. More recently IPEVO has offered their WiFi Phone for Skype S0-20.

Others

Skype can be found on the Nokia N800 and N810 N900 small tablet handsets; Sony Mylo and some Sony PSP models. However, these are examples of embedding Skype into a device as part of Skype’s “Skype Everywhere” strategy where conversations become one more feature of a specialty device.

Conclusion

“Skype without a Computer” is inherent in Skype’s new “Skype Everywhere” strategy recently outlined by the new Skype executive team. With the current restructuring of Skype where more mature business processes are being introduced to incorporate product marketing, build partnerships and spread the availability of Skype across many platforms, we can expect to see new “PC-free” Skype hardware coming out in the future. In their visioning statements, beyond mobile devices, they point out that we may see it attached to TV sets, automotive dashboards and embedded into other hardware.

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Yesterday’s announcement of Grand Central’s rebirth as Google Voice drew a lot of attention from both the mainstream media and blogger world. In following the IP-based communications world over the past three years, I have come to believe that the only potential real time conversation service provider challenger to Skype could come from Google. It has huge user registration numbers at a world class scale; however, its primary business is built around how many ways can one drill down within Search and then offer contextually relevant advertising. On the other hand, they appear to be looking to complement search-embedded activities, such as Search within GMail, with real time conversation capabilities.

For instance the recently launched GMail Voice and Video chat allows users to migrate to real time conversations directly off an email message. Great in the context of building a dialogue out of an email’s subject and content. I’ve tried it and it works but have not had reason to use it in my everyday activity; on the other hand, if I  find reason to use it, it’s there and easy to launch. A great example of voice-enabling a conversation in the context of an ongoing dialogue.

Show me a platform that is not supported by Google’s GTalk chat offering. Almost every PC and mobile device I receive for evaluation is supported by GTalk. Yet, I only have about ten contacts on GTalk and may get a message once every week or two. There’s a reason Alec Saunders came out recently to say “Ditching all IM Systems except Skype!”. On the other hand, GTalk is there; it’s handy if someone contacts me via GTalk.

While Google Voice lists its entire feature set here, Kim Peterson’s post, “Free long-distance? Oh yeah, Google;s going there”, on the Topstocks blog at Microsoft’s Money Central, highlights the the top ones:

In a nutshell, here’s what you’ll be able to do with the free program:

1. Get a single phone number that routes calls to your cell, work and home phones simultaneously.

2. Call numbers in the U.S. for free. And call internationally for ridiculously low rates — I’m talking 2 cents a minute to China.

3. Get your voicemail transcribed into e-mail or text messages.

4. Make free conference calls.

5. Get your voicemail on the Web.

Mainstream media, however, could only focus on how Google Voice would provide competition to eBay’s Skype. New York Times’ Miguel Helft starts out with:

“Google stepped up its attack on the telecommunications industry on Thursday with a free service called Google Voice that, if successful, could chip away at the revenue of companies big and small, like eBay, which owns Skype, telephone companies and a string of technology start-up firms.”

Ryan Singel at Wired’s Epicenter:

When Google announced its integrated phone service called Google Voice Thursday, it said something very loud.

Google is saying it wants to be the world’s communication hub, and hundreds of companies — ranging from mobile phone operators to Skype to Microsoft better be listening.

Further down the same article, Ben Lilienthal, now general manager of audio services for Citrix Online – and a Skype partner for full service audio conferencing, “isn’t convinced that businesses will move to the service very soon”, Ben went on to say:

“For a consumer, it is a pretty compelling service,” Lilienthal said. “But I think if you are a business user, it’s not necessarily a road you would want to go down. There are a bunch of things business users worry about that consumers don’t. If it doesn’t work, can I get a live person on the phone? Is it reliable? What kind of quality of service can I get?”

Many reporters and bloggers had a chance to upgrade their Grand Central service to Google Voice yesterday. However, being a Canadian I never acquired a Grand Central number for the same reason as fellow Canadian and Fonolo CEO Shai Berger:

….. this problem is not unique. Many similar services don’t extend into Canada. It’s still hard to get a Canadian Skype-In number for example. Ooma has the same problem and when I spoke to some senior people at Ooma last year they cited complicated regulatory issues (including a word I hadn’t heard before: “homologation“. Always like learning a new word). I don’t expect Grand Central/Google Voice to address this any time soon and I don’t hold it against them — the extra hassle is probably not worth it in the early stage of the game.

But Shai also gives a more generic reason for not being a user of Grand Central:

That 2nd item is a bigger issue because it effects everyone, not just Canadians. Our mental model for interacting with phones is that “if you called me from number X” I can hit redial to call you back. (Or I can store that number in my address book for later.) To fix this we either have to change user behavior (tough) or spoof the caller-ID (technically doable but quasi-legal). The only Voice 2.0 company I know of that has solved this problem is Truphone, which does transmit your Truphone number as to the destination. [Author’s note: SkypeOut also provides callerID using either your Skype Online number or your “Skype registered” mobile phone number.]

But there’s also a user interface issue when you look at how a call is placed. Further down in Kim’s post (and similarly described in the NYT post referenced above):

Here’s how it works: You call into your voice mail on Google Voice, and from there you get transferred to a dial tone. You can call any number at that point [author’s italics]. You also have a central Web site that will show your voice mails and manage your account.

So I have to call one number in order to call the number I want (and, at that point, there’s probably no linkage to my device’s native address book), eh?

And, finally, Om Malik points out a few issues, including how users will pay for international calls:

Just as a warning, the upgrade to Google Voice won’t allow you to take your Grand Central address book with you, since the new system uses Google Contacts. In addition, the service doesn’t work with those of you who have Google Apps accounts; you’ll need Gmail accounts. Lastly, they make you use Google Checkout to pay for international minutes. No thanks — I am happy paying with PayPal and/or credit cards. [author’s italics]

Let’s go back to Skype (and iSkoot):

1. I want to locate a phone number (or SkypeID) in my native mobile handset address book, hit the green “Call” button on my mobile phone and launch a voice call. Real simple UI here. On a mobile device, such as BlackBerry or Nokia N-series, I can do this with iSkoot for making both Skype-to-Skype or SkypeOut calls.
2. I have 14 years invested in my current office and mobile phone numbers. I’m not ready to make any changes. iSkoot, on my BlackBerry, and Truphone on both BlackBerry and iPhone work with each device’s existing phone number.
3. SkypeOut (and iSkoot, when making SkypeOut calls from a BlackBerry or Nokia N-Series S60 phone) provides my mobile phone number as a callerID. A party who needs to return my call can simply click on the number and reach me. (and, if in my native address book, readily see who has called).
4. With Skype I can make payments via PayPal or directly on my credit card.

While I will try Google Voice once they expand to supporting Canadian numbers, its modus operandi certainly does not come up to Skype’s standards for a truly user friendly calling experience. On the other hand its call screening, call management and voicemail handling features certainly provide some new challenges for Skype to watch out for.

Bottom line: today we all look for competition in the wireless carrier and mobile smartphone markets. But there are key differentiating features. It’s healthy to see two players such as Skype and Google, both with world scale user bases, in the real time conversation space. But there are differences, in the individual end users will adopt whatever provides the most convenience for his/her individual needs.

Full disclosure: the author has Bell Canada lines for his home office, including fax, requirements while using Rogers Home Phone for family voice calling. He also uses Skype for most of his business conversation requirements, especially long distance and international calling. Just as different smartphones meet different user needs, we’re probably going to find that many of us need multiple services for all our real time conversation needs.

Finally let’s look at one more slide from Skype President Josh Silverman’s analyst presentation earlier this week:

Google has a little bit of work to do to round out an equivalent ecosystem.

Check out Kim’s post for links to several other bloggers’ comments as well.

Andrew Hansen: Skype makes a small ripple, but no Splash with new VM features.

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With the evolution of smartphones incorporating both WiFi and 3G wireless support, we are also seeing the application of Voice over IP technology as providing at least one leg of a wireless call.

• iSkoot was a pioneering example, with both their support of a wide range of wireless phones, including Nokia, Android and BlackBerry (full disclosure – I use iSkoot on my BlackBerry Bold) and their Skypephone so successfully launched on 3 services in nine countries.
• Recently we have seen the evolution of Skype Lite capable of providing access to Skype on over 100 Java-enabled mobile phones (not all smart phones), including Android.
• And Truphone has been launching services on Nokia, BlackBerry and, most recently, iPhone.

The real challenge for Skype was to get carrier adoption. Certainly the 3 Skypephone experience represents a successful business model where, as disclosed at eComm 2008, royalties associated with 3’s revenues are paid to both Skype and iSkoot. Skype announced at CES that they are developing carrier relationships in ten countries, including United States, that involve deployment of the Skype Lite client . With its new management team, including a former Motorola executive, it was only a matter of time before we would start to see deeper relationships with mobile device vendors.

And, of course, this initial device vendor relationship is with a vendor who has not exactly been a significant smartphone player in North American markets, although their market penetration has been more successful in European and Asian markets. Today, Skype and Nokia have announced a partnership where Skype will become deeply embedded into Nokia’s S60 Symbian platform with the launch device being the forthcoming Nokia N97. From the press release:

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.

The pros:

• Its support of both 3G and WiFi; this has certainly played well for Truphone adoption
• It supports the device at a platform level as evidenced by the integration with the native address book and the Nokia SIP stack. Is this a full VoIP client integration?
• The initial launch device has a QWERTY keyboard, making chat sessions on the device more viable and readily adopted
• An established smartphone vendor market leader outside of North America
• Probably a software licensing revenue generator for Skype
• Opportunity to drive (and share) SkypeOut calling revenue
• It provides free, beyond a monthly flat rate for the basic carrier service, voice and chat conversations with over 40 million Skype users worldwide

The cons:

• Nokia needs to establish North American smartphone market presence in a market dominated by iPhone and BlackBerry and where carriers largely control which devices and applications are available for use over their network
• Nokia needs to demonstrate they can provide a more user friendly smartphone user experience (a la iPhone) as opposed to simply being a handheld multimedia computer.
• Nokia needs to partner with carriers who are willing to allow open access to applications in their newly announced Ovi storefront

The questions:

• Has Nokia already signed up carriers to take on the (somewhat delayed) N97 when it launches in June? Following along with a Skype strategy announced at the CES press conference, we can probably assume that the device will first be available in non-carrier dominated markets.
• Does this represent an evolution of the Skype Lite client where chat and call setup occur over the network while the more robust and readily scalable voice channel carries the voice portion of a call?
• Where are the revenue opportunities for Skype, Nokia and the carriers?
• What is the ongoing relationship between Skype and iSkoot who pioneered this carrier adoption model? This Nokia-SKype partnership is totally independent of any iSkoot participation.
• How will the Nokia-Skype partnership compete with UMA plays such as described on the Tweet in the right?

Bottom Line: Liquid communications means turning on a device and finding Skype is “just there”. A partnership with the world’s largest vendor of mobile phones with hundreds of existing carrier relationships is not to be taken lightly. Combined with the Sony Ericssson Skype panel announcement yesterday, what hand will Skype play in working with Apple (iPhone) and RIM (BlackBerry)?

Update: Andy Abramson, VoIP Watch, attended the press conference:

Basically the underlying message the Skype CEO shared was carriers who will work with Skype will pick up users who spend more money than the non-Skype using mobile phone customer, or at least they did with 3.

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I spent yesterday at a Nokia marketing event in Toronto and decided to only take my three mobile devices to see how I would deal with maintaining essential contacts and information flow (email, Twitter, Facebook, voice calls, web browsing) without having a full laptop available. The devices: a Blackberry 8820 (GSM/EDGE/WiFi), a Nokia N95 (WiFi only) and an iPhone 3G (3G HSPA and WiFi). For about 2 hours we were in a studio where there was video shooting. During this time I had to turn off the carrier radio as it could cause interference with the video equipment; yet all three devices continued to have WiFi access. So what did I accomplish during the entire day?

• Blackberry 8820: read and sent email via both GMail and Blackberry mail, received a Skype call via iSkoot, followed and submitted Twitter messages via Twitter4Skype running as a Skype chat session in iSkoot, checked out and tracked the Blue Jays game, used Google Maps to get to the Nokia event, made a couple of local phone calls.
• Nokia N95 (first model): demonstrated SlingPlayer Mobile and Qik.com to Nokia personnel; made a Truphone call to Minnesota, took photos of the event with 5 MP camera.
• iPhone: lots of high quality web browsing; follow Facebook activity, read GMail.

Each has its own virtues – especially the Blackberry QWERTY keyboard, the N95′s video applications and the iPhone’s web browsing experience; yet I could not have done all these activities on a single device. Having WiFi on all three devices helped maintain contact while not able to use the carrier’s wireless services. Just as important is that I am still getting used to not having to worry about mobile data plan usage with Rogers’ new 6GB/month data plan rates as a result of the iPhone launch three weeks ago – at a $30/month lower cost than my plans for 25MB/month two months ago.

But the “convergence” coup d’état of the day was carried out by iotum CEO Alec Saunders. He had to host his daily SquawkBox call from the hotel lobby using iotum’s CalliFlower service. He followed the web page activity on his iPhone that had a WiFi connection to his Nokia E71 using Joiku and the Rogers Wireless data service; he made the voice call into the session using his Blackberry over the GSM voice channel. Key here is the need to follow the web page while talking on, and listening to, the call.

Seems like there’s still many paths to follow before we see total convergence on a single device.

Tags: Mobile life, Blackberry, Nokia, iPhone, Rogers, Alec Saunders, CalliFlower, SquawkBox, Joiku, twitter4skype, iSkoot, GMail, Facebook, Truphone, Qik.com, SlingPlayer

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When I received this Twitter message earlier this afternoon:

clicked on the embedded URL and immediately was listening in on a conversation involving not only Stuart Henshall but also David Beckemeyer of Televolution (producer of PhoneGnome – now known as the PhweetGeek), I found I was in for a most interesting conversation experience. Within minutes we had a multi-party call involving as many as eight participants from India, Italy, Ireland (actually, Pat was calling in while on vacation in Spain) as well as others in the U.S. They had all joined “spontaneously” from a Twitter message (in my case initially seen via Twitter4Skype) as Stuart and David launched an Alpha version of Phweet this afternoon.

First thoughts and comments:

• The immediacy – send the URL via Twitter and any of your Twitter Followers can join with three clicks – the URL, the TringMe VoIP Flash Player widget and the “Allow” button within the Flash Player. At that point the call host needs to “accept” your request to join and you’re into the conversation.
• You monitor the call participants and participate in a chat session via a web page with a URL dedicated to the specific call (www.phweet.com/[four character call code]). When the host ends the session, the URL dies also; however, tweets are the only traces left of the call.

• It’s a mashup of Twitter, TringMe, and SIP-based services all hosted on a Televolution server.
• While, if you just send out a general Tweet all your Followers can join; you can Direct Message an individual, or individuals, if you want a totally private call.
• You can join from a browser or a SIP ID; for instance Pat Phelan (of MaxRoam fame) called in from a Nokia N95 via his Truphone SIP ID (Truphone number@truphone.com) but you can also join in from Gizmo 5 and other SIP-based services.
• It’s Alpha: TringMe would periodically drop the call connection but a web page refresh would bring back the Widget button and you could instantly be in the conversation again.
• It’s Alpha: when I attempted to host my own call with Stuart as the invitee, we could “see” each other on the related web page but the audio connection did not work.
• Joining a conversation actually involves a call out from the Televolution server; as a result they are only working with connections that do not involve termination charges. Eventually they would like to have a way to join from, say, a mobile phone while letting another party worry about the back office transactions.
• Call quality was quite good; David needs to up his mic volume but other parties were very clear. On the other hand there is no echo cancellation capability, so headsets are a requirement unless you have echo cancellation hardware embedded into your mic.
• This is totally an Internet based service: effectively your Twitter followers are the directory; there is no other form of intermediation, such as a softphone client, involved in setting up, and participating in, the call. It does require you have the Adobe Flash Player installed.
• It’s Alpha: Stuart and David are still going through the discipline of defining a basic feature set.

Stuart and David are inviting Twitter members to give it a try; they want user feedback before even calling it Beta, to ensure it at least has all the basics of a service that provides reliable connections, total host control (for instance, they need to add the ability for a host to remove a participant) and meets basic call support needs. Overall it looks to be a promising concept and a unique “click-to-call” service that supports ad hoc social networking.

Other posts:

• Stuart Henshall: Why Phweet?
• Stuart Henshall: Who created the Phweetman?
• Pat Phelan: Phweet.com Talking on Twitter
• Phil Wolff: Phweet public alpha – from tweet to talk in one click
• TechCrunch: Call your Twitter pals with Phweet
• All public Phweet sessions

Tags: Phweet, Stuart Henshall, David Beckemeyer, Twitter, Televolution, TringMe, Pat Phelan, Truphone, Nokia N95

Over the past few months there have been a few Skype Journal posts about iSkoot and how they provide mobile device access to Skype’s services. Of course, iSkoot also provides the software behind the Skypephone on the 3 network in nine countries. Recently iSkoot has been getting some accolades from third parties:

Nokia named iSkoot for Skype as a featured Application of the Week earlier this month on both the Nokia site and the S60 site.

iSkoot loads your Skype contact list right onto your S60 device display screen, and with just a quick click of a button, you can call your contacts. With Skype online status information, you get the benefit of Skype’s awareness of user presence. You can see who is available to call or chat, and also change your own online status to let others know that you are free to interact with them. iSkoot allows you to talk to anyone around the world from your S60 device and offers network service in over 40 countries. Calling is as easy as just clicking on a contact on your S60 device.

Two weeks ago, John Halamka – Chief Information Officer at Harvard Medical School and the CareGroup Health System (to name a few)– named iSkoot for Skype as his “Cool Technology of the Week.” Using his Blackberry Curve 8320 he has also figured out how to use “local” pay-as-you-go: SIM cards to reduce or eliminate roaming charges while traveling abroad.

The iSkoot client places a regular local phone call to an iSkoot gateway server, then the gateway server places a Skype call, bypassing all long distance charges. While connected to the iSkoot gateway, the iSkoot client enables you to

* See who is signed in and view their online status
* Manage your own online status
* Click to call a contact
* Click to chat with a contact
* Make low-cost calls to any phone number, anywhere in the world using SkypeOut
* Receive calls from Skype users
* Add or remove friends from your contact list
* Refresh your contact list automatically or on demand

And finally, Alec Saunders of iotum where, amongst other titles he is Chief SquawkBox Officer, recently spent three weeks in Europe traveling with his family. Having been supplied with a 3 Skypephone, he came home saying that he found the 3 Skypephone was the most consistent means for him to maintain the limited degree of connectivity he required while on a family vacation.

Previous iSkoot posts:

• Skype on Mobile: North American Carriers’ Backhaul is the Ultimate Bottleneck
• What VoIP on Mobile Can Learn from SS7
• iSkoot – Providing Carrier Friendly Access for Skype Calls.
• eComm 2008: iSkoot Presentation
• Mobile VoIP Services — The Ergonomics of Making a Call Counts…
• Skypephone 2 at 3 August 18?

Hat tip to the iSkoot blog for pointing us to these recognitions.

Tags: iSkoot, Skype, John Halamka, Nokia, S60, Alec Saunders, SquawkBox, iotum

With the emergence of iPhone 3G and Blackberry Bold, certainly from a North American perspective, one has to wonder where Nokia is heading in the smartphone space. Certainly a clue evolved Tuesday when Nokia announced they were acquiring the remainder of Symbian they did not already own for $410 million along with a plan to put the key intellectual property assets into an open source “Symbian Foundation” under an Eclipse Public License. And they convinced other partners with a Symbian interest to also join the Foundation and contribute assets. Read Ed Burnette’s full post for his analysis of winners and losers.

Om then wrote one of his epic posts, “Symbian, iPhone and the New Reality” where he talked the realities of today’s mobile business:

1. Handset makers need to accelerate the release of their phones much faster than the current 12-to-18 month production cycles or run the risk of getting RAZR-d into oblivion, like Motorola.
2. Phones are now a fashion business in that you’re only as good as your last model. Phone makers need to release new models as quickly (if not faster) as Parisian couture makers if they want to remain hot and gain sizable share of the handset market.
3. They subsequently can’t afford to muck around with proprietary software platforms that can take months to be approved by the mobile carriers.
4. Carriers want standardization because they want to deploy applications quickly, without having to test them on different handsets — a slow and laborious process.
5. Users want high-end, smartphone-like features on low-end phones.

Om goes on to discuss how the industry is changing such that not only are software platforms the only way to withstand this commoditization but also how Apple is changing the game with their overall distribution control and management of third party applications. Fundamentally third party developers can focus on development and marketing while they let Apple take care of the business development overhead by Apple’s facilitating the carrier availability, the distribution and the transactions.

Yesterday I was asked to be guest host of Squawk Box where we got into an interesting discussion around this subject, involving at least one developer participant in this scenario, William Volk at My Numo, and industry participants PhoneBoy and Dan York. You can go to the SaundersLog post to hear the entire discussion.

P.S. — Want to see a prime example of Om’s “smartphone realities” – check out the Skypephone: low cost, media-savvy, carrier friendly (and no recruitment subsidy required), third party software platform and “cool” (read fashion statement), in the countries where it is available.

Tags: Nokia, Symbian, iPhone, Squawk Box, SaundersLog, Om Malik, GigaOm, Ed Brunette

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Our choice of PC’s and the associated applications are becoming a factor in the definition of our personality:: Windows or Mac? IBM or Dell? Our smartphone choices are becoming a factor in the definition of our personality. Blackberry, iPhone or, Nokia?

But just as important is how these associations are also playing a role in how IT departments are losing control over our IT platforms. I recall a story when the first IBM PC’s came out where a major Canadian bank Vice-President chastised an employee for having a modem connection — insecurity written all over his face and the modem ordered removed! My first cell phone required both a rather large handset device that was screwed into my dashboard and connected to a black box stored in the luggage compartment of my station wagon. And those external cell phone aerials attached to a rear window were a status symbol that you were “connected” anytime, anywhere. But the employer would usually define what you would have (@$3,600 for my first cell phone in 1986, you bet!). CFO’s wrestled with the expense, wondering why anyone would want to talk while driving.

Jonathan Christensen, Skype’s GM for Audio and Video, in two recent guest posts on Saunderslog.com talks about how IT is becoming personal. In the first post he talks about how “The Web is My IT”

But, we have more freedom when it comes to the applications we download and run. I use Skype for *all* of my telephony that is not mobile. I use Google Reader as an info clipping service. I use Gmail to manage my online subscriptions and travel arrangements. I use Twitter to stay up to date. With the myriad of great choices available, users are finding ways to make “personal technology” work for them. None of these are IT-sanctioned applications, but they are enormously helpful in my work (and personal) life… and I am saving my company real money on telecom and infrastructure costs.

Slowly, this shift is happening at the hardware level too. Our machines are reflections of our personal styles and tastes. At Skype, we are in two camps: the Lenovo loyalist and the Mac fan club. Apple has a reputation for inspiring fanatical loyalty, but ThinkPad users are every bit as rabid as the MacBook fans. They know every model number past and present. They reminisce about great machines they have retired and passionately compare notes about DIMMs, hard drives and battery configurations (I carry a MacBook Air – and thank goodness that Apple makes these decisions for me).

He starts off his concluding paragraph with “The long-term effect when users migrate to personal technology is that the IT-approved applications slowly lose traction.” Coming from a former employee of Microsoft whose revenue depends highly on IT-sponsored implementations of its server-based applications, it’s a powerful statement with lots of implications for the challenges ahead at Microsoft.

In his second post “IT Gets Personal – Mobility and the Desktop”, Jonathan talks about how, while Blackberry, with its Blackberry Enterprise Server, still controls authentication and authorization policies, RIM is broadening its market approach to encompass the prosumer and even consumers. He talks about the iPhone “thumbing its nose at IT managers”:

However, aside from the Blackberry/Exchange relationship, the IT department has had little to do with our mobile technology choices. My mobile is MY business, thank you. I use it primarily for work, but it is not an IT-approved device. Oh, by the way, thanks for picking up the airtime charges.

Certainly a noticeable trend lately is how, when someone leaves an employer, the two constant in his/her contact information is the mobile phone number and, if they have one, the SkypeID.

Jonathan goes on to talk about the decreasing role of the PBX, becoming identified with your personal mobile number and the adoption of desktop communications applications in the workplace, especially IM.

There is more rich interaction in these sessions. People are sending links, copying and pasting text and sharing files in real time. Today’s knowledge worker roams seamlessly between Mobile calls, SMS, IM, Blackberry email and PC calling. Nearly 30 percent of Skype users are using it for business and 28 percent of Skype-to-Skype calls include video. The old desktop phone just can’t keep up.

His bottom line:

Users are taking control of their communications channels. They are innovating, making personal mashups with the new tools, and they are creating a new namespace to go with it (e.g., Gmail address + Mobile phone number + Twitter ID + Skype ID). And all of this is happening outside the IT department’s “walled garden.” It’s good news for users and productivity, but what does this loss of control mean for the IT department and the organization? What does it mean for PBX vendors? And, if the users are happy, does it really matter?

Interesting perspectives from someone who has been integrally involved with the rise of IP-based communications and the extension of voice messaging to incorporate text chat, video and mobility over the past one-and-a-half decades.

The PC is transitioning to the lightweight laptop (many of my acquaintances have a MacBook Air); smartphones fit in the shirt pocket or purse or hang from a belt clip. The IT department is becoming more ethereal as in “figures light and aeriform come unlooked for and melt away”. Both posts (once again here and here) are well worth the read.

(And did anyone notice that, while RIM tried to distinguish consumer and business markets by having a camera in the Pearl and Curve but not in the 88×0 series, the about-to-be-released Blackberry Bold has everything – camera, new media player with iTunes support, GPS: all-in-one – and addresses both markets.)

Lee Dryburgh is gradually putting up videos from the eComm 2008 sessions. Today we have iSkoot CEO Mark Jacobstein’s presentation about carrier friendly access to Skype. As mentioned in previous posts on this subject:

• iSkoot uses the robust circuit switched voice channel to connect to an iSkoot server running a Skype session — generating at a minimum “local” minutes revenue for the carrier
• since calls terminate on Skype there are no termination charges to the carrier
• for the Skypephone service (currently on 3 in 9 countries), customer recruitment costs are minimized since no device subsidy is required.
• long distance
  • iSkoot on the Blackberry, Nokia N-series and E-series, Palm and about 40 other devices can make SkypeOut calls, still providing the carrier with “local” calling revenues while iSkoot receives a share of SkypeOut revenue
  • to faciliate adoption of the Skypephone by carriers, one can only make Skype calls (at no charge), but not SkypeOut calls (changed October 1, 2008), thereby leaving the carriers’ long distance plans in tact.

Two parts to this presentation: the SD video is below: (alternative HD video)

… and the slides: (alternative PowerPoint version)

| View | Upload your own

Additional references:

• Skype on Mobile: North American Backhaul is the Ultimate Bottleneck
• What VoIP on Mobile Can Learn from SS7
• 3 Skypephone: It’s All About the User Experience

Tags: iSkoot, eComm2008, Mark Jacobstein, Skype, SkypeOut, 3, Skypephone, Blackberry, Nokia

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The Canadian wireless market provides a unique situation in that Rogers is the only GSM wireless service provider. From the smartphone side there are four potential suppliers:

• Apple, with its iPhone which requires GSM
• RIM, whose WiFi -enabled 8×20 Blackberries require GSM to be able to use the UMA/GAN feature
• Nokia, who basically only builds GSM-compatible devices
• iSkoot with their Skypephone which requires GSM

Last fall I posted about the picture as Rogers was seeing it, pointing out that it was not simply a case of supporting the iPhone but rather looking at the other smartphone vendors as well when considering how Rogers would react to the availability of the iPhone. In essence providing an “unlimited” data plan would only be viable if Rogers’ other vendors also had similar opportunities for unlimited data plans. Several developments this week:

• On Tuesday, Rogers announced that they had finalized a deal with Apple re the iPhone but provided no details, especially as to a launch date or data plans. However, it does mean that Apple and Rogers have agreed on at least the high level aspects of a data plan.
• This morning I attended a Nokia N95 launch event where Rogers announced they would be launching next week the newer Nokia N95 8GB multimedia smartphone with many appealing features and an interesting service plan incorporating not only data but also North America’s first wireless video calling offering.
• Crackberry.com has rumors about a forthcoming UMA/GAN-based service called Rogers Home Calling Zone (but it won’t launch May 6) as well as a tiered Blackberry data plan.

There is another factor at play in Canada. Later this month the CRTC will be auctioning off Advanced Wireless Services spectrum where new players have the ability to participate. Any new carrier will have to be supporting GSM for a variety of reasons; Rogers is moving over the same time period to forestall any market advantage a new carrier may have.

And in a recent Wired magazine article it was pointed out that AT&T’s genius in working with Apple was recognizing that “The iPhone would result in a surge of data traffic that would more than make up for any revenue it lost on content deals”.

It will be an interesting couple of months to watch the Canadian wireless market evolve. Competitive forces, as well as new revenue opportunities, from multiple directions are coming into play.

On Tuesday’s launch date I’ll post more details about the Nokia N95 8GB offering, the real trigger point for offering more realistic GSM-based mobile Internet plans to Canadians. But there’s more to the overall offering.

And the good news for Skype: Skype calling will be accessible on any of these platforms via either iSkoot and/or IM+ for Skype.

Tags: Rogers, iPhone, Apple, Blackberry, RIM, N95 8GB, Nokia, Skypephone, GSM, Canada wireless, CRTC, AWS Auction, iSkoot, IM+ for Skype

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Philips, Sony, IPEVO, Nokia, Belkin, Intel MID demonstrating Skype-enabled hardware.

As outlined in my recent Skype Primer series there are many dimensions to the Skype ecosystem: core real time conversation services, hardware, mobile and partner solutions. At CES we encountered two of these dimensions:

• Skype itself was promoting the spread of mobile access to Skype, supported by displays from three mobile device partners
• Skype hardware partners were demonstrating various phone, headset and webcam offerings.

While providing a brief overview here, there will be future posts as we gain more experience with these offerings.

Philips was exhibiting their 841 PC-Free Dual Mode Cordless Phone (lower left), introduced at CES last year, along with two new offerings:

• Their VoIP251 (upper right) allows for the addition of a DECT 6.0 cordless Internet phone for Skype calls to a home or office environment to complement an existing landline phone. Users are no longer confined to a USB connection. The VoIP251 integrates a built-in display so users can view active, online contacts at all times. And it supports both PC and Mac platforms.
• Their VoIP151 (center right) is designed as a travel companion USB Skype phone; it also supports both PC and Mac platforms. The integrated display lets users easily view their contacts; the handset has been designed for simple cable management by neatly rolling the cable around it.

IPEVO demonstrated their ability to craft unique solutions with their exhibit that included two unique products:

• Their POV WebCam that lets users share their “point of view” during Skype sessions. One feature that makes it unique for Skype users: snapshots captured with the camera can then be sent to other Skype contacts via Skype’s file transfer. It also includes software for remote monitoring via Skype Video. But its main differentiator comes from their press release:

Unlike conventional web cameras designed to focus on the user’s head, PoV is a detachable viewing tool that offers the freedom to capture images and video from any angle and vantage point.

With its pen-like form factor, PoV encourages picking up and pointing. When not held, the camera naturally rests on a base that stands on a tabletop or can be clamped to a laptop or monitor. A well-designed holder clip allows PoV to be attached or detached with a simple drop / pull motion.

Six newly WiFi-enabled IPEVO SOLO desktop phones allowed booth visitors to call anywhere worldwide via Skype or SkypeOut. I was able to make a call back home with excellent voice quality. (You can see people in the background of the picture above making calls.). From their press release:

An always-on device, SOLO lets users place Skype calls without a computer. Equipped with an RJ-45 Ethernet connector, SOLO works wherever a broadband Internet connection is available. In addition, the new Wi-Fi Dongle unveiled at CES brings wireless capability to the device, enabling both home and office users to choose the best spot for their Skype calls, as they no longer need a wired connection to a router.

IPEVO’s North American GM Edware Lucero emphasized to me IPEVO’s focus on “experience-driven” internet devices, responding to customer needs; they certainly demonstrated it here with these unique offerings. Much of this customer feedback comes from their previous affiliation with Taiwan’s PChome Online portal service from which IPEVO spun off last summer. They also need to be commended for finding a way to get a reliable and robust WiFi connection amongst the “WiFi” confusion and limitations that are often encountered at large exhibitions such as this.

Sony had two stands with Skype-enabled products: the PlayStation Portable and new mylo COM-2. Skype will become available to current PlayStation Portable owners via a system software update to the PlayStation Portable; the feature set includes, in addition to Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calling, contact list management, presence and acceptance of SkypeIn calls. No mention is made of Skype text chat in the press release. On the other hand a footnote to the press release mentions: “To enjoy Skype features on PSP, users will need Memory Stick DuoTM, a wireless Internet connection and a Skype compatible audio input device.”

The Belkin booth demonstrated a new dual mode Skype PC Free desktop phone with a full color display; while buried in a “model” bedroom, booth personnel were very aware of the Skype phone’s presence. More interesting at the Belkin booth was their Flywire system for wirelessly controlling home theatre systems.

The second generation Sony mylo COM-2 provides a variety of web entertainment applications including web browsing, a 1.3 megapixel camera, support for IM via Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk and Skype, widgets for Google Search and YouTube amongst others, a music player and games.

For Skype it builds on user experience with the original mylo by introducing a significantly enhanced Skype user interface as well as supporting additional traditional Skype features. Full Instant Messaging (presence and chat), Skype calling and a much more complete account management feature set are amongst the capabilities introduced on this version. In the demonstration I was given, they showed how one can take a picture and then use Skype’s file transfer to send the snapshot to other Skype users. MacSkype? According to the press release: “the new COM-2 mylo communicator devices will receive free access to participating Wayport® hotspot locations in the U.S. including more than 9,000 McDonald’s™ locations until Dec. 31, 2010.”

When I visited the Nokia booth I found that both of the Nokia 810′s available for booth visitor trials had the Skype client open. Obviously a popular feature. The slide-out QWERTY keyboard should provide a better keyboarding experience although I found it almost as difficult as an iPhone for getting the right keys. Also the limited WiFi connectivity in the booth did not allow for any serious evaluation.

Finally the Intel MID booth showed several manufacturers prototype Mobile Internet Devices; however, they were not able to locate the unit with the Skype demonstration. According to Skype’s press release the first implementation of Skype for Mobile Internet Linux on Intel MID’s will be made available “during the first half of 2008″. The full Intel booth also showed strong promotion of WiMax, which is to be supported in MID’s.

Tags: Skype, Skype Hardware, Skype Phones, Philips, Philips VoIP, IPEVO, IPEVO POV webcam, IPEVO SOLO, Belkin Skype Phone, Sony PlayStation Portable, Sony mylo, Sony mylo COM-2, Nokia N810, Intel MID

At Skype’s CES 2007 press conference this morning, there were three major announcements:

• Confirmation of the partnership with Nokia whereby the initial offering will result in Skype as the centerpiece for handling Internet-enabled conversations on the new Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. While the N800 is available today, the Skype participation will be an upgrade expected in the early summer timeframe.
• Initial availability via retail channels of the first “PC-free” Skype Dual Mode Cordless Phones which require a direct broadband Internet connection (and the traditional PSTN connection) while handling both Skype and PSTN calls.
• A new line of Desktop Internet Phones with a larger LCD display that again can be directly connected to a broadband router to make calls.

The Skype Dual Mode Cordless phones comprise a base station that supports up to four remote handsets via DECT technology to avoid interference from WiFi networks while providing enhanced sound quality. Participating at this morning’s press conference were representatives of both NetGear and Philips but we can expect to see similar products from additional hardware partners over the next few months.

With these phones one can place handsets around the home, providing both presence information and Skype access from any location within the home. They have the potential to significantly change the calling dynamics within the family or a group of friends. One U.K.-based Skype employee had already provided these phones to his brother in the U.S. and his mother in Denmark such that mom could see the availability of either of her sons at any time and just pick up any handset in the house to make a call.

Since they operate independently of any PC, both the Dual Mode Cordless Phones and the Desktop Internet Phones eliminate any interference during Skype calls caused by using Skype on a Windows-based PC where other applications, such as Outlook, have the potential to disrupt a call while carrying some activity such as downloading email.

When asked how they would differentiate their products the NetGear representative referred to their user ergonomics and compatibility with other NetGear products to provide a positive customer experience while the Phillips representative talked about how they had incorporated Phillips’ experience with voice quality enhancement using sealed acoustic chamber technology and unique DSP (digital signal processing) algorithms.

With suggested retail pricing of US$229 (NetGear) and US$169 (Phillips) these two products will soon be available at the Skype store as well as via their traditional retail channel partners.

(Once the Skype press releases are available on the Skype website, links to the various announcements will be added to this post.)

Tags: Skype, Nokia N800, NetGear, Philips, Skype Dual Mode Phones

Earlier today Nokia, with over 850 million wireless handsets sold, announced a new partnership with Skype: From a Business Week report this morning:

Nokia said it will cooperate with eBay Inc.’s Skype telecommunications subsidiary to enable cell phone users to make calls over the Internet, particularly with its new N800 Internet Tablet, which allows wireless Skype connections.

The initial product resulting from this partnership is Skype integration into the new N800 which appears to be already available in the U.S. but will need an upgrade later this spring:

Skype said it will team up with Nokia with the N800, which is already commercially available in the U.S. and selected European countries. The updated version of the device with Skype features will be available by the end of first half of 2007, Nokia said.

It seems that pictures of the N800 have leaked out. We expect to hear more information about this device at the Skype press conference later this morning.

Tags: Skype, Nokia 800

During our absence in December I did have the opportunity to evaluate and, more importantly, “experience” three relatively new ways of making voice calls:

• Skype 3.0 Gold Release with its ability to create “Click-to-Call” for any phone number in an Internet Explorer or Firefox web browser. (Complementing the latest release of the Skype Email Toolbar)
• a Nokia N80i (i = Internet edition) with its ability to work on both WiFi and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks (including support for the 850MHz band used in North America) enhanced with the Truphone service.
• a Blackberry 8700

As one more complement to this scenario, I use the VoIPvoice Cyberphone or UConnect as my Skype USB Phone on my laptop. (I have the original RTX Dualphone on my desktop PC.) The key feature with the VoIPvoice products is their ability to handle Windows sound devices in a user friendly manner.

As a result I have found that, for over 90% of my phone calls, I am no longer dialing phone numbers:

First, the Skype experience: If you read my initial post-absence post, you will know why I had to make many phone calls to family friends across Canada last month. With the Skype Web Toolbar (optionally) embedded into my IE 7 or Firefox 2.0 by the Skype 3.0 installation, I simply used Canada411 to look up a phone number, clicked on the resulting Skype-enhanced phone number, clicked again to confirm that I was making a SkypeOut call and made my connections. If the called party was already in my Outlook Contacts I could look the party up, find the appropriate number in the Skype Email Toolbar and click to initiate the call. What really hits home, given my age, is that when we lived in western Canada in the 50′s calls back to Toronto would cost about $1.00 to $3.00 per minute, and given the value of the dollar then, one would rarely make personal long distance calls of any significant duration. Yet last month I was able to make all those calls at no cost. The only concern as to the length of the call was the called party’s availability.

(Note re the Skype Email Toolbar: this product is finally rock solid stable. As I have mentioned previously I have been a beta tester for this utility since its initial development activity almost two years ago. I had uncovered some relatively “deep”, but critical bugs (that, for instance, resulted in fixing a bug involving a third party dll) but Peter Kalmstrom’s Toolbar team at Skype worked diligently to ensure these bugs were addressed. The same can be said for the Web Toolbars where they finally were able to address a persistent bug that occurred only on certain sites, such as my bank website (where for confidentiality reasons I could not supply complete information). Kudos to the Skype Toolbar team for all their efforts and the resulting success. If you have not installed these Toolbars or previously experienced problems, I recommend you give them a try.)

During this period I received my evaluation Nokia N80i as a participant in Andy’s Nokia Blogger program. Around that time also came out the announcement that Truphone supported the N80i. So my first download was the Truphone Wizard and I was able to make calls to landlines anywhere in the world at no cost provided I had a WiFi connection. In fact, I ended up talking one evening for close to an hour with Andy while he enjoyed his post dinner culinary treasures at a Paris café. Once again, one simply needs to select the called party from the Nokia’s Contacts directory and select which phone to call. No “dialing”.

Finally the Blackberry 8700. I had reason to use it quite heavily during December. In addition to clicking to call parties in the Contacts directory; it also makes any phone number appearing in an email, Blackberry Messenger conversation, Note, Task or any other Blackberry application clickable. Once again a minimum of dialing.

Finally, when using the VoIPvoice products (Cyberphone and UConnect) not only can I access my Skype Contacts via a speech recognition routine but I am also able to use any of the Skype Toolbar features to initiate a call without dialing.

So the ability to avoid dialing phone numbers is rapidly becoming one of my key criteria in evaluating all phone products. Probably one more “nail-in-the-coffin” for Skype WiFi phones that simply do not have this capability. I simply don’t want to “dial” phone numbers.

Tags: Skype, click-to-call, Skype Email Toolbar, Blackberry 8700, Truphone, Nokia N80i

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