Skype is continuing to expand the reach of its video conferencing
technology, pushing Skype
software deeper into the mobile space.
The VOIP (voice over IP) company June 15 announced that it is
putting its Skype application on three Sony Ericsson smartphones that run the
latest Symbian mobile operating system.
Users of Sony Ericsson's Satio, Vivaz and Vivaz Pro smartphones
can download the application from the Skype Website.
The application can be downloaded on the move through either a WiFi or mobile
data connection, including 3G, GPRS and EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global
Evolution), according to Skype officials.
The VOIP application will also be available on the Sony Ericsson
PlayNow Arena later in June.
"We see a huge demand for Skype on mobile," Russ
Shaw, general manager of mobile at Skype, said in a statement. "The users
want to keep in contact with the people that are important to them without
worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a
computer."
Skype earlier in 2010 announced that the application could run
on the Symbian OS, Shaw said. Now it specifically can be downloaded onto Sony
Ericsson smartphones, enabling users to make free calls to other Skype users.
Consumers using Research In Motion BlackBerry devices, Apple
iPhones, and devices running Google's Android OS or Microsoft's Windows Mobile
operating system can already take advantage of the Skype software.
Skype officials are currently appearing at CommunicAsia, held
June 15 to 18 in Singapore.
During the event, Skype CEO Josh Silverman
told attendees that communications were moving away from being device-specific
and toward software that enables people to keep in touch regardless of what
devices they're using.
"What's the next frontier? I believe it's about
ubiquity," Silverman reportedly said. "It's about allowing you to
communicate whenever, wherever and however you like. At Skype, we envision a
world where communication flows like water. The basic idea is that any
computing device becomes a communications device with the addition of our
software and you can communicate however and wherever you want."
To that end, Skype is looking to expand its software to a wider
range of mobile platforms. Silverman said eight of the world's 10 top PC makers
will offer Skype preloaded on their systems by 2011. He also is working with
electronics makers to put the software in other products, such as
high-definition televisions.
Skype, which has been strong in the consumer space, is looking
to become a larger player in the commercial space. Skype officials announced in
May that the company was running tests on a new version of the software that
would enable users to hold
conference calls with up to five people.
The move would put the company in more direct competition with
a growing number of vendors—including Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and
Polycom—in the corporate video communications space.
Cisco officials have said video would be a significant part of
what they believe will be a $34 billion collaboration business.
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