Microsoft to Acquire Skype
Posted by Jesse Ward on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 · 
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Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.
Microsoft said that the deal will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating significant new business and revenue opportunities.
With 170 million connected users and more than 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype is the world’s most popular Internet communications service. Microsoft has a long-standing focus and investment in real-time communications across its various platforms, including Lync (which saw 30% revenue growth in Q3), Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE. Read more
T-Mobile Expands into VoIP with Facebook App
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, April 25, 2011 · ·
Last week T-Mobile introduced Bobsled by T-Mobile, a new brand aimed at bridging wireless telecommunications with VoIP and data services.
The first product available is the Bobsled application for Facebook, which provides Facebook’s more than 500 million users worldwide with free, one-touch calling to their Facebook friends from a personal computer and through the social platform’s chat application.
The Bobsled application for Facebook is available as a free download to anyone; it is not exclusive to T-Mobile customers. The application eliminates the need for dialing. Users simply click on a friend’s name to start the conversation. In addition to making VoIP calls across the globe, customers also can leave a voice message for friends when they’re not available. Anyone on Facebook can receive a call; no application download is required. Read more
JaJah Offers First Mobile Voice App for Facebook
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, April 18, 2011 · ·
Last week, VoIP provider JaJah released the first mobile calling service for Facebook. JaJah is not only first out-of-the-gate with a solution, but its boasting that calls can be placed for free.
Here’s how it works. The initiating caller downloads the JaJah Facebook application. The user launches Facebook on their smartphone and selects any contact currently listed as “active” in their online friends list. The contact then receives a call notification through a Facebook chat instant message, which also includes a link. To accept the call request, the receiving party clicks on the link and a browser opens to initiate the call.
JaJah says that the only cost for users relates to operators potentially charging for a local call; however, in most cases, this is typically deducted in terms of minutes from overall monthly wireless service plans.
So far the application is only available for Android smartphone users, although an iPhone version is in the works as well, with no firm release date in sight.
Facebook is the most widely accepted social networking platform in use today with more than 500 million active users. For many people, Facebook is their preferred address book and increasingly their entertainment destination.
For more, see this release.
Skype Partners with Citrix on New Service for Businesses
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 7, 2011 · ·
Skype announced last week that it is working with software vendor Citrix to create a new conference calling service targeted at enterprise users. The service, which is expected to be available near the end of the year, will let multiple people talk, see each other through online video and share documents.
Skype already offers a free conference calling service that allows just two users to meet online and share their computer screens. To create the new paid offering, Skype will incorporate Citrix’s GotoMeeting capabilities with its existing technologies. The new service will allow Skype’s business users to converse with more people, including users that have joined the call via Skype or through public switched telephone network (PSTN) phone numbers. In addition, it will enable rich and interactive screen sharing, whereby meeting hosts can present, annotate and highlight applications on their computer screen. Read more
40 Million IP Telephony Devices to be Sold in 2015
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, February 14, 2011 · ·
New research from In-Stat forecasts that IP phone shipments, for both business and consumer, will exceed 40 million units in 2015.
According to the research firm, worldwide sales of IP phones picked up momentum in 2010, and the trend is expected to continue into the near future. Further, In-Stat reports that within the business market, corded IP phones remain the standard, and will continue to dominate the enterprise IP phone market, despite the rise of the mobile market. Read more
Google Voice (Officially) Launches Number Porting
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 31, 2011 · ·
Just a few days after I reported on Google’s beta test of this new feature, the Internet giant officially launched a number porting service which allows a user to port his/her mobile number to Google Voice. At this time there is no mention of number porting for landline numbers.
Google charges $20 for the service, and the user may incur additional charges, including early termination fees, from his/her wireless carrier. Number Porting is currently available for existing Google Voice users and will become available to new users within the next few weeks.
Facebook Testing a VoIP Feature?
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, January 28, 2011 · ·
According to various user reports, Facebook is testing an integrated VoIP feature. If the rumor proves true, this new functionality will place the social networking giant in direct competition with Google Voice, Skype and Magic Jack. Various first-hand have witnessed the new, embedded call functionality appear within the Facebook graphical user interface, only to have the feature disappear moments later.
It’s not clear if Facebook is developing this new integrated voice application in-house or if it is working with a partner company (such as Skype). Facebook refused to comment on the rumor.
For more, see screen shots of the reported new feature.