Skype Now Optimized for your iPad

Since the introduction of Skype for iPhone with video calling on New Year's Eve 2010, we've seen growing demand for a Skype app for the iPad.
The wait is over, as today we launched Skype for iPad now available for download in the iTunes App Store.

Skype for iPad is beautifully designed and optimized for the iPad. It offers the best of both worlds for users who want a larger Skype experience, on-the-go. The large iPad screen is perfect for bringing Skype video calls to life, in either landscape or portrait view, and because it is on the iPad, Skype video calls can be made at the beach, in a car or even lying on a couch.
Not only does Skype for iPad feature an interface that takes advantage of the large screen, but there are a number of additional iPad-optimized features found in this new app, including:

• Two-way video calling.* With Skype video calling available on iPhones, as well as in Skype for Android, Skype for Mac, Skype for Windows, Skype on HDTVs and more - you can connect to over 170 million Skype connected users worldwide**.
• Instant messaging. You can even instant message during a video call on your iPad, with emoticons to personalize your message.
• Simple to view contacts. Contacts are now displayed in a grid on Skype for iPad, showing large avatar photos - making it easy to find your contacts and conversations.
• Easy navigation. Find your recent Skype conversations and history at the touch of a button making searching simple.
• Simple SMS texting. An SMS text message can be sent by simply opening a contact and selecting SEND SMS or by opening the dial pad, typing in the number you wish to SMS and then typing your message.

The new Skype for iPad app also takes full advantage of the iPad 2's dual cameras, allowing users to talk face-to-face with the iPad's front camera or switch to the rear camera to show what they can see. Skype for iPad also allows users to call landlines and mobiles using Skype's great low rates - all a user needs is a little Skype Credit. Skype for iPad works across both 3G*** and Wi-Fi networks and also allows users to make voice and video calls across platforms from their iPad to other Skype users on iPhones, Mac, Windows, HDTVs and more.

Skype is coming to Mobile World Congress

Next week in Barcelona is Mobile World Congress – the world’s biggest mobile industry event. We’ll be there in force, and will have a couple of exciting announcements to make. Russ Shaw, VP and GM of our mobile business, gives a few hints in the video above.

You can also join us at our tweetup for drinks and a chance to talk to everyone from engineers to marketers about the week’s announcements. It kicks off at 1730 on Wednesday 17th, and you can find us in the App Planet in hall 7 – just look out for the blue signs and Skype employees.

Get Skype on your Sony Ericsson phone

Skype is now available for the Sony Ericsson Satio, Vivaz and Vivaz pro – all you have to do is visit skype.com/m on your phone, and you’ll be able to download it with a couple of taps. These three ranges are based on the popular Symbian platform, adding yet more phones to the hundreds of millions out there already compatible with Skype.
Skype for Symbian lets you:

• Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to your friends and family on Skype anywhere in the world*
• Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad
• Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
• Share pictures, videos and other files
• Receive calls to your online number
• See when your contacts are online and available to call or IM
• Easily import names and numbers from your phone’s address book

Skype for Symbian will run on any Sony Ericsson smartphone using Symbian ^1, the latest version of the Symbian platform. Visit skype.com/m on your phone to download it now.
We recommend that you have an unlimited data plan to avoid incurring additional charges from your operator. You should also be aware that extra charges may apply if you use Skype over a mobile data connection when abroad.

Skype for Symbian now supports the new Symbian phones and includes improved call quality

We’ve just released an update to our Symbian app which adds support for the new Symbian phones, including the Nokia N8, C7 and E5.
It includes SILK, our high quality audio codec, which should help make sure your calls are crystal clear, even when you’re on a low-bandwidth connection.
Skype lets you:

• make free Skype-to-Skype calls and IM on 3G or WiFi *
• save money on calls and texts to phones abroad
• share pictures, videos and other files from your phone

The update also contains a number of interface improvements, making it easier to add contacts, navigate, add a photo to your profile and set your mood message. Additionally, we’ve updated the interface to better fit larger screens.

Skype 2.5 for Android adds more supported handsets and enhanced video experience

Today we are pleased to announce that with Skype 2.5 for Android, we are whitelisting video support for an additional 14 Android devices. This brings the total number of white listed devices for video calling to an exciting 41. Now Skype video calling will also be available by default on several Motorola Devices including the Atrix or Xoom. Download the updated Skype for Android app from the Android Market or Skype.com/m using your Android phone's browser or just scan the QR code below.
With Skype 2.5 for Android, the list of Android devices we've added Skype video support for include:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
• HTC Nexus One
• HTC 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

For a full list of supported devices for video calling, please visit Android Market.

The Skype 2.5 for Android update also brings you further video enhancements. You can now switch between portrait and landscape mode during video calls, and zoom in with a simple double tap on the screen.

We also improved support for bluetooth headsets and included a number of bug fixes and performance enhancements, which should further boost the user experience of Skype for Android on your phone.
In addition, as with our recent Mac and iOS update, there will be an advertising platform introduced in this new release. Advertising will not be shown to users that have Skype Credit, a Calling or Skype Premium subscription.
If you want to discuss this new release or have any questions, please feel free to visit our new Skype Support Network. We hope you enjoy the update!

SKYPE News - NYU-Poly to Highlight Skype Vulnerabilities

Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) has announced that the university’s colleagues in France and Germany will soon intimate Internet scholars of flaws in Skype (News - Alert) and other Internet-based phone systems.
During the Internet Measurement Conference 2011 in Berlin on November 2, 2011, their paper, “I Know Where You are and What You are Sharing,” will be presented. The authors are Chao Zhang and Keith Ross of NYU-Poly; Stevens Le Blond of the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS), Germany; and Arnaud Legout and Walid Dabbous of the French research institute I.N.R.I.A Sophia Antipolis, university stated in a press release.
“These findings have real security implications for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who use VoIP or P2P file-sharing services,” said Ross, the Leonard J. Shustek Professor of Computer Science at NYU-Poly. “A hacker anywhere in the world could easily track the whereabouts and file-sharing habits of a Skype user – from private citizens to celebrities and politicians – and use the information for purposes of stalking, blackmail or fraud.”
Apart from tracking their peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing activity, the team uncovered several properties of Skype that can track ly users' locations over time, stated Ross. It does not prevent the privacy risk, even when a user blocks callers or connects from behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) – a common type of firewall.
In February 2011, the university received $500,000 grant from Brooklyn Community Foundation to encourage student to take up careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), two Brooklyn institutions have extended their partnership.
It is considered that this grant could triple the number of under-resourced central Brooklyn elementary, middle and high schools that employ students' fascination with robots to engage their interest in STEM subjects.

Skype adds 'Facebook-to-Facebook' calls

Skype has introduced improved Facebook connectivity with its latest update.
The communications firm announced that its 5.4 Beta for Mac and 5.7 Beta for Windows will enable users to make "Facebook-to-Facebook" calls from within the platform.
Users must integrate their Facebook contacts with their Skype accounts to make use of this feature. They will be able to view friends' statuses and instant message them via the Skype platform.
The beta updates also introduce video rendering for Mac owners and group sharing for Windows users with a Premium subscription. Screen-sharing during live video streams will also be supported.
"This new development in the Skype-Facebook partnership is the latest example of how Skype is removing communication barriers and making it easier to connect with friends, family and business colleagues," read a statement from Skype.
"Our approach to social is about personal connections with people. We are on a mission to connect over one billion people and our continued partnership with Facebook brings us one step closer to this goal."
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg announced in July that Skype will be powering its upcoming video-chat feature.
Watch Mark Zuckerberg announce the partnership between Facebook and Skype below:

Skype

Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chats over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system. Skype has also become popular for its additional features which include instant messaging, file transfer, and video conferencing. Skype has 663 million registered users as of 2010.
^{Unlike other VoIP services, Skype is a peer-to-peer system rather than a client–server system, and makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software; the original name proposed – Sky peer-to-peer – reflects this.}