The Big Blog

Skype for Symbian supporting the Symbian Belle OS

2012-02-03T15:25:56Z

Skype is pleased to announce that Skype for Symbian now supports Nokia's Symbian Belle OS. Symbian Belle was announced by Nokia in August 2011 and offers a significantly enhanced user experience on the Nokia 603, Nokia 700 and Nokia 701. A new user interface, virtual QWERTY keypad in portrait mode, split-screen messaging, enhanced Nokia Maps, better web browsing and stronger security are just a few of the improvements that people will be able to enjoy.

Skype for Symbian is available for download from the Nokia Ovi store, alternatively, you can visit Skype for Symbian on Skype.com.

Share your photos and presentations with friends and colleagues with Group Screen Sharing

2012-02-02T15:11:40Z

We're releasing an updated version of Skype for Windows (version 5.8) today with a few improvements we want to tell you about. Download the latest version of Skype for Windows and start Group Screen Sharing. Share photos with a group of friends and family or share your screen to display a presentation with up to 10 people. Group Screen Sharing is available with Skype Premium, which also includes Group video calling and live chat customer support.

Skype for Windows users can stay better connected with the ability to check their Facebook Newsfeeds, instant messages and video call their Facebook friends with Skype for Windows Beta - all from within Skype. Even your Facebook friends who are not on Skype can still pick up a Skype instant message or video call from within Facebook.

Please download the updated version of Skype. Also, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave us feedback by visiting our Support Network.

Get even more from Skype ... with #SkypeTips

2012-01-17T22:09:25Z

At Skype, we're all about sharing and making it easy for you to connect with your friends and family using free Skype video calls. We want to make Skype even easier to use, so we've set up a Twitter hashtag - #SkypeTips - so you can follow and see some of our top tips for video calls, international calling, instant messaging, and more.

Just follow us on Twitter at @Skype, or if you have a help request to troubleshoot specific account issues, you can send a message over Twitter to @SkypeSupport.

Here's a sampling of some of our Skype tips:

- Taking off to another country? Use a flag emoticon in your Skype instant messages, such as (flag:uk) to show off your destination!

- Want to start calling your friends on Facebook using Skype? Just get the latest Windows or Mac version of Skype and start making video calls from Skype to your Facebook friends.

- Set up your Skype voicemail to take messages when you're offline. Just go to Tools/Options/Calls/Show Advanced Options and select 'Voicemail', then click 'Send unanswered calls to voicemail.'

- Run a blog or website? Let visitors call you by adding a Skype Click to Call button to your blog or website.

- Feeling creative? Rename your Skype group chat with something fun!

- Want to look up your contact quickly on Skype for Mac? Hit option-command-F to open the search box.

- Looking to spice up your Skype chats a bit? Be a little cheeky and add a Skype emoticon.

We use Skype every day, so it's no surprise we have a few tips to share. But we know some of you are Skype ninjas too, so we'd love to hear your top tips - from quickie keyboard short-cuts to web-cam dos and don'ts.

Just tweet your own favorite tips using hashtag #SkypeTips, and you can help others get even more out of Skype - so, why not get your thinking cap on and tweet your tips to us now?

Congrats to the Best of CES!

2012-01-13T05:40:53Z

CES is winding down and thousands of people are leaving Las Vegas with the hottest new technologies top of mind.

Hundreds of new tech products were announced this week, we wanted to give a big congratulations to the Sony and Qik teams for launching a stand-out product, the Sony Bloggie Live™ HD camera with embedded Qik™ video from Skype. In fact, we're very excited to share with you that the Sony Bloggie Live™ HD camera was awarded a Best of CES 2012 Award from Laptop Magazine and joins the ranks of other innovative technologies such as the Mercedes Dynamic and Intuitive Control Experience and Verizon Wireless Seagate Mobile Wireless Storage Device with 4G LTE. We are also thrilled to see that reporters at CNET are among the ranks of those who have given the Sony Bloggie Live raving reviews.

Check out this amateur video we shot on our Bloggie of the crowd at the Skype Lounge sharing a CES moment with magician Nathan Burton. He was coming to us live via Skype!

We can't wait to live stream more videos on the Sony Bloggie Live™ HD camera Live via Qik! It's a great way to share the moment with loved ones who can't be present.

How would you use the Bloggie Live camera? Leave a comment and share with us.

International Skype-to-Skype calling continues to accelerate in 2011

2012-01-10T03:16:45Z

New estimates from telecom market research firm TeleGeography show that while international PSTN call traffic growth is slowing, increasing only 4% in 2011, international conversations by Skype users continued to accelerate. International Skype-to-Skype call minutes increased 48% last year to approximately 145 billion minutes - an increase of 47 billion minutes in 2011 alone.

International Skype-to-Skype call volumes are now equivalent to just over 33% of the 438 billion minutes of international PSTN call traffic seen in 2011.* Similarly, Skype-to-Skype calls comprised nearly 25% of 2011's total 583 billion international calling minutes (total is comprised of international PSTN call traffic and Skype-to-Skype call traffic).**

* 33.10% is the ratio of Skype-to-Skype calling minutes to international PSTN calling minutes.
** 24.87% is the percentage of Skype-to-Skype calling in the total international calling minutes.

We need your help...Share the moment when you #SpotSkype at CES!

2012-01-10T03:03:51Z

We're excited to be at the Consumer Electronics Show this week and we know there will be many different partners, hardware device manufacturers, and innovators at the event that will display products which either embed or support Skype software.

For example, Skype will have a section in the Microsoft booth (LVCC Central Hall #7244) with various Skype-enabled PCs and devices. In addition, various TV manufacturers will have a bunch of examples of Skype on your TV and a series of new webcams will be shown, including Logitech's brand new C920 HD Pro Webcam. TelyLabs will also be showcasing the latest way to place high-definition Skype video calls through your home TV with its TelyHD.

Help us locate the many different Skype-enabled devices that you see at CES. When you spot a product with Skype, just snap a photo and tweet it at @SkypeEvents with the hashtag #SpotSkype. Or you can use the tag SpotSkype when you upload them to Flickr, where we'll be creating a collection of photos. Do try to let us know the booth name or booth number you found the product at so we can leave behind a tip on our Foursquare page so that others can find them when they check-in along the way. And some of our favorite pics may win a prize.

As we mentioned in our blog on Friday, we'd also love for you to stop by the Skype Lounge (booth #CP13) in the parking lot outside the Las Vegas Convention Center to share the moment with us. And, if you want to snap a photo of our Lounge and tweet it out with hashtag #SpotSkype too, we'd love that. You just might win a prize during our daily giveaways at the Skype Lounge.

See you in Vegas!

See and Talk to Your Friends on Skype in Full-HD 1080p with the New Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920

2012-01-10T00:42:01Z

Our friends at Logitech are showing off their latest webcam, the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. The new webcam delivers crystal clear Skype video calling experience with your friends and family that are smoother and faster than ever before.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 is the first webcam that offers full-HD 1080p video calling with Skype, and thanks to H.264 advanced compression technology you can upload full-HD 1080p video clips or 15MP photos quickly and with one click to Facebook, Twitter™ or YouTube™. In addition, Logitech Fluid Crystal™ Technology gives you smoother video motion without annoying choppiness, you get sharper pictures, richer colors and clearer sound - so your loved ones will literally see and hear more of you on your Skype video calls- even if you don't have the newest computer on the market.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 also features Carl Zeiss optics and a premium 20-step autofocus, the smoothest, most responsive autofocus offered by Logitech. Being heard on Skype is also just as important as being seen. The Logitech HD Pro Webcam makes Skype voice calls even clearer with two mics that have been positioned on either side of the webcam to capture natural stereo audio.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 is available now in the U.S. and Europe for $99.99. If you're at CES, swing by the Skype booth #CP13 (Central Plaza) LVCC and test drive the new Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920.

*Only Skype 5.7 Beta supports full HD calling.

Sony Announces New Wi-Fi® enabled Bloggie Live™ HD Camera, featuring Qik™ Video from Skype™

2012-01-09T23:38:31Z

Today, Sony unveiled the new Sony Bloggie Live™ HD camera. This camera will be Wi-Fi enabled and come with Qik™ Video from Skype embedded in the device. With Qik Video, Sony Bloggie® users can seamlessly create, share and store videos and memories with family and friends. Check out the details:

Stream Live
Using the great new Wi-Fi connection on the Sony Bloggie Live camera, you can broadcast and stream to the web in real-time. View the video on Qik.com, on your favorite social networks like Facebook® and Twitter™, on any website or blog where the live channel has been embedded, and on nearly any device that supports video including: smart phones, tablets and connected through 4G or 3G.*

Record and Upload
You can record videos using Qik even when not connected to a Wi-Fi network. These videos will be stored and uploaded to Qik.com once a connection is established. Videos uploaded to Qik.com can be easily posted on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube™, shared privately via email or SMS or posted on any blog or website.

Archive Videos
Videos recorded using Qik are automatically archived on the user's account on Qik.com. Archived videos can be played back anytime from any device that supports video, posted to social networks like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, shared privately via email and SMS or posted on any blog or website. Free users can archive up to 25 videos. For those who want to upload more videos, they can purchase Qik Premium which provides unlimited** video archiving, the Qik Desktop video management tool to automatically download, organize, manage and share their videos from their desktop or laptop and priority support.

If you're at CES be sure to drop by our booth #CP13, LVCC to test out the new Sony Bloggie Live HD camera or you can visit www.sony.com/bloggie and www.qik.com to learn more about the Sony Bloggie Live HD camera with Wi-Fi and Qik integration.

*Operator data charges may apply
**Fair Use Policy for Qik Premium: http://qik.com/info/terms_of_service

Skype is heading to CES - Share the moment with us!

2012-01-06T16:17:31Z

The Skype team is hitting the road and heading to Las Vegas for the annual International Consumer Electronics Show, January 10th - 13th. CES is the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, featuring over 2,000 exhibitors from the technology space, showcasing the latest in PCs, tablets, mobiles, devices, apps, and more.

If you're headed to CES, you won't want to miss Skype. Our home at CES will be the Skype Lounge (Location: CP13, Central Plaza), which is located in the parking lot in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Skype Lounge will be our central hub for all things Skype, where you'll be able to see our latest innovative products across many devices and platforms. In addition, we thought it would be fun to bring the excitement of Las Vegas directly into the Skype Lounge, where we will - beam in the brand new tower at Caesars, showcase indoor skydiving, introduce the performers at Circus Circus, and participate in a Vegas wedding, and much more - all from live video calls streamed into the Skype Lounge.

So swing by our lounge, check out the experiences and demo some of the latest technologies from Skype. And here's a big tip... if you're coming to CES, don't forget to download Skype's GroupMe app to your mobile phone and set up your group to keep in touch with your friends and colleagues throughout the week. GroupMe is a fantastic way to stay connected, especially at a big event like CES, so you can share the latest and greatest information or sightings with others who are in your group at the event. And, if you create you groups at http://www.groupme.com/skypelounge, you'll also get timely updates about the exciting things happening in the Skype Lounge throughout the week at CES.

This is the one time when what happens in Vegas isn't staying in Vegas. So, if you aren't coming to CES, you can still experience the moments by following us any one of these ways:

Twitter: @Skype or @SkypeEvents

GroupMe: http://groupme.com/skypelounge

Qik: http://qik.com/SkypeEventVideos

Facebook: www.facebook.com/skype

Foursquare: www.foursquare.com/skype

A look back at 2011 as we look ahead into the New Year

2012-01-04T22:17:33Z

Wow! What an exciting year it was in 2011. We thought a great way to kick off the new year would be to look back over the past year and highlight some key Skype moments. Looking back at 2011, there was alot we did to improve our products, expand onto new platforms, and improve our customer service. Millions of you everyday used Skype to greet new babies or even say good-bye to loved ones. We appreciate hearing all your stories about the many ways Skype is helping you. As we look ahead in 2012, we continue to be dedicated to delivering and improving upon the Skype experience across every device and every platform, while we embark on our journey as a member of the Microsoft family, bringing together the best of Microsoft and the best of Skype.

Keep reading to see a snapshot of our top 2011 picks for key Skype moments. You'll see that many of our milestones were about expanding and improving the video calling experience and helping you get more out of Skype.

Here's our blogs highlighting top 2011 Skype moments:

Q1

Skype coming soon to Sony Bravia and Vizio Via TVs

Skype to acquire Qik

Video calls on your Verizon 4G LTE device with Skype mobile

Skype is connecting teachers and classrooms across the globe

Q2

Microsoft will acquire Skype

Make and receive Skype calls over 3G with our new iPhone app

Smile! Skype on Android with Video

Q3

Facebook video calling powered by Skype

Skype Support Network now available

Skype now optimized for the iPad

Q4

Skype acquires GroupMe

Tony Bates weighs in on Microsoft's acquisition of Skype

Bring your social network to life

Skype connects U.S. travelers with free Skype WiFi this holiday season

We look forward to the new year ahead as we continue to improve our software and make it part of your everyday communications experience.

What Skype developments would you like to see in 2012? Just let us know by leaving a comment for us below or on Facebook or Twitter.

New York City, Say "Happy New Year" with Free Skype WiFi

2011-12-29T13:00:00Z

What's more exciting than celebrating New Year's Eve in New York City? How about having access to free WiFi during your Big Apple celebration?! That's right: on the heels of offering free Skype WiFi to holiday travelers, Skype is excited to provide free Skype WiFi in New York City from noon December 31st till noon on January 1st.

New Year's Eve revelers celebrating within the areas covered by Skype WiFi partner Towerstream's network can say Happy New Year to loved ones via a Skype video call or voice call with free Skype WiFi.* Neighborhoods within the network include:

Times Square, West Village, East Village, South Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, SoHo, Lowe East Side, Clinton, Chelsea, Union Square, Midtown, Midtown South, Murray Hill, Stuyvesant Park and Turtle Bay

Just connect to the 'Skype WiFi' hotspot on your device WiFi settings. Make sure you have the latest version of Skype installed on your Windows or Mac device, or the Skype WiFi app on iOS** and follow the prompts. Once connected with Skype WiFi, you can make a Skype video or voice call, surf the web, send an email, check your friend's updates or hang out online. Enjoy.

New Year's Eve is all about connecting with those who matter most to you. Skype is thrilled to once again help you maintain these meaningful connections as you ring in 2012. A Skype voice or video call with friends and family overseas or even across town is the next best thing to being there. For more information on Skype WiFi, please visit http://www.skype.com/go/skypewifi/.

Skype also encourages you to tweet with the hashtag #freeskypewifi and tell us how Skype WiFi made your New Year's Eve in NYC more enjoyable.

*Skype to Skype calling is free, calls to landlines or mobiles cost just a little using Skype Credit or a Skype Subscription. Web browsing is also available.
**iOS devices include iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

Skype Connects U.S. Travelers with Free Skype WiFi this Holiday Season

2011-12-16T17:52:02Z

Great news Skype friends! Skype is setting out to make travel a little more pleasant this holiday season by offering a free hour of Internet access to third-party wireless hotspots within the Skype WiFi hotspot footprint in select airports across the U.S. From December 21st thru December 27th, travelers passing through or delayed in over 50 airports across the country will be able to access third-party hotspots using Skype WiFi and connect with loved ones via a Skype video or voice call for free.*

Skype WiFi is available to travelers on PCs, Macs and iOS devices.** To get started make sure you've downloaded the latest version of Skype for Windows or Skype for Mac, or have downloaded the Skype WiFi app on your iOS device. Once you have signed in with a valid Skype ID, check your wireless network connection to see if you are in a supported hotspot. It's that simple.

The holidays are all about connecting with those you love. Skype is excited to help you maintain these meaningful connections wherever you may be this holiday season. A voice or video call via Skype when you can't be together for the holidays is the next best thing to being there. For more information on Skype WiFi please visit http://www.skype.com/go/skypewifi/.

Skype also encourages you to tweet with the hashtag #freeskypewifi and tell us how free Skype WiFi made your travels a little more enjoyable.

*Skype to Skype calling is free, calls to landlines or mobiles cost just a little using Skype Credit or a Skype Subscription.
**iOS devices include iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

To share the Interactive Map above, use this embed code: <br>Interactive Map by <a href="http://www.skype.com">Skype</iframe>

Skype in the classroom, now 20,000 members strong

2011-12-14T16:14:08Z

Today, we've reached a key milestone: Skype in the Classroom has grown to a community of over 20,000 educators who are collaborating on a wide variety of projects across the globe. To celebrate this milestone, I thought it would be a great idea to sit down with Tony Bates, President of the Skype Division of Microsoft, to have him elaborate more about this transformational program.

What does Skype in the classroom mean to you?

Tony: I think of Skype in the classroom as a magnifying glass into what's happening in the world. It embraces the use of technology and overall transforms the way we learn. Classrooms are now bringing in all kinds of experts, educators and other students to talk over Skype. Olympians, NASA scientists, earthquake experts, celebrities, book authors, political activists and lots of other experts and students are making their way into classrooms across long distances due to Skype.

It helps students globally understand and examine the very things that shape their views of society, cultures, economies, business and education. It fulfills something that many of us have never had, or at least haven't had easy access to in the past - and because of that, it has the potential to change the world.

How has Skype in the classroom been received by the teaching community?

Tony: It's been better than we ever could have hoped. It's been a great initiative led by one of our passionate managers, Jacqueline Botterill, who launched it about a year ago. Today, we've just reached a milestone - 20,000 teachers are now signed up and we are seeing dozens of new projects added every day. What's been really interesting is that activity doesn't slow down, even during school breaks. Teachers have realized the role that Skype in the classroom can play; they enjoy not only doing the actual video calls, but they also like getting together to discuss lesson plans, share advice and best practices in this community too.

What is your ultimate goal of this program?

Tony: Our ultimate goal here is to help connect a million classrooms. More specifically however, we'd like to ensure that every teacher posting a project within Skype in the classroom finds an expert or partnering classroom, and has a great experience.

We also want to continue to improve this platform and grow the community so it continues to be a vibrant destination for educators. We notice that the requests for partner classrooms are really interesting. Just the other day, I noticed a request for a partner classroom looking for a lesson on Cubism, and saw another classroom which was looking at Astronomy and how the night sky differs in different parts of the world. There's a really big intellectual curiosity out there among this network of educators and it's fantastic to realize the possibility of what kind of knowledge can now be brought into classrooms.

The community is attracting other valuable participants besides just teachers too. So we need to be able to support and cater to the scientists, experts, and authors out there who want to contribute their time and expertise to educating our children.

Where is Skype in the classroom most popular?

Tony: At present, secondary schools seem to be making most use of Skype in the classroom, but teachers with students of all ages are participating. Whilst we see a concentration of teachers in the U.S, we have teachers in over 170 different countries.

Where do you see this going in the future?

Tony: There's a lot to be excited about here, but I think we are just at the very beginning. Distance learning has been around for a long time, and technology has helped it come a long way, but the power of this really unlocks as we get to a billion people, and access to the Internet and technologies like Skype stretches further into developing nations. That, in itself, is an inspiring vision because much of the world's differences, violence and prejudice comes from the lack of education and deep-seated cultural views. A simple face-to-face conversation between opposing sides can potentially be the beginning of inter-cultural cooperation and understanding, and starting that in the classroom is the best place. That said, I am concerned about the continued headlines around the declining support of education. Lack of funding, lack of internet access, lack of equipment, lack of support for teachers - are big barriers. It's important that we work together to help support education, and innovate further on the things that will invest in educating and improve the lives of young people across the globe.

In closing, we're glad others are taking notice of this wonderful program. This past September, Skype participated in The New York Times event on education, and we're pleased to see they have just released a whitepaper called "Schools for Tomorrow" showcasing how teachers can bring technology, such as Skype, into the classroom.

U.S. State Department Connects Families via Skype During "Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays" Event

2011-12-14T14:51:09Z

In order to brighten the spirit of the holidays, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton hosts an annual "Diplomacy at Home for the Holidays" event honoring the service, dedication and sacrifice of U.S. government employees and their families who are separated for long periods of time due to assignments in hardship posts around the world. Understanding how important it is to stay connected to loved ones, this year, the Office of the Chief of Protocol turned to Skype to help bring these separated families together over the holiday season using new and innovative technologies.

At this year's event, which is taking place later this afternoon, families will be able to celebrate and re-connect in a meaningful way with their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and other loved ones who are serving at US Embassies around the world via Skype. In addition, a Skype Group Video Call will also be set up so that personnel around the world can view a live stream of the program hosted by Secretary Clinton.

Skype feels privileged to be playing such an instrumental part in connecting these diplomatic families with their loved ones at this event. We'll be attending the event and sharing photos and video from the event via @Skype on Twitter and in a gallery on our Facebook page. Perhaps we'll even have the chance to talk with Secretary Clinton or Ambassador Marshall about the important role these diplomats are playing around the world? If we do, we'll be sure to share it with you.

For more details, check out the U.S. State Department's press release here.

#SkypeTalks Session with Skype for Android Product Marketing Manager This Thursday

2011-12-13T22:58:46Z

Have questions about Skype for Android? We may have the answer for you!

We are very excited to announce our second #SkypeTalks session on Twitter with Divisha Chandna, Skype for Android Product Marketing Manager this Thursday, December 15 at 6 PM GMT/1 PM EST/10 AM PST.

To participate, tweet your Skype for Android questions at @Skype and Divisha will answer them live. Make sure to use the hashtag #SkypeTalks so everyone can follow the conversation.

Don't have a Twitter account? Don't fret: the #SkypeTalks session will also be happening simultaneously on the Skype Support Network, so you can post your questions and follow the discussion there as well.

We hope to hear from you then!