Hasta La Gadget!

Today Skype released an update for the iPhone and iPad, both of which are getting some exclusive new features. Both devices now have automatic call recovery, meaning that dropped calls will result in an automatic redialing right away. There’s also a fix to IM conversations, that make them appear in the correct order this time around, and finally a new opt-in/out selector when registering in the app.

The iPhone version of the app now features emergency call routing right through the native dialer, and on the iPad, there’s an improved UI that allows for a “simple swipe from the left of the screen to see your recent conversations in a sidebar.” Plus, there’s improved spacing and minor UI changes for the iPad mini.

Another new feature of the iPad version is the ability to add money to your Skype account from within the iPad app. This is mostly useful for those who don’t really access Skype on their computer and want the iPad app to be fully-featured. However, this new feature is limited to only Estonia, France, Sweden, the UK, and the US for now.

Other than that, there were plenty of bugfixes in the update as well. These included incorrect timestamps, calls not ending, etc. Overall, the app should run a lot smoother now. Sadly, the Android version of Skype has not been updated with these features, but it just may be a matter of time before the dev team gets around to it.

Skype for iOS updates with automatic call recovery, IM improvements is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As data bundles become more prevalent, it’s natural to see Skype as a thorn in the side of mobile operators’ voice offerings. A new direct billing deal with carriers announced today, however, could prove that the two can play nice. While it’s not a full embrace, it effectively means that operators could sell you Skype credit directly, and not be cut out of the loop completely. There are no details on what arrangements between operators and Skype will look like, but from the user’s perspective, it’s another welcome payment option. The service has been on the cards for some time now, with some operators expressing an interest for even longer. Skype tells us that the service is live today with an unnamed Russian operator, with promise of it coming to the US and Canada soon. As GigaOM points out, Mach — who the VoIP provider is partnering with — lists T-Mobile, Telus and Verizon Wireless among its client list. So, while nothing is confirmed, there’s a heads-up over which operators might get the facility first.

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These days, an OS is only as good as its ecosystem, and it’s one of the biggest question marks circling around the brand new BlackBerry 10. Without a solid selection of apps and entertainment options, RIM BlackBerry will have a difficult time persuading Android and iOS users to give the smartphone platform another chance. The company is currently in the middle of announcing a load of app and media partnerships for the nascent OS, and fortunately Skype is showing up on the grid of icons at the keynote.

Update: We just received official word from Skype. “We are excited about our plans to bring Skype to smartphones running the brand new BlackBerry 10 platform,” said Bob Rosin, VP & GM of Business Development for Microsoft’s Skype division. “We are working closely with BlackBerry to ensure Skype runs great on BlackBerry 10 devices. This will give BlackBerry 10 users a great Skype experience, including free voice and video calling, sending instant messages and text messages, sharing photos, videos and files, and calling to landlines and mobiles at Skype’s low rates.”

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, RIM

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In May 2011, Microsoft purchased Skype for $8.6 billion, and since then, it’s been slowly integrating its newly purchased product into its own services and products, with the majority of the integrating taking place within its desktop products.

A report has found Microsoft is planning to replace its proprietary voice chat in all of its products with Skype, including its Xbox 720, tablets and PCs, too. Relying on Skype as the back-bone for all of its voice and video communications will certainly put quite the strain on the service, especially considering it’ll be implemented into the new Xbox. The source familiar with the matter added, “You might jump to the conclusion that we’ll see asynchronous voice and video messages in next-gen Xbox Live”.

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By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Because We May Movement Brings Discounted Apps from May 24 to June 1, Gaikai and Nvidia Team Up to Offer GeForce Grid; Cloud Gaming Service ,

Facebook’s new Messenger voice call feature, offering free VoIP over WiFi, is not powered by Skype‘s technology the company has confirmed, despite previous partnerships between the two. The new voice-calling Messenger app, which Facebook unveiled this week, does not rely on Skype’s back-end technology, Skype told SlashGear today. Facebook expects to roll out the feature to iOS users in the US over the course of the next few days.

Exactly who is powering Facebook’s new VoIP service is unclear, though Skype had been a reasonable guess. The two companies partnered back in 2011 to add video calling to Facebook chat conversations in the desktop browser; a new button triggered the calls, with no extra software to download or install.

Since then, Skype has been progressively building Facebook integration into its desktop apps, including simple Facebook to Facebook video calls initiated by clicking on the user’s friend list, rather than requiring their Skype username. Now, however, the Microsoft-owned Skype is focusing more on pushing its own mobile apps, most recently releasing a version for Windows Phone.

For Facebook, VoIP service is another example of it filling in the key spots in the phone industry with its own products, as it attempts to strengthen its mobile strategy and, eventually, monetize those users who access the social network via phones and/or tablets.

Earlier this week, the company announced Facebook Graph Search, a context-powered search engine intended to give personalized results based on the activities and preferences of the users’ friends. Under the hood, Facebook uses Microsoft’s Bing search engine to power the new system.

Skype: We’re not powering Facebook’s Messenger phone calls is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.