Posts tagged Skype
Update for Droid Incredible Happening Now, 720p Video Recording and More
Jul 19th
A few weeks back, we first reported on an update that was rumored for the Droid Incredible. While it might not be the Froyo update you guys were hoping for, it still featured some nice tweaks. Chief among the update was the ability to record video in 720p, the Skype application, and an updated version of the MyVerizon app. According to various reports, the rollout started over the weekend and is hitting Droid Incredibles across the country. We’ve attached a few screenshots of the MyVerizon app, courtesy of one of our readers, Omie. Check out the handy data widget to help monitor usage!
NOTE: Update for Droid Incredible Happening Now, 720p Video Recording and More originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Skype Android app for Verizon Available Thursday
Mar 24th
Skype and Verizon announced at CTIA that a Skype Mobile app will be available in the Android market beginning Thursday, March 25, for users of the Droid, Droid Eris, and Devour on Verizon. The app is not the VOIP app you might be imagining: it relies on Verizon’s voice network to connect calls.
The app will allow users to:
- make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls
- send and receive unlimited IMs with other Skype users
- manage their Skype contact list within the app
- make international calls at Skype’s calling rates.
The two companies announced they’d be partnering on this project earlier this month. This week’s announcement gives us more specific information about the timing of release (this week!) and the features of the app.
A Skype representative was noncommittal when asked if or when they might bring a pure VOIP app to Android, and I believe I read a big, fat “nope” between the lines, especially given their more positive noncommittal response to other inquiries.
If you’re a Verizon customer who uses Skype, let us know what you think about the app once you’ve had the chance to try it out. If you use the Skype Lite app that was available more generally in the Market, know that if you uninstall it, it’ll be gone forever: Skype has pulled it from the market. And if you’re interested in using a VOIP service on your Android phone, your best bet might be to check out other apps like Fring or Tubaloo.
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Verizon Shows Us How Skype Mobile Works [VIDEO]
Mar 8th
Verizon recently announced that they’ve worked out an exclusive deal to offer Skype Mobile on their Android handsets. Starting this month, the Droid, Droid Eris, and Devour handsets will come loaded with the “new” feature that allows for calls anywhere in the world without using minutes. Since neither Skype nor Skype Mobile are technically new, we’d understand if you already know how the respective services work. However, there’s a large segment of the population who have yet to learn of Voice over IP (VoIP).
Verizon has taken to a cute little YouTube video to show us how their exclusive agreement stands to benefit current and potential Android users on the nation’s largest network. Never one to resist taking a dig at the iPhone, Verizon reminds us that “these phones can run more than one app at a time”.
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Is Skype/Verizon Deal Delaying Skype Over 3G for iPhone?
Mar 7th
Is the recently announced Skype/Verizon deal delaying the release of Skype over 3G for the iPhone? Previously AT&T announced they would change their policy and allow VoIP over 3G, Apple announced they would change their SDK agreement to allow it, and Skype announced they would provide it to their iPhone users. AT&T has come through, Apple has come through, other VoIP clients have begun offering 3G. And Skype…? They said they were waiting to make sure Apple was okay with it. They made sure. They said they were waiting to improve 3G call quality. And…? Still nothing.
They did, however, announce a deal for Skype over 3G with Verizon at Mobile World Congress a couple weeks ago. Since then, WMExperts tell us the Windows Mobile Skype app is no longer available for download. According to Venture Beat (via BGR) their Symbian Skype App has now been pulled from the Ovi Store. When asked why Skype was removed from the Ovi Store, Venture Beat was told:
Skype has made a decision in the United States to not promote the Skype for Symbian app through the Ovi Store. We did this so that we could drive more attention to the recently announced Skype and Verizon Wireless agreement. This was a marketing decision — plain and simple
The iPhone Skype app [Free - iTunes link] is still in the App Store (after a short hiccup) but it’s still Wi-Fi only. When asked for comment after the Verizon agreement, a Skype rep would only tell TiPb that there was no further updates since last time.
So, is it just taking longer than we expected to get that really great 3G voice quality out for Skype? Or has the Verizon deal sucked all the attention out of the room? 9to5Mac thought so a couple weeks ago, do the Windows Mobile and Symbian actions now lend credence to that theory? And are you still waiting for Skype over 3G for iPhone, or have you started using alternatives? Let us know!
Is Skype/Verizon Deal Delaying Skype Over 3G for iPhone? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
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TiPb Live Podcast #88 – Explicit
Feb 26th
Rene, Mickey (The Cell Phone Junkie), and Phil (Android Central, WMExperts) for the great sex-apps rejection, Steve Jobs and Tim Cook speak, iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 3 for iPad, iPhone+AT&T first, Droid+Verizon last, and all the week’s news. Listen in!
Credits
Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!
Our music comes from the following sources:
TiPb Live Podcast #88 – Explicit is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
Verizon Details Skype Partnership
Feb 16th
Verizon and Skype made their joint announcement this afternoon in Barcelona and it stands to benefit millions of subscribers, including those with Android handsets. Starting in March, Droid, Devour and Droid Eris handsets will be loaded with a special version of Skype Mobile designed for Verizon customers. This software will give these users plenty of freedom as it pertains to making and receiving calls from around the world.
A few of the features outlined in the press release today:
- Make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
- Call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
- Send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
- Remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.
Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype, noted, “People want to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go, whether it’s on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones. Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally.”
Aside from Android handsets, others to load Skype Mobile include Blackberry Storm, Curve, and Tour.
What Say You?
Does this give you any added benefit? Are minutes even a problem for you? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
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WMC 2010 Round Up: Day One
Feb 16th
Mobile World Congress is a huge event in terms of information to cover. A good part of the show is related to hardware, applications and services targeted towards phone manufacturers, carriers,… so not really related to Android but even with most parts of the floor unrelated to it, there is a lot to see and report related to Android, both hardware and software. Here a short summary of what I’ve seen today.
Compaq Airlife 100: I hope this notebook will quickly be available to all and not strictly in Spain with just one operator (Telefonica). It is a very nice looking device with a fantastic battery life. The keyboard has fairly large keys for a device of this size. Showing true focus on Android, it has all the specific keys for the platform (Home, Menu, Back). You can tell that this is not simply an adaptation of a Windows notebook but really an Android device. The touch screen is easy to use but I imagine this will not be the first way to interface with the device, it would be with the keyboard or the touchpad.
Garmin-Asus Nuvifone N50: A phone for a niche market, naturally the main usage would be in your car but the interface developed by Garmin is rather nice. It will be first distributed by O2 Germany with more carriers to come.
Skype: There were no Android phones to demo in Skype booth (plenty of Nokia, iPhone) but there should be some announcement tomorrow during the joint press conference with Verizon. I’ve been told to come back so, it is fair to assume that a better version of Skype is coming to Android very soon.
Endomondo: This is community based sports tracking application, available for free on the market. What is interesting in this product is the list of sports. Besides the classic running and cycling you will find skiing, kite surfing, sailing and many more.
Adobe Flash and AIR: Adobe have announced that AIR will be available on Android and they had few devices on demo with applications. These few AIR apps look identical to how they would on a desktop browser. Adobe’s aim is to bring all these apps directly to Android (and other mobiles platform) without the need for the developers to adapt their source code.
I have been meeting many other companies so expect posts about each after the show. Be sure to come back for more!
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