Skype will be able to pop up with a video call no matter what the user is doing on the big screen. This means that if you’re watching a basketball game, you’ll still be able to get a notification in the upper left-hand corner with the face of the caller trying to contact you. If you do want to call them, it’s all about pushing your hand up to the corner to grab them.

You’ll also be able to use voice commands to make this happen – the Xbox One allows you to make voice commands as it recognizes your voice in the room. This is a universal system, not just limited to Skype commands.

Also working with Skype is multi-tasking – you’ll be able to watch the game while you’re video chatting at the same time. Sound like something you’re into?

This system appears to be limited to the Xbox One for now, but we wouldn’t count it out for the Xbox 360 in the future. It’s like that we’ll have to wait until E3 2013 to see if this integration with Skype will be retro-fitted to this now-legacy system.

The app includes all of the same features that you’ll find on other platforms with Skype running on them, but on the BlackBerry Z10, the Skype app seamlessly integrates with the phone book and BlackBerry Hub, making it the process a bit easier to make a video call to a friend or family member.

The app is available now to download from BlackBerry World, but unless you have the new BlackBerry 10.1 update, you won’t be able to download the free app, which is a little puzzling at this point, but it seems Skype simply wants to get the app out there beforehand, so that it’s ready once the first batch of 10.1 updates starts rolling out to users. The 10.1 update will mostly come with tweaks and performance enhancements to the OS, but there will also be a few new features, such as an HDR mode for the camera, PIN-to-PIN messaging and email, as well as improvements to notifications.

Skype reiterates that this is simply a preview version of the app, so there may be bugs and there may be some features that will be taken away or added by the time the final version releases. The company said that they’ll be working closely with BlackBerry over the next few months on the app, to make sure it’s up to standards.

Along with the release of Skype for the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry also announced this morning that there now 120,000 apps in BlackBerry World. The company also announced the new BlackBerry Q5 QWERTY smartphone that will release later this year in emerging markets across the world. It’s essentially the cheaper brother of the Q10, but still comes with the 3.1-inch touchscreen and the full physical keyboard, along with BlackBerry 10 running the software show.

With the Windows 8 version of Skype you’ll now be able to both record and send as well as receive and view video messages. This means you’re recording a video of yourself with Skype, sending it to a person who isn’t actively on Skype at the moment, and allowing them to see the video independent of yourself. This differs from Skype’s normal functionality which is text chatting or real-time video chat.

This release allows for the latest release version of the app called Skype for Windows 8 to catch up to the versions on Mac, iOS, and Android. You’ll notice that Windows Phone 8 is not on this list – we’re expecting this and other current-release functions to appear on the platform sooner than later. For now though: courage.

The release being populated in your direction today is Skype 1.7, mind you – make sure you’re up to that version in Windows 8 for full functionality. This version also has a set of languages coming in at the same time as the original English version thanks to a series of what Microsoft says are volunteers – well done!

Bulgarian: Nikolina Filipova & Nikolay Filipov
Czech: Petr Silon
Dutch: Kees Koenders
German: Claudius Henrichs & Dick Schiferli
Lithuanian: Viktoras Kriukovas
Norwegian: Stig Auestad
Polish: Karol Szastok
Portuguese: Francisco Ferreira
Romanian: Péter & Mónika Henning

[via Skype]

Robert Berman, President and CEO of CopyTele, stated that for 30 years, the company focused on making products based on its technology, but now the company is geared towards making money off its patents. He calls this new business model “patent monetization”. Berman says that there are 100 other web-conference companies like Skype that also infringes on CopyTele’s patents, but the company decided to go after Skype because of its size.

CopyTele has used this patent monetization model in the past when it sued AU Optronics and E Ink Holdings back in January. It sued the two companies back in January because they were allegedly infringing on its electrophoretic display patents. It also plans on targeting more companies soon. CopyTele recently acquired two new patent portfolios related to loyalty programs, so in the future, we may see lawsuits against companies who have programs like frequent flyer miles, or an accumulative bonus points program for loyal customers.

Once CopyTele’s case with Skype is over, it may go after the other 100 web-conferencing companies that are allegedly infringing on its patents as well. According to TechCrunch, Berman says that the web-conference industry is a “$4 billion industry” and that this battle with Skype is just the “initiation of what will be a broader patent enforcement campaign.” He also states that the company will continue to acquire more patent portfolios so that it can go after more companies that provide “significant revenue opportunities”.

[via Forbes]

If you’re a Windows 8 user, or a Windows Phone user for that matter, you’ll be able to receive and view video messages but not actually create them. That will be added in “soon” Skype says, though is no more specific than that.

The new functionality basically switches Skype from a real-time communication platform to one more akin to email. Users record a brief video using their webcam and, upon selecting a recipient, it’s shuttled off to that contact’s inbox ready for when they’re next online.

Each message can be up to three minutes in length, and you get to send up to twenty of them for free; after that, you’ll need to cough up $4.99 per month for a Skype Premium account. The new beta also addresses some calling bugs in previous Windows versions, particularly when there’s no webcam plugged in.

The preview mode of Skype enables video and voice calls from within an Outlook.com inbox, reducing the number of words you have to type in communication, says Microsoft, by making it easy to make a phone call instead. If a phone call isn’t the right solution, a video call is also possible, and if neither of those work for you, instant messaging video Skype is also possible from within a user’s inbox.

If a video is worth a thousand words, the brief video above should give you a pretty good idea of how the service works, which shows a video call being placed from within an email by selecting the contact’s image and then the relevant Skype button. Needless to say, the user must have a Skype account to use the service, with the account and Outlook.com accounts being merged.

The new feature is available via a browser plugin, which is available for Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox. Contacts can be merged from Skype with Outlook contacts once the plugin is downloaded and the accounts tied together. If you’re a frequent user of both Skype and Outlook.com, you’ll be guaranteed to have the preview by this summer, possibly sooner if you’re located in either the US or Germany.

[via Skype]

All of the logos seemed flattened out, matching the design scheme that Microsoft is currently going with. The approach that Microsoft was trying to go for was to create products that feature similar looking logos, but are still identified as their own brand. Simmons, whose company has been working with Microsoft for quite a while, says that while coming up with Microsoft’s new look, they were influenced by Nike’s design. He says,

“We thought about Nike. When you experience the Nike brand in whatever form you may experience it, there’s always a Nikeness right… you can certainly see it without the logo.”

The focal point of this rebranding has to do with the consumers. According to Shum and Simmons, “people, reach, and choice” were the prime reasons for this change. They both want to align design, marketing, product, and branding all into one “harmonious” package. They wanted to stray away from Microsoft being just a big business with products, and be more of a business that represents the consumers that use its products.

In the presentation, Simmons and Shum provided sketches of what some of the new logos may be. In the video above, you can see the concept logo that they have for Bing. These new logo rebrands are all part of a process Microsoft calls “re-imagining” itself. Simmons says that the entire project is a huge risk, especially since they’re rebranding products used by millions of people, but that you can’t be innovative without taking a chance.

[via The Verge]

That puts the potential audience for Skype on BlackBerry 10 relatively low, at least for the moment, though plans to update Z10 devices to OS 10.1 are already afoot. Skype says that BlackBerry expects that to happen “in the near future” at which point the app will install.

Though described as a “preview”, Skype for BlackBerry 10 does show some significant integration into the core platform. Based on a port of the Android version, rather than built natively for BB10 from the ground up, it has a new UI – suited to the Q10′s squared-off touchscreen – and automatically funnels Skype contacts into the smartphone’s phonebook.

There’s also Skype notification support in the BlackBerry Hub, which means incoming chat requests, file transfers, and contact invite requests – among other things – will pop up in the unified inbox BlackBerry refined for its latest platform. The app can be used for sharing photos, videos, and other files, as well as for making SkypeOut calls to phones not using Skype.

Skype for BlackBerry 10 is already in the BlackBerry World store, where it’s a free download.

Such is the case with the good news that BlackBerry has announced this week. BlackBerry announced on Wednesday that the Skype application is finally hitting BlackBerry 10 devices. Skype is hardly a new service having had applications for Apple and Android users for a very long time.

Skype will allow BlackBerry users to place voice over phone calls and chat with their contacts right from their BlackBerry device. BlackBerry says that the Skype application will be available on its new Q10 smartphone on the day the smartphone launches. The Q10 will be available in Canada on May 1.

An exact launch date for that smartphone in the US hasn’t been offered, but BlackBerry has said it will be available for US fans by the end of May. The Q10 is the second BlackBerry device running the company’s new BlackBerry 10 operating system. The first was the BlackBerry Z10, which we reviewed back in February.

[via Reuters]

Tesla cancelled plans for a cheaper,smaller battery version of its Model S vehicle, but later on it announced a revolutionary financing product to help make its Model S vehicles affordable to customers. Apple’s next two iPhones were said to be in production while Steve Jobs was still alive, and in related news, Apple issued an apology to China over its “unfair” warranty policies. The Pirate Bay also took the crown as the world’s largest file-sharing website.

Verizon and AT&T are reportedly placing a joint bid for Vodafone. Apple’s iPhone 5S is said to be currently in production, and AT&T, along with other carriers, states that the HTC One will begin shipping on April 19th. Windows Blue will reportedly be Windows 8.1 and be released within a few months, and Samsung’s new phablet will reportedly be called the Samsung Galaxy Mega and will have a 6.3-inch display. The 2nd-gen Nexus 7 is rumored to be released in July, and Samsung and Mozilla are working together on a new web browser engine. The USPTO invalidated Apple’s Bounce-Back patent once again, and Activision laid off 40 full-time employees after they finished development for its Deadpool game.

Facebook’s Event kicked off on April 4th, where it announced its new Android product, Facebook Home, which will be released on April 12th for multiple devices. It will have many features, like Chat Heads messaging and a Cover Feed lockscreen. It will be embedded on the AT&T’s exclusive HTC First, but you can easily disable the software with this guide. Be sure to check out SlashGear’s hands-on guide with both Facebook Home and the HTC First. Samsung is expected to launch “Experience Shops” in 1400 Best Buys to rival Apple’s mini-shops.

The full SXSW Google Glass demonstration video is now available for viewing. Images for the BlackBerry R10 leaked showing a low-end QWERTY Blackberry 10 device. An ITC Judge stated in a preliminary ruling that Samsung infringed on Apple’s text-selection patent, and a German court invalidated Apple’s slide-to-unlock patent. A Skype trojan has been reported to be going around globally, turning PCs into Bitcoin miners, and HP chairman Raymond Lane has decided to step down from his position. That’s all for today’s Weekend Wrap-up! Be sure to check out the Evening Wrap-Up tag portal for more in-depth news for each day of this week.

The trojan is going around via a Skype instant message. The translated message says, “This is my favorite picture of you”, and provides a shortened link. The trojan is spreading quickly, with an average 2000 clicks per hour. Kaspersky has identified the trojan as “Trojan.Win32.Jorik.IRCbot.xkt”, and the process it runs as bitcoin-miner.exe. The malware connects to a C2 server located in Germany with the IP address: 213.165.68.138:9000.

The malware immediately takes control of your computer and increases the victim’s CPU usage drastically. While the trojan’s primary use is for Bitcoin mining, it’s not its only capability. Bitcoin mining isn’t lucrative with just one PC, however, if there are many PCs infected and aimed towards a specific Bitcoin mining pool, it can be worthwhile.

This new trojan is speculated to have surfaced due to the meteoric rise in Bitcoin value. Late last month, it was reported that the value of a Bitcoin was $92, a number that has now reached about $140. The constant rise in value of Bitcoin is more than enough to drive many devious hackers to get creative. So in order to protect yourself from being infected, make sure to get an anti-virus software, and keep it up-to-date. Also be wary of suspicious Skype messages and shortened URLs. We’ll keep you updated if there are any resolutions to this issue.

[via Kaspersky]

Skype gives us a general idea of what someone can do in 2 billion minutes. It says that 2 billion minutes equals “33 million hours of people singing, laughing, joking, and staying in touch.” It also equals 1,388,000 days, more than 3,805 years, spent on Skype in just a single day. You could travel to the moon and back over 225,000 times, or even walk around the Earth more than 845 times. There are many more examples Skype provides that shows us just how amazing 2 billion minutes spent on Skype means.

There is always something Skype is looking to add onto its service. Just a couple of months ago, Skype added a new video messaging feature to its service that lets users send personal video recordings to their friends. Users are only limited to 20 video messages, however, they can always upgrade to a premium Skype account to send an unlimited amount. That way, you can send as many 3-minute long videos to your friends as you want.

As of right now, Skype is focusing more on enhancing its service on the Windows Phone 8 platform. It has recently added HD Video calling to Windows Phone 8 devices and will integrate your Skype contacts into your device so that you can call or message them straight from the People Hub. You are able to send a quick instant message, or make a free VoIP call through WiFi or 3G. Skype is asking its users to tweet to it using the #2billion hashtag and telling it what they use their minutes for.

[via Skype]

The reason the new ban is being considered has to do with the Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber VoIP applications not complying with rules within Saudi Arabia that allow for the monitoring of phone calls. Strangely, while the Saudi Arabia and Communications and Information Technology Commission has said that it will take “appropriate action regarding these applications” it hasn’t said specifically which conditions the applications are failing to meet. Reports have indicated that the problem the Saudi Arabia government has is that it’s unable to monitor communications made using those apps.

CNN reported that the threats likely stem from the fact that last week political protests were organized using WhatsApp. This sort of political demonstration is against the law in Saudi Arabia. When the government in Saudi Arabia took offense to communications made using the BlackBerry network, the problem was that the encryption used prevented the government from monitoring the communications channel.

The Saudi Arabian government said that the inability to monitor the channel meant that it could be used to threaten national security. At this time, all three of the apps in question remain available according to reports from within Saudi Arabia.

[via CNET]

This marks the first time that Skype has enabled HD video chatting in its smartphone app, and it’s compatible with any new Windows Phone 8 device that supports HD video recording, like the Nokia Lumia 920, HTC 8X, and the Samsung Ativ S. On devices that don’t support HD video, Skype will automatically use VGA video instead.

The app will also automatically set the video quality based on the speed of your WiFi or data connection, and Skype callers can use either the front-facing or rear-facing cameras, as well as switch between portrait and landscape mode for both cameras. Overall, the addition of HD quality should make calls a lot more pleasant.

The People Hub integration also makes it easier to start a Skype call with someone. All your Skype contacts will automatically be added to the People Hub on your Windows Phone device, that way you can start up a Skype call without having to open up the app in the first place. You can also switch between user accounts for Skype calls.

Arcep contacted local prosecutors in Paris today in order to enforce its demands. Jean Francois Hernandez, an Arcep spokesperson, said, “It’s about the fact that when you act as a French operator that you have to register as an operator.” He also stated that “when” Skype becomes a local operator, it will be required to declare its earnings in France to tax authorities and be subjected to the local taxes.

Some telecommunication operators have chimed in with their own opinions as well. Stéphane Richard, chief executive of France Télécom, believes that Skype, and several other VoIP companies have an unfair advantage over regular telecommunications companies, where they are able to perform the same types of services without having to share the revenue. He said that by making Skype a local operator, the telecommunications industry would be a more “balanced regulatory environment”.

Microsoft has spoken with the French authorities and has stated that Skype is not “a provider of electronic communications services under French law”, and that they will work with Arcep in a “constructive fashion”. It should be noted that European Union law does not consider Skype or other VoIP services to be telecommunications companies, an issue that Arcep is currently questioning as well.

[via Forbes]

The updated call screen features a more polished design that is easy on the eyes and appealing while the functionality is mostly the same as what users are familiar with. Those who have used the app regularly will notice the change immediately, while others who haven’t used it for awhile will notice that things “feel” cleaner and more modern.

The redesign aside, there have been a number of problems solved, such as conversations now showing up in the correct order. Messages in conversations won’t be listed as edited unless they actually have been when the save button is pressed, making it easier to keeps tabs on things. In addition, the popover being dismissed from the incoming call screen, and cursor focus has been fixed for text editing in the profile.

VoiceOver is now applicable for reading more than before, including unread message labels (only for the iPad, however), as well as the “+” button, the “Show side bar” button, and “Skype Terms of Use.” Another nice tweak deals with picture preview with file transfer; the image will be displayed in the proper rotation for both incoming and outgoing.

There are a few issues, however, two with conversations and three with VoiceOver. In conversations, the last scroll position isn’t saved and users have to log in again to see the Chat/SMS button if the contact added a phone number to its profile during a chat. With VoiceOver, there are problems with incorrect readings of chat text labels, background items can be selected when the left side bar is at the top, and unread messages can’t be read on the iPhone. Fixes are in progress for all of them.

[via Skype]

Each video you’ll be leaving as a message will be able to be approximately 3 minutes in length. Inside the USA and the UK this update will be rolling out over the course of the day with other countries coming soon if enough interest is shown. Skype has currently not given a specific reason as to why each of the other major mobile and desktop operating systems have been included in this update while Windows was left out.

And this isn’t the only service that’s recently been boosted in its ability to leave messages when a person’s friends are away. Facebook’s mobile app was updated to include voice messaging just this past month, while BlackBerry 10 was introduced with ooVoo for 12-person video chat. The many different ways people are able to connect with one another aside from typing with their keyboard are quickly becoming a hot commodity – different, if not entirely better, that is.

And remember – if you want more than 20 video messages in the very near future (at least in this early Beta stage here at the start of this functionality) you’ll have to grab yourself a premium account – have at it! Have a peek at the timeline below for more Skype-related news to see where the service is going in the very near future. Also be sure to let us know if you see one of these updates and find it to be excellent!

[via AllThingsD]

Microsoft is planning begin the upgrade process from Messenger to Skype on April 8, and the process is expected to take a few weeks to complete. The company will start with English-speaking users, and will then move onto its Brazilian Portuguese users on April 30 or later. By then, Microsoft says all its users should be good to go.

Back in January, Microsoft sent a mass email to all of its Messenger users, noting that beginning on March 15, Microsoft will begin to discontinue Messenger for a “test group” comprising a small handful of the “tens of millions” of users. Then come April 8, a full transition will begin for all users.

The phase out for Messenger is only for the desktop version, as it represents the majority of Messenger users. However, Skype execs have not provided a timetable as to when Microsoft plans to retire the Messenger service on mobile platforms, but it’ll probably only be a matter of time before the company gets around to that.

With Google+ invading on not just Skype’s territory here, but Facebook Messanger’s as well, it’s not surprising to see updates coming in faster and faster each month. Back when Google+ was first introduced, Hangouts were all but a whisper on the radars of their future competitors. Now it would appear that Google+, a social network of some note, is sending the message loud and clear: “we want everyone!”

This update comes from Google developer Tim Blasi who writes specifically to those of you out there working with “low and/or unreliable connectivity.” With the Bandwidth Slider you’ll be able to literally push the quality of your video feed up or down for quality based on how powerful your web connection will allow. This will also be nice for those of you that want to video chat but don’t need the top quality you’re allowed.

With Audio-Only Mode you’ve got a one-button tap to take you out of the video game entirely. This button has you continue to speak in a group Hangout as you normally would, but with your profile image replacing what would normally be your video feed. Sound like a winning combination to you?

We’ve also this week seen an update for Skype for iOS that included automatic call recovery as well as instant messaging improvements. The war is getting hot right here and now! Have a peek at the timeline below to see what Google+ Hangouts has brought to the table over the past few months as well.

[via Google+]

The iPhone version of the app now features emergency call routing right through the native dialer, and on the iPad, there’s an improved UI that allows for a “simple swipe from the left of the screen to see your recent conversations in a sidebar.” Plus, there’s improved spacing and minor UI changes for the iPad mini.

Another new feature of the iPad version is the ability to add money to your Skype account from within the iPad app. This is mostly useful for those who don’t really access Skype on their computer and want the iPad app to be fully-featured. However, this new feature is limited to only Estonia, France, Sweden, the UK, and the US for now.

Other than that, there were plenty of bugfixes in the update as well. These included incorrect timestamps, calls not ending, etc. Overall, the app should run a lot smoother now. Sadly, the Android version of Skype has not been updated with these features, but it just may be a matter of time before the dev team gets around to it.

Exactly who is powering Facebook’s new VoIP service is unclear, though Skype had been a reasonable guess. The two companies partnered back in 2011 to add video calling to Facebook chat conversations in the desktop browser; a new button triggered the calls, with no extra software to download or install.

Since then, Skype has been progressively building Facebook integration into its desktop apps, including simple Facebook to Facebook video calls initiated by clicking on the user’s friend list, rather than requiring their Skype username. Now, however, the Microsoft-owned Skype is focusing more on pushing its own mobile apps, most recently releasing a version for Windows Phone.

For Facebook, VoIP service is another example of it filling in the key spots in the phone industry with its own products, as it attempts to strengthen its mobile strategy and, eventually, monetize those users who access the social network via phones and/or tablets.

Earlier this week, the company announced Facebook Graph Search, a context-powered search engine intended to give personalized results based on the activities and preferences of the users’ friends. Under the hood, Facebook uses Microsoft’s Bing search engine to power the new system.

Contacts’ online statuses are now displayed from within Outlook via their contact cards, including mood messages and contact data. Calls can be initiated from within Skype regardless of whether the contact is a Skype friend. Once the contact’s phone number is added to Outlook’s contacts, a call can be initiated. Obviously, you have to have a Skype subscription or credit.

In addition to placing calls, users can also sent an instant message to any contact who also uses Skype. Likewise, if the contact has Skype, a video call can be initiated from within Outlook rather than just an audio call. This differs from above because the contact must have Skype. The feature is available for those using Outlook 2010 or higher.

In addition to Outlook integration, Skype 6.1 for Windows allows users to find contacts by searching for them via the contacts list. Profiles have been altered so that information is more accessible and the entire design is easier to navigate. Some account options have been added as well, such as an easier method to get a subscription.

[via Skype]

This migration has been brewing since Microsoft purchase Skype in May of 2011 for a whopping $8.5 billion. After the March 15 deadline, messenger will only continue to work in mainland China. This is reportedly because Skype is operated by a local provider called TOM in mainland China.

Microsoft is urging users to go ahead and update to Skype and sign in using a Microsoft Account, which is the same as the users Messenger ID. The good thing is that all of the users Messenger contacts will be available and users will be able to instant messaging video chat with them via Skype just as they did previously on Messenger.

Microsoft previously promised that Messenger would be retired in Q1 of 2013, but the exact date was only revealed this week. Messenger users will be given the option to merge your own accounts and message both Skype and Messenger contacts.

[via TheNextWeb]

This update brings on the ability to call Skype users with your Skype account over wi-fi or your 3G connection for free. You can now make free video calls to anyone working with Skype, you can make “low cost” calls to any other human on the planet (they using a phone without Skype, in this case), and you can send instant messages to groups (as well as regular IMs now as well).

You can also sign in now with your Microsoft Account (not just a Skype account) and send instant messages with your buddies galore! This update requires Windows Phone 8 to run and requires a minimum of 512MB of memory to run effectively. The version you’re updating to is numbered 2.1.0.241 and wont take you one whole heck of a lot of time to download if you’re working with wi-fi.

This update is still a preview, we must remind you once more, this is a preview release. They’re not saying is a Beta, but it might as well be titled as such. Feel free to download this app at will, but be on the alert for bugs! Let us know how it goes for you!

Here we’re to understand that the next-generation service will be attached to Skype Premium uses who already pay $8.99 a month to get bonus privileges for communicating with their best friends and colleagues. In this update it may very well be that they’ll be able to “send and receive an unlimited number of Video Messages”, so says IT World. This update also mentions that “any Video Messages you send and/or receive shall have no expiry date.” Sounds pretty solid for a video message service, wouldn’t you say?

This service will be extended to non-premium users as well in a bit of a lesser-awesome way: “If you are not a Skype Premium subscriber, the number of Video Messages you can send are limited, however you can receive an unlimited number of Video Messages.” So receive away, folks, it’s time to get video like mad!

“As a non-Skype Premium subscriber any Video Message you send or receive will expire within 90 days, except for Video Messages received from a Skype Premium subscriber or where you upgrade to a Skype Premium subscription before the 90 day expiry period ends, and in either case the Video Message shall cease to have an expiry date.” – Skype

This could very well have a giant effect on the way we communicate with one another if such a service takes hold. Much in the same way we understand that a relationship is not official until Facebook makes it so, it may be the case very soon that we get offended when someone sends us a mere text message when they should be recording a video – your privacy, coming up!

[via The Verge]

Users are now able to login to the Skype app using either their Messenger, Hotmail, or Outlook.com credentials, and then merge their accounts once they’re in. Users can also chat with their friends who use any of these Microsoft services straight from Skype, thanks to the integrated Microsoft account support.

If you have an iOS device with a Retina display, you can now also enjoy animated emoticons. We’re not sure why Skype limited this new feature to only Retina displays, but if you’re using a last-gen iDevice, you’re stuck using the inanimate emoticons until you can upgrade, but it’s probably not a huge deal for most users.

The updated app also lets you set up a new Skype account from directly within the iOS app. It also allows you to edit instant messages you’ve sent to your friends by tapping and holding individual messages. And as usual, you’ll find that Skype also included a handful of bug fixes and general performance enhancements.

Skype for iOS is a free download, and the new update is available now in the iTunes App Store.

However, we noticed that the new Skype update on the Nexus 7 is landscape only, and the camera is portrait style, meaning that the camera doesn’t use up as much of the screen as it could. Definitely a bummer indeed, but the update still brings a lot of new design tweaks to Android tablets, and we can’t complain too much about it.

Skype for Android 3.0 also brings support for the company’s audio codec, SILK. The codec was designed to improve sound specifically with the human voice, so that talking would sound more crisp and clear. The codec collaborates with your internet connection speed, so that the audio quality is optimized as much as it can be.

Overall, the new additions are welcomed, but we noticed the app ran a little too slow for our liking, especially when launching the app, since the splash screen stays on for a good 8-10 seconds. Either way, try it out for yourself. The Skype update is out now and it’s available at the Google Play store.

Skype is offering both digital and physical gift cards that offer $10 or more in credits. These can be used either for the service’s VoIP calling or even some Skype WiFi at the airport. If you want a customizable Skype gift card, you’ll have to get one online, but if you’re looking for a physical gift card, the Microsoft Store, OfficeMax and Target have them available.

While $10 may not sound like a lot, Skype reassures you that $10 will get you plenty of calling time with your favorite people. They even made a quick infographic comparing different things that $10 will buy you compared to calling people over Skype. For instance, $10 will roughly buy you 1.62 cups of beer, according to Skype, but it will also get you a one-month premium subscription to Skype. When they put it that, it certainly sounds like a deal.

For those who live overseas from their family, a Skype gift card can certainly be a great Christmas gift. While Skype-to-Skype calls are free no matter where you’re located, calling landlines and mobile phones can cost a few pennies depending on who you’re calling, so if a family doesn’t have access to a computer, a Skype gift card is great for those who are forced to use a landline or cell phone.

Skype-to-Skype calls have always been free inside of the country, but if you ever wanted to call your dear Aunt Tilda who lives across the pond, you have to make use of your Skype credits. Same thing goes for calling landline phones and mobile devices. However, Skype is making all of that free for one month starting today.

We’re not sure if a lot of people actually make phone calls nowadays, but if something’s free, you might as well as take advantage of it. There is, however, a “fair usage policy”, meaning that you can’t chit-chat for too long and hog the line, and premium and satellite numbers remain ineligible. Still, though, the policy seems pretty generous.

You’ll also have to attach some sort of payment method to your account, just in case you want to use it after your free one month is out, and international calling is eligible in over 40 countries. You must claim your free month by the end of today, so be sure to head to Skype’s website as soon as possible to grab your free month.

[via Ubergizmo]

According to initial reports, the hack was facilitated by Skype’s handling of new account setups which, paired with the way account recovery was managed, created a way for third-parties to change the passwords of existing users. By attempting to create a new account using an email address already used by an existing user, Skype would give a reminder of that existing username.

A second stage to the exploit allowed the password to be reset by the interloper. If the targeted user was not paying attention to their account, they could find they were locked out and their Skype credit – as well as the cloud-hosted chat logs from the past few months, which Skype offers no way to delete – were accessible by a third party.

“Early this morning we were notified of user concerns surrounding the security of the password reset feature on our website. This issue affected some users where multiple Skype accounts were registered to the same email address. We suspended the password reset feature temporarily this morning as a precaution and have made updates to the password reset process today so that it is now working properly. We are reaching out to a small number of users who may have been impacted to assist as necessary. Skype is committed to providing a safe and secure communications experience to our users and we apologise for the inconvenience” Skype

However, Skype is yet to comment on suggestions that the Russian hackers who initially identified the flaw alerted the company several months ago, but received no acknowledgement of the issue. We’ve reached out to Skype for further comment on the allegations.

Although a signed-in user will be able to see when somebody else attempts the hack, they would need to react fast in order to actually prevent themselves from being locked out. If they were not logged in at the time, or not paying sufficient attention, then they could have their Skype credentials usurped – along with any credit on that account – without them even realizing it had happened.

Skype is apparently conducting an “internal investigation” into the loophole, though for now there’s no official comment on when it might be closed off. The hack was first reported on a Russian forum roughly two months ago, it’s said, with the person responsible for discovering the exploit claiming to have told Skype about it with no apparent change in recovery security.

For the moment, the best advice is to change your registered email in the Skype settings to something that might not be associated with your account. That reduces the likelihood, though we’ll need to see a change in how accounts are handled by Skype itself before the hack is closed down for good.

Update: More complete instructions for the workaround can be found here, courtesy of Reddit:

Log in on skype.com
Go to the profile, click Edit and add an email address an attacker won’t guess. (Or your-email+something@gmail.com if you’re using Gmail)
Click Save
Click Edit again, set the new address as Primary
Click Save, enter the password and click the Enter button
Delete the old email

Update 2: Skype has given us the following statement:

“We have had reports of a new security vulnerability issue. As a precautionary step we have temporarily disabled password reset as we continue to investigate the issue further. We apologise for the inconvenience but user experience and safety is our first priority”

The software offered in the preview will give users all of the Skype basic functions and a new and modern design. The pre-version will also allow users to check out many of the new features of Skype including the People Hub and a contact list this combined with buddies from Windows Live Messenger. Skype also says that users of the preview will receive some call a message notifications.

Those notifications will be received even when the app is closed and running in the background. The final release version of Skype for Windows Phone 8 will bring a new era on Skype on mobile according to the developers. The features that will bring this new era include making Windows Phone 8 users always reachable even when the app is closed.

Users will be able to start a chat with Skype contacts right from the People Hub and users will be able to keep up with new messages as they are received via Live Tiles. Windows Phone 8 users who want to check out the Skype for Windows 8 preview can download it via the Store right now. Those who download the preview version will receive an update on the full version is available.

SITW is free to use, and utilizes the existing Skype network in such a way that small businesses and entrepreneurs can form connections with other businesses, as well as customers and potential partners. Users can create public invitations for offers and opportunities, which other users can then take advantage of. The two parties can then communicate over Skype, giving product demonstrations, business proposals, or similar activities. The receiving party can provide a public testimonial if they desire after it’s over.

Skype’s Head of SMB Marketing Ural Cebeci offered this statement. “With more than 280 million connected users each month, Skype offers a huge range of contacts for the small-business community. We aim to connect millions of small businesses with Skype in the workspace and believe that, by taking advantage of this shared network, businesses can develop the range of tools they need to grow, regardless of location or industry. From the designer in San Francisco looking to source textile suppliers in Thailand to the London consultant connecting with clients in Milan, the possibilities are endless.”

All you need to sign up is a regular Skype account, which you’ll use to join SITW. After logging in to your Skype account, you’ll click “Create an Opportunity” on the Skype website, where you’ll be prompted to create an SITW profile. Soon you’ll be presented with the “Create your Opportunity” screen, where you choose a demonstration length, upload a photo or video if you want, and write an information bit about your opportunity and why users should connect with you to learn more.

[via Microsoft]

Microsoft will be completely discontinuing Windows Live Messenger worldwide in early 2013, and are encouraging users to update to the latest version of Skype in order to merge their Windows Live Messenger accounts with their Skype accounts. As a part of the discontinuation process, Microsoft will merge over 100 million Messenger users to Skype.

In order to transition over to Skype, just download the latest version, then select the option to sign in with your Microsoft account on the sign in screen. You will then be asked if you’re already using Skype or are a new user. If you use Skype and Messenger already, you can merge your Skype and Messenger account into your Microsoft account.

Skype says it will assist users over the coming months to smoothly transition over from Windows Live Messenger. The move is nothing too surprising — it seemed obvious that Microsoft wanted to take advantage of its acquisition of the popular IM and video chat client. So far, it looks like Microsoft is on the right track to do that.

The Verge has learned “through several sources” that Windows Live Messenger will be retired sometime within the next couple of months, and some of the features will be integrated into Skype. It’s said that Microsoft will announce the shut down of Windows Live Messenger as early as this week, and will start to merge its users over to Skype.

Microsoft has already been slowly moving its efforts over to Skype when it released version 6.0 for OS X and Windows, where users could begin to login to Skype using their Windows Live Messenger accounts. It was ultimately a move that hinted at the retirement of Microsoft’s long-lived IM chat client.

No official word from Microsoft as of yet, but we’ll keep our ear to floor if any updates decide to come through. Frankly, we’re not to surprised by the rumors and we’d be shocked if they weren’t true. Skype is an extremely popular chat client now in the hands of Microsoft, and it certainly makes sense that they would apply more focus to it over their other lesser-known offerings.

[via The Verge]

As with other types of prepaid card, the Skype vouchers will have a simple scratch-off panel on the rear. That will reveal a PIN code which, when entered at Skype’s site, adds credit to a new or existing account.

Microsoft-owned Skype hopes that the cards will encourage premium service adoption among a new audience of users, who might be unwilling or unable to register credit card details with the service. That will become all the more important as Skype on Windows Phone 8 gains traction – or attempts to – with Microsoft counting on VoIP over data connections taking market share from traditional mobile voice calls.

Skype cards will be offered in over 1,400 locations in the UK, “with more to follow” according to the company. They can also be used to pay toward international calls for those planning to use Skype while abroad, such as to avoid hotel phone charges.

This update allows Skype to work just as intuitively as your phone. You can video chat here with a tap – just as you’ve been able to chat with your phone or your text messaging in the past. With Skype on always, it’s as if the Windows Phone 8 universe is as tied up with this giant chat beast as it is with SMS.

This is a giant deal for Microsoft who also made a big deal of their Skype integration on Windows 8 – with this boost from Microsoft, Skype is ready to stay a giant name in the video chat business. As it were though, should one or the other fail, Skype may well fall with it. With cross-over deal happening, both Skype and Microsoft are ready to harvest the power of brand trust – one must be excellent if they work with the other.

Stick around and see how both brands expand and how Skype will truly be integrated with the Windows Phone 8 world in the very near future!

This update also brings Windows Phone 8 into a new age for a collection of applications including Angry Birds Roost, Words with Friends, Chase, Twitter, and Skype. The Windows 8 version of Skype is made with a new architecture – so too is the Windows Phone 8 edition. With Microsoft owning the bulk of Skype, you’ve got features that don’t appear on any other operating system.

Skype is one example of an app that doesn’t run in the background – it’s on all the time, but doesn’t drain your battery like a normal app would. True also is the set of apps that appear at your lockscreen. Temple Run is also coming to the Windows Phone 8 environment, as is the Star Wars version of Angry Birds.

Stay tuned to SlashGear for more Windows Phone 8 action all day long as we stay on the Microsoft event right here in our Microsoft portal!

Instead, you can use your existing Facebook or Microsoft credentials to log in, and if you choose the latter then the various chat services Microsoft offers will instantly be supported too. Microsoft had already been talking up its Skype for Windows 8 app, completely redesigned to suit the Metro-style UI.

In the pipeline, meanwhile, is the ability to break out chat conversations into different windows so as to more easily monitor them on the Mac app; that’s already enabled in the PC version. There’ll also be the ability to make audio/video calls directly to Windows Live Messenger users from the Skype app, which Microsoft says is due in the “coming weeks.”

Skype is a free download, though there are premium services which you can pay for. Those include unlimited voice calls to landlines, group video chats for up to ten participants, and instant live-chat support from Skype itself.

First and foremost, Skype will be getting its own Live tile on the Start page, allowing you to launch the program with a single click (or touch, if you’re using a touch screen). The Skype Live tile will display missed messages or calls right there on the Start page, so you can easily see if someone is trying to get in touch with you. Once you launch Skype, you’ll see your recent calls and messages displayed next to your favorite contacts.

With Windows 8, Skype will always be running in the background, so you’ll be able to get message and call alerts on the desktop even if you’re using a different app or program. Skype has also launched a special full-screen mode with this version of the app, and checking out the video below, we have to say that it looks perfect for touch screens. The new Skype also comes with support for the Windows 8 People app, allowing you to integrate all of your Skype contacts and get in touch through the app, which acts as something of a digital address book.

As if that weren’t enough, Windows 8 users also have the ability to snap Skype to the left or right of their screen, so they can continue the conversation as they look at another app. All in all, it looks pretty cool, and it will be available on the Windows 8 Store on October 26 – the same day the new OS launches. Still on the fence when it comes to Windows 8? Have a look at our review to see what we think about it!