Hasta La Gadget!

Skype has landed for BlackBerry 10, but would-be VoIP users will need a Q10 initially, until BlackBerry updates its initial Z10 smartphone. The new app, confirmed as incoming only earlier this week, offers voice and video calling, instant messaging, and text messaging, just like Skype on other mobile platforms; however, it requires BlackBerry 10.1, loaded from the off on the newer Q10, but still pending for the Z10.

That puts the potential audience for Skype on BlackBerry 10 relatively low, at least for the moment, though plans to update Z10 devices to OS 10.1 are already afoot. Skype says that BlackBerry expects that to happen “in the near future” at which point the app will install.

Though described as a “preview”, Skype for BlackBerry 10 does show some significant integration into the core platform. Based on a port of the Android version, rather than built natively for BB10 from the ground up, it has a new UI – suited to the Q10′s squared-off touchscreen – and automatically funnels Skype contacts into the smartphone’s phonebook.

There’s also Skype notification support in the BlackBerry Hub, which means incoming chat requests, file transfers, and contact invite requests – among other things – will pop up in the unified inbox BlackBerry refined for its latest platform. The app can be used for sharing photos, videos, and other files, as well as for making SkypeOut calls to phones not using Skype.

Skype for BlackBerry 10 is already in the BlackBerry World store, where it’s a free download.

Skype hits BlackBerry 10, but the Z10 is out of luck for now is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We have read and heard a whole lot about the BlackBerry Q10 in recent days, especially bits and pieces of information concerning its launch price here in the US. Well, some say that the BlackBerry Q10 is a rather niche device that would have a special segment of the market partial towards it, and we think that we prefer to let time be the judge. Having said that, having the best hardware in the world is not going to save you or the platform unless there is the presence of decent software going for it. Case in point, a preview version of Skype for BlackBerry Q10 has been announced.

Definitely Skype would be one of the higher anticipated apps to be announced, especially when the BlackBerry Q10 is all set to arrive on Canadian soil on the first day of May next month. Apart from Skype, what other top notch apps will make their way to this particular platform? Apparently, BlackBerry mentioned in their “New-App Wednesday” mailing list that Facebook, Foursquare, LinkedIn, Twitter, Nobex Radio, Box, Dropbox and Angry Birds, too, will make the cut for the QWERTY device. Bear in mind that Skype for BlackBerry 10 is available in BlackBerry World, albeit for the BlackBerry Q10 and Dev Alpha C only so Z10 owners will have to sit it out for the moment.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nokia Lumia 521 From T-Mobile Arriving At HSN This April 27th, T-Mobile’s HTC One S Gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update At Last,

Despite steadily advancing in version numbers, Skype for Windows Phone 8 has remained in a preview state for the past few months. It’s time for the app to enter the big leagues with its 2.5 update. The release is the first to drop the preview tag, mostly by fixing notable bugs with both video geometry as well as crashes when signing in with a Microsoft account. Frequent chatters may like that message notifications for Messenger friends are now active by default. There is one word of warning for HTC 8X owners: they’ll need the latest firmware to avoid a flaw that silences the microphone. Provided that’s no obstacle, though, we’d suggest swinging by the Windows Phone Store if you’re at all interested in Microsoft’s official mobile VoIP suite.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft

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Via: Skype, Joe Belfiore (Twitter)

Source: Windows Phone Store

This week is finally almost over, and there were tons of news stories published everyday. At the beginning of the week, we learned that there was an iMessage DDoS attack going around that would lag your device and inhibit its capabilities. More bad news for Apple followed when the USPTO denied its iPad Mini trademark. April Fools was a blast this year with many companies perfectly executing their well thought-out pranks.

Tesla cancelled plans for a cheaper,smaller battery version of its Model S vehicle, but later on it announced a revolutionary financing product to help make its Model S vehicles affordable to customers. Apple’s next two iPhones were said to be in production while Steve Jobs was still alive, and in related news, Apple issued an apology to China over its “unfair” warranty policies. The Pirate Bay also took the crown as the world’s largest file-sharing website.

Verizon and AT&T are reportedly placing a joint bid for Vodafone. Apple’s iPhone 5S is said to be currently in production, and AT&T, along with other carriers, states that the HTC One will begin shipping on April 19th. Windows Blue will reportedly be Windows 8.1 and be released within a few months, and Samsung’s new phablet will reportedly be called the Samsung Galaxy Mega and will have a 6.3-inch display. The 2nd-gen Nexus 7 is rumored to be released in July, and Samsung and Mozilla are working together on a new web browser engine. The USPTO invalidated Apple’s Bounce-Back patent once again, and Activision laid off 40 full-time employees after they finished development for its Deadpool game.

Facebook’s Event kicked off on April 4th, where it announced its new Android product, Facebook Home, which will be released on April 12th for multiple devices. It will have many features, like Chat Heads messaging and a Cover Feed lockscreen. It will be embedded on the AT&T’s exclusive HTC First, but you can easily disable the software with this guide. Be sure to check out SlashGear’s hands-on guide with both Facebook Home and the HTC First. Samsung is expected to launch “Experience Shops” in 1400 Best Buys to rival Apple’s mini-shops.

The full SXSW Google Glass demonstration video is now available for viewing. Images for the BlackBerry R10 leaked showing a low-end QWERTY Blackberry 10 device. An ITC Judge stated in a preliminary ruling that Samsung infringed on Apple’s text-selection patent, and a German court invalidated Apple’s slide-to-unlock patent. A Skype trojan has been reported to be going around globally, turning PCs into Bitcoin miners, and HP chairman Raymond Lane has decided to step down from his position. That’s all for today’s Weekend Wrap-up! Be sure to check out the Evening Wrap-Up tag portal for more in-depth news for each day of this week.

SlashGear Weekend Wrap-Up: April 6th, 2013 is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Skype has just announced that its users have broken another milestone today. As of today, Skype says that all of its users use a total of 2 billion minutes a day to call their acquaintances, friends, and family members. That’s one day. Now we can see why France wants to tax the VoIP service. Skype has come a long way since its debut, and is now available on almost any device with a screen. You can get it on your PC, Mac, iOS devices, Androids, Windows Phones, and even your TV.

Skype gives us a general idea of what someone can do in 2 billion minutes. It says that 2 billion minutes equals “33 million hours of people singing, laughing, joking, and staying in touch.” It also equals 1,388,000 days, more than 3,805 years, spent on Skype in just a single day. You could travel to the moon and back over 225,000 times, or even walk around the Earth more than 845 times. There are many more examples Skype provides that shows us just how amazing 2 billion minutes spent on Skype means.

There is always something Skype is looking to add onto its service. Just a couple of months ago, Skype added a new video messaging feature to its service that lets users send personal video recordings to their friends. Users are only limited to 20 video messages, however, they can always upgrade to a premium Skype account to send an unlimited amount. That way, you can send as many 3-minute long videos to your friends as you want.

As of right now, Skype is focusing more on enhancing its service on the Windows Phone 8 platform. It has recently added HD Video calling to Windows Phone 8 devices and will integrate your Skype contacts into your device so that you can call or message them straight from the People Hub. You are able to send a quick instant message, or make a free VoIP call through WiFi or 3G. Skype is asking its users to tweet to it using the #2billion hashtag and telling it what they use their minutes for.

[via Skype]

Skype users talk about 2 billion minutes a day is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.