Skype currently offers an application for Windows Mobile devices; now rumors are circulating that Skype will use the CTIA Wireless conference to announce an application that allows the VOIP service to run on the Apple iPhone.Small business owners considering dumping their BlackBerry
smartphones for the slick Apple iPhone may just have one more reason to
do so come next week: Unconfirmed reports circulating the Internet are
suggesting Skype (which is owned by eBay) will debut an application for
the iPhone at next weeks CTIA Wireless conference in Las Vegas.
Speculation was raised after a post
on the technology blog GigaOM revealed that a very reliable tipster
said the Skype iPhone application would be ready to go soon, perhaps as
early as next week. That means the launch would coincide with the
conference, which begins Wednesday, April 1.
This would be the first standalone client to power Skype on the iPhone,
although clients from third party developers such as Truphone and
Nimbuzz allow Skype functionality on the iPhone. Nimbuzz has also made
Skype available to BlackBerry users. In December, Skype announced beta
clients for Windows Mobile-enabled devices, Skype Lite. As of January
2009, Skype was available for Googles Android mobile platform and more
than 100 Java-enabled mobile phones.
Skypes software, which allows users to make phone calls over the
Internet, also gives users the ability to send instant messages,
transfer files and video conference. The company contiues to see rapid
growth; as of January 2009, the company is adding about 30 million
subscribers a quarter and boasts 405 million user accounts worldwide.
On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported
eBay is pushing Skype to generate more revenue, and the company may be
turning to the business world to find it. The Journal reports Skype is
planning to release software that allows users to connect to corporate
phone systems for the price of 2.1 cents a minute for calls to mobile
and landlines, but free to systems running Skype software.
In an interview with Stefan Oberg, the general manager of Skype for
business, Oberg told The Journal that Skype wants to appeal more to
small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) that are looking to cut costs
wherever they can in these tough economic times. "Businesses want more
than what we have been able to offer so far," Oberg told The Journal.
VOIP solutions, along with Unified Communications (UC) systems, appear
routinely on technologies for SMBs to watch lists, and Skype is
making an effort to provide VOIP solutions for midmarket companies.
Earlier this week, Skype released
a beta version of Skype for SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), which
allows peer-to-peer VOIP clients to interact with existing IP PBXs. The
wide release of the service is scheduled for later this year.
"The introduction of Skype for SIP is a significant move for Skype and
for any communication intensive business around the world, Oberg said
in a prepared statement. "It effectively combines the obvious cost
savings and reach of Skype with its large user base, with the call
handling functionality, statistics and integration capabilities of
traditional office PBX systems, providing great economical savings and
increased productivity for the modern business."