Skype Delivers Mobile VoIP
Skype Technologies has officially launched its VoIP software for handheld devices. Skype for Pocket PC 1.0 lets users of PDAs that have both Wi-Fi wireless local area network connectivity and the Pocket PC OS make unlimited calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.
Voice over Internet calling is now available for PDA users, with Skype Technologies officially launching software designed for handhelds running the Microsoft Windows Pocket PC operating system.
Initially offered in a beta version earlier this year, Skype for Pocket PC 1.0 lets users of PDAs that have both Wi-Fi wireless local area network connectivity and the Pocket PC OS make unlimited calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.
The software can be downloaded for free at the company's Web site. Customers are advised to purchase a headset.
First Laptops, Now PDAs
This is essentially a mobile version of the company's global VoIP service based on peer-to-peer software, and also delivers instant messaging without voice over GPRS wide-area networks. Conference calling is also available.
Skype for Pocket PC enables cross-platform voice calls to other Skype users running Skype for Windows, Skype for Linux or Skype for Mac OS X. Among the features are a global directory and end-to-end encryption.
Now that laptops have been VoIP-enabled, PDAs are following suit. SoftAir Microsystems has licensed an application from San Jose, California-based HelloSoft that adds VoIP capability to its line of products for PDAs and notebooks.
VoIP for the Masses
Cisco and Nortel also provide VoIP over wireless local area networks, but using a peer-to-peer connection is a new twist. "Skype is delivering VoIP to the masses," said IDC analyst Alex Slawsby, "providing voice communications on a mobile device or a PC."
Internet calling software for PDAs is a step toward taking greater advantage of Wi-Fi technology in handheld devices, he told NewsFactor. "It will get even more interesting when this is brought to mobile phones, enabling operators to move beyond wide-area networks and into local-area networks," Slawsby said.
Because this software is based on peer-to-peer technology, the service is limited to small groups of users, said IDC analyst Will Stofega. "Who you can talk to is what it's all about, and the big wireless carriers are still working on that."
Stofega compared Skype to VoIP startup Vonage, noting that such companies provide a valuable service by drawing more attention to Internet-based calling and pushing other service providers to explore the technology.
