Tag archive: Skype

We've been speculating about the next versions of Windows Phone since 7.5 (Mango) came out in late 2011, and it looks like it might be worth the wait. PocketNow claims to have intercepted an official Microsoft video intended for Windows Phone partners like Nokia. In it, Windows Phone Manager Joe Belfiore goes over a lot of new features of the upcoming “Apollo” update, which appears to somewhat merge the Windows Phone OS with… Read More

You could be forgiven for thinking that a Skype app was already be available for Windows Phone 7 devices, given that not only is it very popular, but also as the company is now owned by Microsoft. However, you'd be wrong, and a search of the Windows Marketplace still reveals nothing officially related to the VoIP service at all. Any misunderstanding could also be connected to the talk of such an app arriving late last year too, however… Read More

Mentioned in an official blog post on the company site, Skype is setting up free Wi-Fi access many sections of New York City to celebrate the new year. Skype is partnering with Towerstream to accomplish this feat and will provide free Wi-Fi service to anyone in “Times Square, West Village, East Village, South Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, SoHo, Lowe East Side, Clinton, Chelsea, Union Square, Midtown, Midtown South, Murray Hill,… Read More

Skype says it wants to make travelers' lives easier over the holidays and has announced a free WiFi deal with certain airports. If you find yourself stuck in one of the 50+ participating airports' terminals over the holidays, you'll be able to tap into a free hour of Internet access at a third party wireless hotspot, courtesy of the Microsoft-acquired VoIP service. The date for the free WiFi offer begins Wednesday, December 21… Read More

Announced on the official Skype blog earlier today, the communications company released new versions of Skype for both Mac and Windows that include the ability to connect to Facebook. After installing Skype 5.4 Beta for Mac or Skype 5.7 Beta for Windows, users can click the Facebook icon on the left side of the screen and authorize Skype to access Facebook data through the Facebook Connect button. However, users have to agree to release a bevy… Read More

Announced in an official Facebook post this morning, the social network plans to test a method of account recovery that uses trusted friends to provide access to a user's Facebook account. This system is similar to lending out a house key to a neighbor or friend when traveling on vacation or a business trip. Friends can help a Facebook user recover account access when the user forgets their password and doesn't have access to an… Read More

Online video steaming services are going through something akin to growing pains right now: Hulu’s sale was thwarted by lower prices than the company could accept, Netflix has been fumbling ever since it mumbled the phrase “Qwikster,” and YouTube has poured over $100+ million into becoming a viable content provider. And of course, as consumers continue to cut cords and connected TVs pick up steam, there remains the fact that a platform has yet… Read More

Microsoft said late Thursday that the $8.5 billion deal announced back in May to acquire Internet phone company Skype was now complete. The news came following last week’s EU regulatory approval. A statement released by the Redmond-based company Thursday evening said that the acquisition meant Skype was now a new business division within Microsoft. Skype CEO Tony Bates will remain in charge of the company, though will now report directly to… Read More

You may have seen a trail of news stories bubbling up yesterday and over the weekend about a group of hackers who said they discovered the German government was using spyware to keep tabs on its citizens. It turns out that story may be true as some German officials from a number of states have admitted to using the software. The large European hacker club called Chaos Computer Club (CCC) stumbled upon a Trojan Horse, and upon reverse-engineering… Read More

Microsoft's massive $8.5 billion deal to buy Skype seems to be working its way through U.S. regulatory scrutiny without much trouble, but there may be a new wrinkle emerging in the European Union. Italian VoIP company Messagenet has written to the European Commission warning that if Microsoft is permitted to acquire Skype, it will solidify Skype's dominant position in VoIP calling, excluding other VoIP companies from the market.… Read More

According to a recent story in the New York Times, psychiatrists and psychologists are turning to online video conferencing with products like Skype to counsel patients. This method of treatment is designed for people who want more flexibility in appointment timing as well as prefer engaging with a therapist in the comfort of their own home. Using a video conferencing client like Skype also allows the therapist to charge less for sessions due… Read More

Apple and Dropbox have answered a call-to-action from public advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation to fight the U.S. government's efforts to collect citizens' private information. The two technology companies join Facebook, Google and Microsoft, all of which were named in the EFF's “Who Has Your Back” campaign, which seeks to gain support from the technology industry for the Digital Due Process coalition.… Read More

While analog telephone adapters aren't exactly advanced technology these days, a version that works with Skype notes a mention. Skype announced the Freetalk Connect-Me home phone adapter, a piece of technology that acts as the middle man between a broadband Internet connection and an ordinary wired or cordless telephone. The adapter also allows the user to keep a traditional landline and switch between the two services. On the bottom of… Read More

Earlier today, Google announced that all active members of the Unites States military with a valid .mil email address can use Gmail's calling service to place calls to home completely free of charge. In order to active this feature, members of the military need to register their .mil email address with a Google account and install the voice and video Gmail plugin to get started. Once that is installed, they simply click “Call… Read More

Skype has agreed to purchase popular group chat company GroupMe for a reported $85 million. News of the purchase was first reported by Michael Arrington on TechCrunch, and was soon after officially announced by Skype. GroupMe enables users to create custom groups made up of contacts from their smartphones, and then send text messages to the whole group at once. The service has become popular for its ability to send messages across various… Read More