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Things seem to move so fast at Skype that I often need to remind myself to stop and think. Reaching 5 million downloads in just over two years is unprecented in the Windows Mobile developer community and more than anything shows just how important an application Skype is to Pocket PC users.

We get some great feedback from our forums but as the new Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows has public chats, this seems like a great way to get some interactive feedback and discussion. So please, join this chat and let us know what we can do to make Skype for Pocket PC even better.

N.B. You need to be using Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows to join this or any Skype public chat.

So I thought I’d give a little round up of a few

GPS Pocket PC phones

From left to right:

The Glofiish X500 from E-TEN (£439.95)

The HP iPAQ hw6915 (£399.95); and

The Asus P535 (£TBD)

Prices are for handsets only (taken from Expansys) and if bundled with a mobile contract, handset cost can be much more afforable (under £100).

The iPAQ is wider than the other two models and only has a rather dated 1.3MP camera but it does have ad advantage of a QWERTY keyboard (great for using Skype chat, especially if you have an unlimited data plan) as well as EDGE support and comes TomTom software (one free city map only).

The Glofiish device is thinner than the P535 and both have a 2MP camera, GPRS radio. The Glofiish is one of the first devices to support Skype calls through the receiver, which gives a better experience (you don’t need to use a headset for Skype calls or listen through the loudspeaker), so it does come recommended if you plan to use it a lot for Skype.

You may want to look at this comparison of the E-TEN and ASUS devices by Crave on CNET.

So is GPS useful on a Windows Mobile phone? Well aside from the obviously giving you in car satellite navigation, here's a time where I found it particularly useful. I was on a flight to San Francisco and was looking at the Virgin Atlantic city guide video. I then noted down some interesting restaurants and shops I might visit when I got there. I then realised I had my iPAQ 6900 device, so went into the navigation app and was able to locate and save these places as favorites. Once in San Francisco ans when I did have a couple of hours to spare, I had no problem in getting around the city and finding places and was even able to find nearest WiFi hotspots to make free Skype calls.

So it seems we can have it all, after all. We're looking at other ways of taking advantage of in built GPS for Skype, so if you have any ideas do let us know.

Great news, a new version of Skype for Pocket PC is now available, which you can download from here or before you do that, why not find out a little more about the cool new features and some great ways to get the most out of Skype on a Pocket PC.

• Skype calling features: Skype main calling features are supported including free Skype calls, support for SkypeOut™, SkypeIn™, voicemail and call forwarding.

• Improved look and feel: As easy and familiar as using Skype on a computer, the new Skype for Pocket PC includes an enhanced SkypeOut dial pad for Pocket PC devices;

• One click Skype access: A Skype icon on the device home screen allows you to view and call contacts much more easily;

• Multi-person chat: You can now have multi-person chat sessions using animated emoticons with colleagues, friends and family and when you're offline, chat messages will automatically update the next time you log in;

• Enhanced contact list: See your contacts' avatars and mood messages; and

• Profile personalization: Take a picture with the camera on your device and immediately update your profile.

Great reasons to use Skype on a Pocket PC device

You don’t have to be in front of a computer, carry your laptop or wait for it to boot to make Skype calls. Skype for Pocket PC gives you the freedom to make free calls anywhere. All you need is a Pocket PC and a high speed wireless internet connection. Here’s just a few ways that it can make your life easier.

Whilst Abroad: Avoid expensive mobile phone bills while roaming. Check your hotel offers free or low cost WiFi and stay in touch with work, friends and family by connecting to Skype in your hotel or any public WiFi hotspot. Most airports also offer WiFi, so stay connected to your Skype contacts on the go. With SkypeIn, people back home can call you on your Windows Mobile phone paying local rates too.

In your home: Bad reception on your mobile at home? Take advantage of your home broadband connection (make it WiFi) and use Skype for free. Get a SkypeIn number and people who aren’t on Skype can call you on a regular landline number. Alternatively, where your PC is in the study or a different room, Skype for Pocket PC gives you the freedom to talk for free, chat anywhere in your home.

On a train or plane: You can even get WiFi on some trains and planes, so connect to the network and make free Skype calls whether you’re under a tunnel or in the air.

Living in or visiting the USA? Make free calls to landlines and mobiles in the US and Canada whenever you have WiFi access Also, why pay to receive calls on your US mobile? Get a US SkypeIn number here and receive calls for free whenever you have WiFi coverage.

Pocket PC devices that support Skype

Skype runs on most Pocket PC with a minimum 400Mhz processor with a high speed internet connection over WiFi or 3G.

A list of popular device that support Skype can be found here

Feedback

I hope that this was useful and please be sure that the Skype for Windows Mobile team are working hard to make this product even better.

We're really interested to know what you think about this latest version - what we're doing well and what we could do better, so do let us know what you think by visiting our Pocket PC Beta area.

Please email us on ctia2006@skype.net with a brief explanation of who you are and what you can do to help us to delight and grow our global community of over 75 million users.

I'll be at the Symbian Partner Update event on Monday and courtesy of our friends at Brightpoint, we'll be at the Mirage on Thursday night and at other times we'll be roaming the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center...

Have a great CTIA,

Tony

Following our global announcement with hutchison 3 Group at 3GSM in Barcelona, Skype is launching a joint marketing campaign with 3 UK enabling 3 customers to access Skype internet communications services through 3's datacard. The bundle consist of a datacard, data subscription and Skype starter pack. The starter pack includes the Skype software, a Skype headset and a SkypeOut voucher.

With over 88% population coverage for 3G services, the Skype datacard bundle offers 3 customers access to Skype via a laptop in more places in the UK than any other network.

http://www.three.co.uk/handsets/datacardOverview.omp

Access to Skype on the move has never been easier.

Stay tuned...

BenQ Mobile (Hall 26) also announced their P50 successor, the P51 Pocket PC, which has a QWERTY keyboard, integrated GPS and will come with Skype. It's well worth popping over to their stand or checking out their website to see the P51 and all the other new handsets from BenQ.

Another interesting device is from Fujitsu Siemens (Hall 1) - the Pocket LOOX T830, which has integrated WiFi, a QWERTY keyboard and also runs Skype. It's one of the few 3G Pocket PC devices around and Fujitsu Siemens are clearly serious about mobility so expect to see more devices from them in the future.

We've been working with E-TEN for some time now and their M600 Pocket PC phone which comes with Skype is also on view in Hall 26 and they've done some great work here. It's one of the smallest Pocket PC phones on the market and is great for Skype. Also worth looking at are devices from Mio (Hall 2).

So just a quick thank you to all our partners and for Skype users looking to go mobile, there's an ever-expanding range of devices from our partners for you to choose from. One things for sure, the mobile team at Skype are working hard together with our partners to ensure Skype users will have even greater choice so expect more devices in the coming months.

Watch this space...

Tony

With Skype in their pockets, people will be able to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues wherever they go – at home, at work or on the move. There will be no need for a PC in order to be part of the global Skype community.

In addition to mobile Internet calling, Skype on mobile devices will enable people to chat with their contacts around the world using Skype Instant Messaging (IM), and share their availability through ‘Skype presence’. Contacts will be automatically synchronized between the mobile device and the PC.

2005 was the year Skype brought Internet communications to more than 75 million registered PC users: 2006 is set to be the year Skype goes mobile.

To kick off the year that ‘Skype goes mobile’, Skype is making three key announcements at 3GSM World Congress.

First, Skype is announcing that 3G mobile operator Hutchison 3 is set to offer Skype-enabled mobile devices in several of its markets around the world – a combination that is sure to delight mobile users.

Second, Skype is releasing Skype for Pocket PC 2.0, which lets people Skype on the move with any Windows Mobile Pocket PC wireless device.
The following are some of the many Pocket PC devices that support Skype for Pocket PC 2.0: Several HP iPAQ models, Dell X3i, X30, X50, X50v, x51 and x51v models, Fujitsu Siemens Computers Pocket LOOX N520, 718 and 720 models.
Skype for Pocket PC will be available preloaded on a number of devices including: Asus MyPal A636, BenQ P50, E-TEN M600, Dopod 700, i-mate PDA2, PDA2K, JASJAR and Qtek 9000 and 9090.

Third, Skype is announcing a new distribution and retail programme with Dangaard Telecom that will give it a huge new retail presence in Europe ¬– giving Skype Certified products the potential to reach shoppers across more than 34,000 European retailers.

These three announcements are part of a drive by Skype to extend its reach, and build a global ecosystem of mobile devices, mobile operators, distributors and retailers.

Putting Skype in every pocket

Skype has already announced partnerships with 3 Sweden and E-Plus to bundle Skype software with 3G data cards and flat-rate data subscriptions, to offer unlimited high-quality Skype calling over 3G mobile networks. With the new global partnership with Hutchison 3, Skype is extending its reach to additional markets and is commencing trials of Skype for mobile devices.

Skype is working with a number of leading mobile device makers to offer operators and end-customers an extensive choice of Skype-enabled mobile devices and accessories.
The updated version of Skype for Pocket PC 2.0 is available for download from the Skype website.
Skype software for other mobile device platforms will be announced as soon as Skype has successfully completed friendly-user tests with its mobile operator partners.

What’s in it for mobile operators?

Skype on mobile devices opens up the opportunity for mobile operators to tap into the global Skype community of 75 million people. It enables them to capitalize on the growing demand for Skype and extend it into the mobile environment. By successfully promoting compelling new subscription plans and packages that include Skype, operators will be able to attract new users and boost uptake of other value-added services.

People on Skype are seeking mobile devices that enable them to stay in touch with their Skype friends and family around the world. Skype will let them do that using voice calls and chat directly from their mobile devices.
Skype is a well recognized global brand: it conveys innovation, simplicity and friendliness. By partnering and co-branding with Skype, operators can leverage this globally successful brand.

Skype offers a powerful new platform on which mobile operators can build their next-generation converged communications offerings – encouraging loyalty, improving application ‘stickiness’ and driving higher levels of mobile usage.

What’s in it for Skype?

Going mobile is a top priority for Skype – the 75 million-plus members of our global community have sent a strong message that they want to communicate with their Skype friends through presence, IM, and voice calls on their personal mobile devices – wherever they are.

Skype’s partnerships with mobile network operators and mobile device makers are bringing the mobile Internet communications experience to this enthusiastic community – and adding enhanced services to delight all mobile users.

By going mobile, Skype is extending its reach into an addressable market nearly double the size of the existing fixed Internet user base.

Multiple channels to market

Skype will now have three distinct channels to market: through mobile operators, through preinstalling Skype on devices from leading manufacturers and retailers, and through online downloads.

Mobile operators, such as Hutchison 3, will be offering mobile devices bundled with dedicated Skype plans.
The Skype website will continue to be the point where users can download and install Skype for Pocket PC on to their devices. Skype is reinforcing its online distribution by partnering with companies like Handango, the leading mobile content provider.

Skype will be available preloaded on, or bundled with, Skype Certified mobile devices sold through the Skype distribution and retail network. Skype is working with leading distributors, like Dangaard, Brightpoint and Brightstar, and retailers like Radioshack to provide an excellent channel for distribution of Skype products and devices.
A number of mobile accessory providers, including Plantronics and Motorola are offering Skype Certified companion products.

Stay Tuned...

E