Top-up increments of $4.99 and $9.99 are supported, though if your friends and family use Vonage VoIP accounts for their home or business line then you might not need to bother. Calls to those numbers are also free, though you don’t need to be a Vonage subscriber to use the new mobile app.

As you’d hope, there’s integration with your phone’s address book, and you’re contacted via your existing mobile number. For the moment, Vonage is also throwing in free calls to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico from anywhere in the world.

The iPhone and Android smartphones are supported, along with the iPad and iPod touch. You can find Vonage Mobile in the App Store and the Android Market.

That integration isn’t expected to arrive until Windows Phone 8, according to leaks earlier this week. The updated smartphone OS will apparently offer deep hooks for Skype integration, though the VoIP service won’t be specifically baked into the platform, allowing internet-base calls to be handled just as easily as traditional voice calls.

This first iteration, therefore, will be a standalone app, though that’s likely enough to keep Windows Phone users satisfied for the time being. It’s been a point of frustration for adopters of the platform that, while Microsoft now owns Skype, so far most rival mobile platforms have access to a version whereas Windows Phone does not.

The practicalities of a Mobile World Congress launch depend on how well internal testing goes, it’s claimed, though the Skype app itself is said to be “near complete.” We’ve already suggested that Skype – and some clever investment by Microsoft – could be the wildcard Windows Phone needs, and it seems that time may well be close at hand.

The group sharing feature allows you to share photos with a group of friends or share your screen to give a presentation to as many as 10 people. That group screen sharing feature is available Skype Premium, and the premium service includes group video calling along with live chat with customer support. The update also allows users of the Windows platform to check Facebook news feeds from within Skype and to send messages to or video call Facebook friends.

Those last features are in Skype for Windows Beta. The new 5.8 version also supports full HD video calling, push to talk, Skype updater service, Bing toolbar integration, and the ability to hide offline Facebook contacts. The 1080p video calling requires the Logitech C920 Web Cam. The new 5.8 version of the software is available for download right now.

Currently, 4G devices on Verizon’s network use LTE for data, if the service is available, but rely on 3G for voice calls. VoLTE, however, would route voice over the capacious data network, with Verizon demonstrating the technology back in early 2011 on a prototype LG Revolution

A full launch in 2013 wouldn’t, of course, preclude a more limited-scale roll out in 2012 as originally promised, and since the tech requires LTE coverage anyway it would give Verizon a chance to further extend its 4G network.

Verizon has already committed to including LTE support in all its future smartphones, including presumably the next-gen iPhone, and to have nationwide LTE coverage completed in 2013. “We’re continuing to work on VoLTE and the services it brings,” a Verizon spokesperson said on the rumors, “and will share any launch or availability plans in due course.”

[via Android Community]

Plans to integrate WebRTC into Chrome were revealed last summer, with the tech being an open-source way to call upon standardized voice/video communication without stepping outside of the browser. Eventually, it could mean apps like Google Talk – which is being migrated over to use WebRTC – could challenge rivals like Skype from any standards-compliant browser, rather than demanding a separate app be installed.

That would have a significant impact on mobile devices and web-appliances like Chromebooks, which could get onboard with audio and video communication without waiting on developers releasing native apps. As we suggested last year, a Google-led iMessage rival could end up blowing Apple out of the water in IM and comms.

Meanwhile, WebRTC also has potential for cloud-based streaming services such as OnLive gaming, another element tipped for inclusion in a future Chrome build. What remains to be seen is when WebRTC support gets baked into Gmail and Google+, which each have A/V services that could make significant use of it.

Details on just how embedded Skype will eventually be are in short supply, bar the fact that it’s in the works. Skype CEO Tony Bates confirmed the consolidation this past week, suggesting that it would follow on from a more typical standalone app as is available on other platforms. It’s no great surprise, though; back when Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Skype, it was keen to stress its vision of the “ubiquity of the Skype experience” with “communication across every device and every platform.”

Not all platforms are created equal, and when you have the keys to the toolbox you can do far more than tinker. Microsoft’s ambitions for Skype undoubtedly extend to differentiating Windows Phone with a service that has already accrued no small amount of traction. Adding VoIP as another option for voice calls is an obvious one, as is presence indication in a harmonized contacts list. Skype IM support could easily be built into Messenger, and Windows Phones bearing front-facing cameras – and crying out for a cross-platform video call app – are slowly growing in number.

There’s finessing your platform, however, and there’s ratcheting up the challenge until it’s not just an iPhone-threat but a real game-changer. VoIP has always been the service carriers have feared, a way of bypassing their cost structures around local, national and international calls, and instead shifting to a world where distance is all but irrelevant and an hour’s talk is or a matter of cents or even free.

For it to work, though, it needs a tipping point in users. Try to figure which of your friends are on Qik, which on Fring, which on any of the other would-be VoIP challengers, and it soon seems a whole lot less trouble to just make a regular phone call. Skype, though, already has the userbase; now it just needs a concerted effort to build it into a platform that makes saving money with VoIP transparent.

As a user, I don’t want to have to figure the relative costs of traditional cell calls versus VoIP; I just want to hit dial. If I tell my Windows Phone that I want to make the cheapest voice calls possible, I need it to automatically figure out which times to use Skype – and whether over WiFi or packet-data – and which time to dip into whatever bundle of voice minutes I might have left. All or nothing doesn’t help me – is a free VoIP call that over a paid data connection better value than a cellular voice call, or worse? – what I need is a handset that can figure that out for me.

If Microsoft could fathom that, instill Windows Phone with the sense to not only suckle at the dumb pipe but to do so with an eye on moderation not gluttony, it would offer a genuinely different option in the smartphone market. More than that, it would open the door to a true alternative to the carriers of today. Ex-Googler and current Mozilla Labs design chief Kevin Fox suggested just that last year, pointing to Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype and – at the time fledgling – work with Nokia, and pondering whether the big software company had a big soft carrier plan in the pipeline:

“If over half of a soft carrier’s airtime minutes were carried over Wi-Fi rather than a leased cellular network, that carrier could beat a traditional mobile carrier on price even if the traditional carrier doubled their costs when they leased access to the soft carrier, and for every customer who only has 3G access there’s another who has almost exclusively Wi-Fi access, and over time the scales continue to tip toward the latter, steadily lowering soft-carrier costs. Rates could either be flat regardless of transport, averaging out the benefit to all customers, or discounts could be given to those who use Wi-Fi more often.”

Microsoft would do well to examine the mistakes and pitfalls of those which have gone before it, though; it isn’t the first big name in tech to consider challenging the carriers. Google’s original Nexus concept was a smartphone – Android-based, naturally – free of operator subsidy and the implicit ties a subsidy creates. Instead, the networks would be relegated to pipes, simple conduits for VoIP and the like, with users picking the phone of their dreams and then throwing service into the cart almost as an afterthought.

In actual fact, the Nexus project was – when viewed as a challenge to the domineering carriers – an abject failure. Soon Google’s “phone comes first” scheme was nothing more than a SIM-free Nexus One on sale with a hefty $500+ price tag online, while most went either to AT&T or T-Mobile USA to pay a more palatable $200. Google redressed the Nexus idea as a hardware showcase, focusing on herding its Android OEM partners in whichever direction Andy Rubin & Co. decided was best.

Could Microsoft, and Skype, and Nokia, do things differently? Skype certainly has the brand recognition Google Voice lacks, and both Nokia and Microsoft are certainly desperate enough to consider as wholesale a shake-up of the mobile market as possible to give them each room to flourish. Google arguably never really needed to do away with carriers, its interest was always getting Android – and mobile advertising – into the hands of as many customers as possible. If that means a dozen slightly different phones from a half-dozen vendors on each of the main carriers, then so be it.

Microsoft and Nokia lack that flexibility. The pair have already been struggling to gain mindshare in the all-important retail environment, reportedly digging deep into a $200m purse or thereabouts to fund the AT&T Lumia 900 release. A fair chunk of that cash will grease the palms of retail staff, encouraging them to push the new Windows Phone rather than its Android or iOS counterparts. At some point, though, launching each new handset on a bed of hundred dollar bills becomes counterproductive.

What Microsoft needs is a big WiFi backbone and an eager, perhaps mildly desperate carrier to deliver fall-back. T-Mobile USA would seem an obvious choice, left floundering in the aftermath of the AT&T deal collapse. Instead of coaxing carrier showfloor time for each and every launch, Microsoft could push Windows Phones and its companion soft carrier network in its own retail locations, as well as on Xbox LIVE and through Windows computers. That direct marketing would be talking to arguably the most likely users, too: those for whom Windows Phone’s PC and Xbox integration might strike a chord.

It’d take guts, and investment, and a fair amount of madness to do, but the alternative is watching Apple and Google eat up every last scrap in the mobile ecosystem. Skype alone can’t save Windows Phone, but it could certainly prove the key that unlocks Microsoft’s mobile future.

Microsoft acquired Skype back in October, at the time promising a “ubiquity of the Skype experience” and reassuring users that “communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus.” At the time, that was seen as a commitment to maintaining versions of Skype for Mac, Android, iOS and other platforms.

However, Skype could also be a significant draw for future iterations of Windows Phone. The VoIP company already owns a cross-platform IM app, GroupMe, bought back in August last year, while a deal with Facebook provides video calls between users of the social network, albeit currently only on the desktop. Meanwhile, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has already suggested that the company could use the VoIP tech to undermine reliance on traditional carriers.

If Microsoft can position its smartphone platform as one which not only clears the divide between cell calls and VoIP, but saves users money in the process, that could be a significant marketing point for Windows Phone. We’ll settle for a native Skype app in the meantime, however.

There’s also one-touch voicemail access, a speakerphone and a headset socket to plug in a separate wired headset. If you’re an Ooma Premier subscriber – which is $9.99 per month – you also get second line support, multi-ring, three-way conferencing, another US phone number and speakerphone call screening.

Ooma also says it will be pushing out new feature updates to the HD2 later on in the year, such as customizable ringtones for individuals and groups.

The Ooma HD2 handset will go on sale in March, priced at $59.99. You’ll obviously need a Ooma Telo base-station to use it with, however, which is priced at $199.99; up to four HD2 units can be paired with a single Telo.

[Image credit: Julian B]

I’m away from my family this holiday, and it seemed an excellent time to take advantage of Skype for a video call or two on Christmas day. The tech world may have raced ahead, but carriers and roaming phone calls still lag behind, and using my cellphone to ring could easily rack up a bill greater than I was spending on gifts. Trying to install Skype onto a regular Windows laptop, though, proved to be an irritant greater than forgetting to defrost the turkey.

My parents aren’t stupid, or even particularly tech-naive. They’ve managed to install routers and printers – something, along with scanners, almost guaranteed to get my blood boiling – by themselves before now, and they know how to run regular anti-virus and malware scans and keep their PCs in shapely condition.

Installing Skype, then, ought to have been an easy matter: we should’ve been video chatting within minutes. In actual fact, though, the convoluted online registration process – page after page of setting up a new account, uncertainty over what personal information was mandatory and what wasn’t (and being thrown back to the beginning when something was inadvertently left out, with no obvious indicator of why), then installing the app and being forced to put in that account information again, peppered with Skype’s attempts to encourage them to buy SkypeOut credit – stretched out what should’ve been a quick “make a connection” moment into a homework-like chore for my family and a remote frustration for me on the other end of the phone.

We take for granted that some elements of the technology world come more easily to us than others. We overlook elements of bad UI or confusing installer decisions, perhaps don’t even “see” them, because we generally understand what the designers “meant” to say. Those who aren’t immersed within this world suffer for that blasé attitude, are made to feel stupid or inept.

Technology can be wonderful: when all the pieces had finally slotted together, I quietly marveled at how my Galaxy Nexus could give me a clear view into my family’s living room several thousand miles away. I used Skype over WiFi on my phone to make several voice calls, too, at rates a fraction of what O2 would’ve charged me to roam onto T-Mobile USA’s network. But to have that video call with my family on Christmas Day, I had to create a new Skype account for them on my phone and read the login details out: the new account Skype had made for them simply wouldn’t let them log in.

Skype could have won some devoted customers over the holidays. Imagine an undemanding webpage – holiday themed, perhaps – promoting the simplicity and convenience of video calling, created in HTML5 maybe or using the same quick plugin as Skype made for Facebook’s video chat integration. A couple of clicks, a temporary username, and you’re talking with and waving to loved ones many miles away. At the end of the call, you’d have the option to convert that temporary account into a permanent one, perhaps receive a little tester SkypeOut credit with the prompt to “call a landline this Christmas.” Nothing overwhelming when people are stuffed full of festive food and simply want to connect. Show them how it works, demonstrate why they should want it, rather than making them jump through dozens of hoops first.

(In actual fact, the company ran a “free airport WiFi” promotion across the US. I used it myself in Detroit; there was no promotional material in the airport or when you connected to the network pointing out you could have an hour of free access, you had to guess to log in via Skype WiFi in the app itself rather than putting your Skype username into the Boingo roaming page, and, even when you’d done all that, it was still unclear whether you were going to be charged. Every ten minutes a warning dialog popped up asking if I wanted to extend my session, cautioning it would probably cost me each time (it didn’t). Even as a frequent hotspot user I was confused, and it would hardly have made a good impression with a novice.)

The barrier to geek nirvana is still too high. Previously it was a matter of price: a computer, or a smartphone, was expensive. Those who could afford them inevitably spent the time understanding their intricacies, to “make the most” of the functionality on offer. As prices have diminished, though, the headaches and confusions have persisted. The barrier is a more pervasive now, too, and the wonderful promises phones, tablets, computers and other tech make are all too often locked behind poor communication, unnecessary gimmicks and an over-emphasis on something looking good rather than being straightforward to use. I find myself wondering how many people will end their holidays satisfied and enthused about the gadgets they received, and how many will be disillusioned.

Companies and analysts haven’t tired of telling us how 2011 has been a difficult year for those trying to sell hardware, software and services to an increasingly cost-conscious public. Turning every user into an evangelist is worth a hundred expensive advertising campaigns; 2012 could be the year when simplicity and usability catch up with feature promises and geek hyperbole.

The VoIP system integrates with both the chat contacts list in Gmail as well as offering a regular dial pad to make calls to landlines and mobiles. Google also throws in $0.10 of credit for you to try out its paid calling plans.

Unfortunately those outside of North America will still have to pay for all of their calls, as Google is yet to extend the free deal. Still, Gmail voice calls are offered in dozens of countries, and support multiple simultaneous calls at the sort of low rates we’ve come to expect from VoIP. More details on tariffs here.

Previous betas added the ability to read Facebook messages and IM using Facebook Chat, all within Skype. The app also shows recent Facebook updates, and allows you to update your own status, without loading up the browser.

The new betas also apparently boost video quality for Mac users, with a new rendering engine for smoother results, along with group screen sharing for both Windows and Mac users (though the former will need a premium account). Desktop sharing is also supported. It’s also worth noting that Skype has been adding adverts into its recent updates, so if you’re adverse to those then perhaps stick with the version you already have.

Initially, then, Skype will continue to be available through the current clients: for Windows and Mac on the desktop, as well as iPad, iPhone, Android and other mobile platforms. Ironically Microsoft’s own Windows Phone isn’t included in that latter category, at least not yet, and we’re guessing one of the key priorities at the new division is to remedy that situation.

Beyond that, though, Microsoft says that the VoIP system “will also be integrated across an array of Microsoft products to broaden Skype’s reach and accelerate its growth as a fundamental way people communicate online.” We wouldn’t be surprised to see it baked into Windows as a native communication method, as well as show up on Xbox and in Media Center products. Right now there are several TVs that can – with expensive webcams – be turned into video conferencing systems, but Microsoft integrating Skype could do the same thing with the addition of cheap hardware.

If you want free general calls, you’ll need to log in through the browser interface instead. Still, using the mobile apps you can make Bobsled to Bobsled calls, cross-platform between Android and iOS, and leave voicemails that get flagged up on your Facebook contacts’ walls. It’s also possible to record a voice message and leave that pinned to someone’s wall, rather than actually talk to them.

In effect it’s a clever way for T-Mobile to potentially get onto hundreds of thousands of iPhone homescreens, despite being the only major US carrier not offering the new iPhone 4S.

Bobsled for Facebook can be installed from this link: http://apps.facebook.com/bobsledbytmo. Meanwhile, the Bobsled app for iOS can be downloaded here [iTunes link] while the Android app is here.

Also newly added in this version of the app is the ability to zoom in during a video call, by double-tapping on the display. Skype has made various bug-fixes and speed tweaks, as you’d expect, and there’s improved Bluetooth headset support if you’re not keen on having your entire conversation overheard by everyone around you.

Unfortunately, the updated Skype also brings the advertising recently added to the PC and Mac versions, though you can escape it by having a Skype subscription or adding some credit. As always, it’s a free download from the Android Market.

Newly-supported devices:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
• HTC Nexus One
• HTC Shooter (aka EVO 3D)
• Sony Ericsson Xperia Live with Walkman
• Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V
• LG Optimus Black
• LG Optimus 3D
• LG Optimus 2x
• Motorola Photon
• Motorola Droid 3
• Motorola Bionic
• Motorola Xoom
• Motorola Atrix
• Acer Iconia

[via Android Community]

That implies that transcription will indeed be present when Google Voice launches in Europe; however, other features are still unclear. In the US the service offers call screening and cut-price international calling, as well as free calls to US and Canadian numbers (at least until the end of 2011, though Google has already extended the offer at least once). Google Voice allows users to register multiple existing phone numbers – such as their home landline, cellphone and office – and then have all ring with an incoming call.

Unfortunately, would-be European users have been forced to watch from the sidelines as their US counterparts enjoy the free service. That’s set to change, Redmer insists, saying Google is taking “concrete action” to launch Google Voice outside of the US. Unfortunately he can’t put an exact date on when that will happen.

We’ve already seen an example of the latter in webOS, with HP allowing TouchPad tablet owners to make and receive calls, as well as send and receive SMS messages, on their Pre3 handset via a Bluetooth link and a dialog on the slate itself. Microsoft could well have a similar strategy in mind, trying to encourage platform loyalty among users by boosting the integration between its mobile and desktop OSes.

Of course, with Microsoft buying Skype, the calling functionality could well be VoIP baked into the platform. Still, digging through the Samsung tablet hardware distributed at BUILD last week has turned up a voice-capable 3G modem, which could imply that native calls are on the cards too. Whether users would actually want to turn their tablet or notebook into a cellphone remains to be seen.

The updated app also supports Facebook Chat conversations within the Skype software, together with comment and “Like” support. It uses Facebook Connect, as you’d expect, and is a free upgrade from the existing version.

If you can’t handle the adverts, meanwhile, then Skype says that paying customers – i.e. those with paid accounts or who have credit on their account – won’t see them. Those unwilling to pay will see the occasional promotion on the home tab, Skype says, with “non-personally identifiable” demographic data like gender, location and age used to tweak what you see.

The Air wireless adapter is pretty straightforward: slot the posable dongle into the USB port on the back of the Ooma Telo box and hook up to your home or office network without a cable. You can also repurpose the Ooma Telo as a wireless bridge, sharing a WiFi b/g/n signal to allow other gadgets online.

Ooma Telo Air and Ooma Blutooth:

As for the Ooma Bluetooth, that basically turns your Ooma Telo into a central hub for up to seven Bluetooth-enabled cellphones. When your cellphone rings, Ooma Telo automatically transfers the call to whatever phones it has hooked up, meaning you can answer mobile calls even if the handset itself is in your bag or pocket.

The Ooma Tel Air wireless adapter is available now for $49.99, while the Ooma Bluetooth is priced at $29.99.

One of the most interesting parts is that you don’t need to get out a credit card or sign up for service, the billing is done directly through iTunes. The app is officially available as of today in the US iTunes stores for 87 different countries. Billing is completed by choosing the country you want to call, tapping buy now, and then entering iTunes password.

The price for calls ranges from 99 cents to $1.99 and some countries range in price up to $9.99. Numbers to the country can be dialed from the address book or by direct entry. Time to Call will work globally on WiFi networks and in the US and Canada it works on 3G as well.

MetroPCS is set to become the next carrier to offer VoIP service to its customers. According to the CEO of the firm, Roger Linquist MetroPCS will start to offer VoIP service via its LTE network in early 2012. MetroPCS is right now migrating its SMS and MMS services over to an IMS-driven VoLTE service and will move the current circuit-switched voice service to the same service as the SMS and MMS messaging.

Currently MetroPCS has CDMA 1X network and LTE network in 14 major markets around the country. The company plans to have LTE service in the same markets it has CDMA x1 service next year. To complete its plans reports claim that metroPCS is keeping an eye on any spectrum that AT&T is forced to shed as part of its bid to acquire T-Mobile.

[via ConnectedPlanetOnline]

However, whereas in the US and Canada, calls within the country are currently free of charge – and, Google says, will stay that way “at least for the rest of 2011″ – it seems the new countries getting the service won’t be so lucky. While Google has reduced its call prices (you can find the new rates here) it doesn’t look as though in-country calls to landlines/mobiles will be free.

Still, it could be cheaper to use Google’s VoIP than your existing landline or cellphone provider. For instance, calls placed to the US or Canada (from outside those countries) will be charged $0.01 per minute (or €0.01, £0.01, C$0.01 per minute). Google has added support for three new currencies, with Euros, British pounds and Canadian dollars joining US dollars.

If you’re in a country getting the service then you should see the green phone icon show up in Gmail over the next few days. You’ll need to have the Google Voice plugin installed in order for it to work.

The VoIP company is yet to confirm why, exactly, it yanked the software originally. Still, most users will be more curious about what it brings to the iPad, which includes the usual Skype-to-Skype calls (free of charge) as well as Skype Out calls to landlines and mobiles (assuming you have credit on your account). WiFi and 3G calls are supported – assuming your operator is happy with that – and if you have an iPad 2 then you can use the front and rear cameras for video chat.

Original iPad owners, meanwhile, will have to make do with voice calls or incoming video only, since they don’t have a camera to play with. Still, you can still get a Skype In number so that people can directly call your iPad. You’ll need to be running iOS 4.0 or above, and Skype for iPad is a free download.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

The Twilio Client is now available for online use, the devs can drop the code for the client into the websites, and then users can place VoIP calls easily. The functionality of Twilio is said to mimic that of Skype Voice’s basic functions. There are also two mobile clients launching.

The mobile clients will cover Android and the iPhone. Using them mobile devs can wrap VoIP into their games too. Words with Friends could get chat capability for instance. The only downside is that using Twilio isn’t free. It costs 1/4 of a cent for each VoIP to VoIP call. Calls from VoIP to landlines or mobiles are two cents per minute.

[via Android Community]

The new service isn’t a party-line; instead, if a new call comes in while you’re already talking to somebody, you can place the first person on hold and answer it. Similarly, if you’re on a call you can put that on hold and dial a second person. Call waiting will flag up another incoming caller should you already be on the phone.

Voice, video and phone calls all support the new system, though only two outgoing calls to physical phones can be supported simultaneously. You’ll need to have Google’s voice and video plugin installed – which you’ll already have if you’ve been making calls previously – but otherwise it shouldn’t require any further setup.

The really cool part about this app is that everything about it is free. The app is free to download and it works for any calls anywhere in the world. You might be thinking the app is flooded with ads if it’s all free, but it’s not. You don’t even have to enter a PIN, username or make in-app purchases.

If you send tons of texts and do not want to pay for unlimited texting this might be the perfect app. The person you text or call does need the app too. Viber noted that it would soon come to Blackberry devices as well.

[via Android Community]

The company is mum on a lot of the details of the service ahead of the official launch. It does have comparison chart up that shows what it has feature wise compared to services like Skype, Google Voice, and major wireless carriers Verizon and AT&T. The calls you make with the service will operate on 3G, 4G, and WiFi networks. All calls that come into the number for your iPad can be forwarded to you.

You can move your existing number to the Line2 service so you can get your current number on the iPad. Line 2 is based in the US and has live US phone support. The company has three plans with Line2 Standard, Line2 Professional, and toktumi custom. The standard service has voice mail, conference call capability, works on all mobile networks, and has unlimited calls and texting among other features for $9.95 monthly or $99.50 a year. The professional version has the same features as the standard version plus toll free support, virtual receptionist, auto attendant, contact management, and a computer softphone. The Pro version is $14.95 monthly or $149.50 yearly. The custom version is designed around the user’s needs and the price varies.

They won’t be holding virtual meetings on important Washington concerns using Skype though. The approval is designed to allow the Members of Congress to talk to constituents when they are in Washington or the constituent is unable to travel to the office of their representative. The use of Skype will also allow people in a Representatives district to be able to participate in virtual town hall meetings for their district no matter where they are located.

Skype says that it looks forward to working with the Senate and other governmental agencies in the future and helping to open new channels of communication between citizens and lawmakers in Washington. Skype also notes that it worked closely with the Congressional network security teams to ensure that the Skype service was safe to use for official business.

News that Chrome was also in line was confirmed late last week, with Google software engineer Henrik Andreasson announcing its inclusion to browser developers:

“Our goal is to enable Chrome with Real-Time Communications (RTC) capabilities via simple Javascript APIs. We are working hard to provide full RTC support in Chrome all the way from WebKit down to the native audio and video parts. When we are done, any web developer shall be able to create RTC applications, like the Google Talk client in Gmail, without using any plugins but only WebRTC components that runs in the sandbox.” Henrik Andreasson, Google

Google used technologies acquired from GIPS in 2010 to build WebRTC, and is looking to build the system into a set of open standards for other browser producers to adopt. For users, there’d be no plugins or apps to install, only real-time voice and video communications supported from within webpages and web-aware apps.

As we suggested recently, with a little work Google could implement WebRTC – along with other systems – in its Google Talk platform, and blow Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime out of the water.

[via CNET]

Ex-Google and current Mozilla design lead Kevin Fox believes that Skype is the soft-carrier piece of a strategy pyramid that will see Microsoft use its Windows Phone OS and Nokia’s hardware capabilities to attempt to shift more voice minutes over VoIP than via traditional means.

“If over half of a soft carrier’s airtime minutes were carried over wi-fi rather than a leased cellular network, that carrier could beat a national carrier on price even if the national carrier doubled their costs when they leased access to the soft carrier, and for every customer who only has 3G access there’s another who has almost exclusively wi-fi access, and over time the scales continue to tip toward the latter, steadily lowering soft-carrier costs.” Kevin Fox

It’s not a new idea, as Fox admits. Google attempted to bypass carrier dominance with the Nexus One, selling the handset online through a special phone portal of its own. That failed to gain consumer traction, however, and Google was forced to work with carriers getting the Nexus One into retail stores instead.

Similarly, Apple is rumored to have spent considerable time and effort fighting its corner over the iPhone, including persuading AT&T to enable Visual Voicemail support on the handset. More recently, the company is believed to have been experimenting embedded SIM technology which would allow Apple to shift activation and provisioning of new handsets away from the operators and instead to its own iTunes ecosystem.

“The idea of video conferencing is going to get so much better than it is today” Bill Gates suggested, pointing out that “Skype actually does get a fair bit of revenue.” That developmental shift may well extend to voice calls, if Microsoft has its way.

Skype will be integrated into Microsoft as a new business division, with current Skype CEO Tony Bates reporting directly to Steve Ballmer as the new president of the Microsoft Skype Division. Of course, the acquisition also nets Microsoft recent Skype purchase Qik, which the company said had been targeted because of its expertise in online sharing and compression.

Something of a relief to existing Skype users, Microsoft says it plans to continue investment and development for the VoIP service on other platforms. The deal is expected to be finalized before the end of the year.

Press Release:

Microsoft to Acquire Skype

Combined companies will benefit consumers, businesses and increase market opportunity.

REDMOND, Wash., and LUXEMBOURG – May 10, 2011 – Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) and Skype Global S.à r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.

The acquisition will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating significant new business and revenue opportunities. The combination will extend Skype’s world-class brand and the reach of its networked platform, while enhancing Microsoft’s existing portfolio of real-time communications products and services.

With 170 million connected users and over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype has been a pioneer in creating rich, meaningful connections among friends, families and business colleagues globally. Microsoft has a long-standing focus and investment in real-time communications across its various platforms, including Lync (which saw 30 percent revenue growth in Q3), Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE.

Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.

“Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world.”

Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Ballmer.

“Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers,” said Tony Bates. “Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype’s plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate,” Bates said.

“Tony Bates has a great track record as a leader and will strengthen the Microsoft management team. I’m looking forward to Skype’s talented global workforce bringing its insights, ideas and experience to Microsoft,” Ballmer said.

Speaking on behalf of the investor group that sold Skype to Microsoft, Egon Durban, managing director of Silver Lake, said: “We are thrilled with Skype’s transformation during the period of our ownership and grateful for the extraordinary commitment of its management team and employees. We are excited about Skype’s long-term future with Microsoft, as it is poised to become one of the world’s most dynamic and comprehensive communications platforms.”

Founded in 2003, Skype was acquired by eBay in September 2005, and then acquired by an investment group led by Silver Lake in November 2009. Skype has made impressive progress over the past 18 months under Silver Lake’s leadership, increasing monthly calling minutes by 150 percent, developing new revenue streams and strategic partnerships, acquiring the intellectual property powering its peer-to-peer network, and recruiting an outstanding senior management team.

Other members of the selling investor group led by Silver Lake include eBay International AG, CPP Investment Board, Joltid Limited in partnership with Europlay Capital Advisors; and Andreessen Horowitz.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties hope to obtain all required regulatory clearances during the course of this calendar year.

The free Bobsled app lets you call your friends for free via Facebook. Once installed, you click on the phone icon in the chat window, and choose the friend to call. A message is sent to your friend with a link to accept the call and they are not required to have the app for it to work. If your call goes unanswered, you can leave a private message or a public message on your friend’s wall. The app had been working for almost a week before Facebook must have expressed some concerns.

Facebook seems to be concerned that the app is not differentiated enough from its own services and that users may mistaken it as a Facebook created property. This could be a simple miscommunication or lack of communication from the T-Mobile team that might be fixed just by the app more clearly identifying itself as a third-party service. If you’ve used this service, we’d like to know what you think of it so far. Is it something you’re dying to have re-instated?

The message from the Bobsled team reads:

We are voluntarily and temporarily suspending the Bobsled service as we work with our partners at Facebook to address their design questions, including working to ensure that the Bobsled experience is clearly differentiated and is not mistaken for a Facebook created property. We apologize to our customers for this temporary disruption in service.

[via IntoMobile]

Meanwhile, there’s also a security fix in the new version. Skype is yet to confirm exactly what it is, but we’re guessing it’s something to do with recent complaints that the app can share personal information without users realizing it.

Skype is a free download from the Android Market, though obviously you’ll need a (free) account to actually use it. More details here.

[via Android Community]

Bobsled will initially start off as an integrated service within Facebook and is not exclusive to T-Mobile customers. After you download and install the app, a Bobsled icon will appear on your Facebook chat box from where you can click to call any Facebook friend. The service will work even if the call recipient does not have the app installed. They will first get a chat message alerting them of a call request with a link. They click the link to get connected. Voicemails can also be left for a friend either as a private message or as a public wall post.

T-Mobile says that they plan to add the service to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, including support for video chats and placing VoIP calls to mobile and landline numbers. The service will also operate independently, meaning it will work regardless of the carrier. However, no specific timelines have been given.

The Bobsled brand also currently powers Group Text and Cloud Text apps on the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G. T-Mobile hopes to position itself as a provider of cloud-based communications services with this new brand.

Press Release:

T-Mobile Launches Bobsled by T-Mobile — A New Communications Brand to Bridge the Traditional Telco and IP Worlds

The brand’s Facebook calling application will provide free, one-touch calling within Facebook to more than 500 million consumers worldwide

BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 19, 2011 —T-Mobile today introduced Bobsled™ by T-Mobile, a new brand aimed at bridging traditional telecommunications and Internet-based voice and data services to enable people to stay connected in a simple and cost-effective way. The first product available under the new Bobsled by T-Mobile brand is the Bobsled application for Facebook, which provides Facebook’s more than 500 million users worldwide with free, one-touch calling to their Facebook friends from a personal computer and through the social platform’s chat window.

In addition to making live voice calls across the globe, users will also be able to send voice messages to their friends either privately or via their “walls.” The Bobsled application for Facebook is available today as a free download for all Facebook users and is not exclusive to T-Mobile customers. This captures a unique opportunity for the brand, as a recent survey found that 88 percent of Facebook users surveyed want voice chat capabilities within the site.1

“T-Mobile’s focus is to innovate to provide simple and affordable communications for customers, enabling people to stay connected wherever they are,” said Brad Duea, senior vice president, T-Mobile USA. “Bobsled by T-Mobile takes our communications services innovation to a whole new dimension, bringing simple and cost-effective connections to more than half a billion people overnight, allowing people on Facebook to more easily connect and giving voice to social networking. Our new Bobsled brand will evolve in the coming months to provide even more ways for people to connect, no matter what platform, device or mobile provider they are using.”

Once downloaded, customers can use the Bobsled application for Facebook to place voice calls to their friends through Facebook Chat with just one click. This is one of the first voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) applications seamlessly integrated into Facebook Chat, which makes it quick and simple to place an impromptu call to a Facebook friend. The application eliminates the need for dialing — users simply click on a friend’s name to start the conversation. There’s also no need to remember screen names or to input numbers. With the new application, customers also can leave a voice message for friends when they’re not available. Anyone on Facebook can receive a call; no application download is required to receive a call via the Bobsled application for Facebook.

As the way people communicate transcends networks and devices, Bobsled by T-Mobile positions T-Mobile as a provider of cloud-based communications services over the Internet. In addition to providing Facebook users with one-touch calling, Bobsled by T-Mobile also powers the Group Text™ and Cloud Text™ applications on the new T-Mobile® Sidekick® 4G™. Bobsled Group Text lets customers create, name, manage and participate in reply-all group text conversations, enabling them to lead their network in conversation and social planning. Bobsled Cloud Text provides the option to text with friends or groups across platforms, whether from the comfort of their PC’s large screen and keyboard, or from their new Sidekick 4G.

In the near future, T-Mobile plans to evolve Bobsled by T-Mobile to include video chat, to create the ability to place VoIP calls to mobile and landline U.S. numbers and to offer applications on smartphones and tablets across various mobile platforms, regardless of the carrier that powers such devices.

The Facebook application for Bobsled by T-Mobile is powered by Vivox, Inc., the No. 1 integrated voice platform for the Social Web, offering high quality, best-in-class voice capabilities for clear and crisp calls. More information about Vivox is available at http://www.vivox.com.

More information on Bobsled by T-Mobile is available at http://www.letsbobsled.com

The Bobsled application for Facebook is available for download at http://apps.facebook.com/bobsledbytmo

1 According to an internet survey conducted by Vivox and T-Mobile in March 2011.

About T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA — all via GSM and UMTS, the world’s most widely-used digital wireless standards. Today, T-Mobile operates America’s largest 4G network, and is delivering a compelling 4G experience across a broad lineup of leading devices in more places than competing 4G services. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services empower and enable people to stay connected and productive while mobile. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA as a leader in customer care and customer satisfaction. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements may include statements with regard to the expected development of revenue, earnings, profits from operations, depreciation and amortization, cash flows and personnel-related measures. You should consider them with caution. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control. Among the factors that might influence our ability to achieve our objectives are the progress of our workforce reduction initiative and other cost-saving measures, and the impact of other significant strategic, labour or business initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and business combinations, and our network upgrade and expansion initiatives. In addition, stronger than expected competition, technological change, legal proceedings and regulatory developments, among other factors, may have a material adverse effect on our costs and revenue development. Further, the economic downturn in our markets, and changes in interest and currency exchange rates, may also have an impact on our business development and the availability of financing on favourable conditions. Changes to our expectations concerning future cash flows may lead to impairment write downs of assets carried at historical cost, which may materially affect our results at the group and operating segment levels. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, our actual performance may materially differ from the performance expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We can offer no assurance that our estimates or expectations will be achieved. Without prejudice to existing obligations under capital market law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future events into account or otherwise.

In addition to figures prepared in accordance with IFRS, Deutsche Telekom also presents non-GAAP financial performance measures, including, among others, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBIT, adjusted net income, free cash flow, gross debt and net debt. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-GAAP financial performance measures are not subject to IFRS or any other generally accepted accounting principles. Other companies may define these terms in different ways.

If you are a handy developer sort, you might want to enter this contest because you can win some cool prizes and the love of Mac fans all around if your chat design is better than what they have now. The contest opens a bit more than seven days from now and Skype has a template that you can use to get started. The contest will run over three stages and each of those stages will run for three weeks. Two geeks will be picked at the end of each stage and the winners will be named.

The judge’s choice will be selected by votes from Skype users and the final six winners will go forward for a chance to win the final prize. All three judges choice winners will get an iPad 2, CCS3 for Web Designers, and a year subscription to Unlimited World Extra. The grand prize winner will get their chat design used in an upcoming Skype for Mac release, a 11-inch MacBook Air, an iPad 2, and the years Unlimited World Extra subscription. Three people’s choice winners will get an Apple TV, CSS3 for Web Devs, and the Unlimited World Extra subscription.

Here is their promo video:

Seems like it’s worth trying out.

Happily there’ll be a “hide ad” button for users fed up of seeing each day’s deal, along with – as you’d expect from a VoIP company – a Click & Call button so that they’ll be able to get in touch straight away. Meanwhile a share button will hook into Facebook and Twitter.

The decision is likely to frustrate many users of Skype, though with the company offering most of its services free, it’s arguably a surprise that it’s taken this long for adverts to infiltrate. Earlier this year Skype 5.0 dropped its beta label and began charging for group video calls.

Press Release:

Skype launches new advertising opportunity for the world’s premier brands

Groupon, Nokia, Universal Pictures, and Visa among first brands to advertise on Skype · Skype establishes advertising sales partnerships in US, UK and Germany to sell advertising to premier brands

LUXEMBOURG, 7 March 2011 – Skype today announced the launch of advertising in Skype software, which will appear in the Home tab of Skype for Windows starting this week. This move represents the first time that advertising will appear in Skype, giving brands a unique opportunity to be part of the Skype experience, which has enabled millions of people around the world to do things together when they’re apart through voice and video calling, instant messaging, conferencing, and more.

Skype has partnered with leading advertising companies: Meebo in the US, Ad2One in the UK, and Ströer Interactive in Germany to sell advertising for Skype in each of their respective markets.

With 145 million average monthly connected users for the fourth quarter of 2010 and 29 million concurrent users at peak times, Skype’s reach and engaged user base makes it an attractive platform for brands to market their products. The first advertisers to sign up with Skype include: Groupon, Nokia, Universal Pictures, and Visa.

“We’re really pleased by the initial response among advertisers. We believe advertising on Skype helps fill a creative gap by giving brands a platform that has broad reach and global engagement, while also supporting large-format, rich and interactive ads,” said Doug Bewsher, Chief Marketing Office for Skype.

Skype “Home” provides a sponsored large masthead space at 650 × 170 pixels expandable to 650 × 340 pixels for advertisers to display ads that can include audio or video. Since the ads are on Skype, advertisers can add a Click & Call button in the ad as another call to action. In addition, it allows people to share the ad to their Facebook or Twitter accounts, and with one-click, ads can also be closed with the Close Ad button.

“The user experience on Skype is always job number one. So, we’ve spent a lot of time working through the best way to show advertising in the Skype environment. We believe our daily sponsorship ad from one brand per day is valuable for premier advertisers, but doesn’t detract from the experience for our users,” said Bewsher. “We are just taking our first steps in this space and we expect to test and learn a lot as we move forward.”

“Many people log into Skype as part of their daily routine, just like they check Groupon,” said Rob Solomon, president and COO of Groupon. “We look forward to leveraging Skype’s new display advertising to connect Groupon to an even larger captive audience.”

“Skype is known for great value with its low-cost calls to mobiles and landline phones, and free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls. We believe that advertising, done in the right way, will help us continue to add more value into the Skype experience as a whole,” said Bewsher.

Skype’s advertising sales partners in the US, UK, and Germany will help present advertisers with the opportunity to market on Skype.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Meebo, Ad2One, and Ströer Interactive. They give us great sales teams, reach and meaningful advertiser relationships, right from day one,” said Andy Sims, director of advertising for Skype. “All three partners are leading providers of advertising services, have deep relationships with top advertisers and agencies in their markets, and have experience selling high-impact brand advertising.”

For more advertiser information, go to www.skype.com/go/advertise.

Facebook and Skype have apparently returned to the negotiating table, with the prospect of Facebook users being offered video call functionality. Talks last year between the two companies resulted in the launch of Skype voice calls between Facebook friends, but according to Bloomberg’s pair of sources the discussions had also tentatively covered video calls as well.

That failed to appear in the October Skype update, but with Apple’s FaceTime system gaining momentum – likely to be aided with the launch of the iPad 2 later this week, which features twin cameras for FaceTime support – it seems Facebook’s interest has re-awakened.

Interestingly, prior to the launch of the HTC ChaCha and Salsa Facebook phones at MWC 2011, SlashGear had been told by a trusted source that the handsets would support Facebook video calling. That obviously failed to materialize in time for the Barcelona show, but the two handsets do have front-facing cameras and only software stands in the way of the functionality.

The Skype To Go service works by assigning a unique Skype To Go number to the overseas number that you want to call. Then you simply call the assigned local number whenever you need to dial that overseas number. It’s free to setup Skype To Go numbers, with a limit of up to nine.

You do have to pay for Skype To Go service which can be charged through Skype Credit or via subscription. You get the same low rates you enjoy as when you call with their regular VOIP service, but local operator charges may apply if dialing from a landline and airtime minutes will be used if calling from a mobile phone. Skype’s standard connection fee also applies.

[via Read Write Web]

There’s also the return of full-screen video calls, and an easily revealed chat pane for when you’re in the midst of them. The new UI changes are welcome, certainly, but group video calls going premium will be a disappointment to many. You can download Skype for Mac here.

“We’re continually testing new features to enhance the user experience. For a limited amount of time, we’re making the Google Voice number porting process available to users. We don’t have any additional details to share at this time, but plan to offer this feature to all users in the near future.” Google statement

The porting process – which has now reportedly been pulled from users’ options pages – basically involves validating your number with Google and then agreeing to the terms & conditions. Those include the expected warnings about potential early-termination fees from your existing carrier, which may be imposed if you try to bring your number over to Google Voice before your existing agreement is complete.

Google Voice allows users to route incoming calls to multiple phones simultaneously, so that you can have, say, your landline and your cellphone ring at the same time and simply answer on whichever is nearest. With the appropriate apps for Android and iOS, you can also send and receive SMS messages.

[via TechCrunch]