On the heels of news about Skype Selling out to Chinese government, I hear that Skype beta 2 has been released. I have not installed or tested yet. But we did test Skype 4.0 beta 1 and it seem to be offering some interesting information. But the reports I hear says that it has improved on the beta one and there much more to be expected in the beta 3.
One of the better mentioned features is that you now can switch to classic view if you do not like modern view of Skype interface.
To alleviate the problem of missed messages, the new beta brings a orange colored indicator on System tray icon for new messages. Also they have returned your ability to drag and drop files to chat window and now you have dynamic groups like who is online, whom you just chatted or whom you have blocked. You also seem to have ability to delete and add these groups.
But we also hear that another beta is on the way. The c|NET has a more extensive report and if you want the skype 4.0 beta 2, you can download it here. And if you have any feedback, that could be submitted here!
But while downloading I will be wondering whom they will sell us out to next! You can also read about Skype President’s response to the last breach of trust by Skype on Skype blog here. All I read that is now the they have hidden the place they upload the files, nothing much!.
http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
See the original post:
Skype 4.0 Beta 2 For Windows
October 3rd, 2008
Contrary to the statements by Skype, the great telephony provider has screwed some users, specially Chinese users, (not only people from China) according to this report. Skype snubbed users before and I am sure continue to do so in the back ground. I doubt it is only the chat messages. What else Skype?
According to the report published
“Our analysis suggests that the surveillance is not solely keyword-driven. Many of the captured messages contain words that are too common for extensive logging, suggesting that there may be criteria, such as specific usernames, that determine whether messages are captured by the system.”
So the BS about certain keyword monitoring and dropping the messages will not work here. Did you also record the voice as well skype?
In addition to the above, here are some more major findings;
• The full text chat messages of TOM-Skype users, along with Skype users who have
communicated with TOM-Skype users, are regularly scanned for sensitive keywords, and
if present, the resulting data are uploaded and stored on servers in China.
• These text messages, along with millions of records containing personal information, are
stored on insecure publicly-accessible web servers together with the encryption key required to
decrypt the data.
• The captured messages contain specific keywords relating to sensitive political topics such
as Taiwan independence, the Falun Gong, and political opposition to the Communist Party
of China.
But if these are alarming you, you can remove skype, uninstall skype or even if you decided to remain a user, how not to be a supernode could be found on this site. We have been telling these for last three years!
But according to a report here, China might even change wikipeidia! Well what people do for a buck.
snap voice
Read more here:
Skype Sells You To China With TOM-SKYPE!
October 2nd, 2008
Gizmo5 is treating all it’s users to a free gift that lasts for next 30 days! Just for being a Gizmo5 user the Gizmo5 team has arranged free access for 30 days to Load2Mobile service. Load2mobile allows you to send songs from your PC’s music collection to your mobile phone. This gives you chance to listen to your favorite tracks while doing IM on any phone through rather funny sounding giz5.com. All this is done without any downloads to your phone.
Snap Voice
Original post:
Send Songs To Your Mobile Free with load2mobile, Courtesy of Gizmo5.
September 30th, 2008
If you were a fan of Nokia S60 platform or simply a user, you can rejoice as EMCC Software fro UK has developed a VoIP Engine for S60. This is another step in their endeavor to full fill business mobile integration needs.
So far EMCC has developed a cross-platform VoIP engine capable of being installed on S60, Windows Mobile and other platforms that may lack built-in VoIP capability. The comprehensive VoIP engine can easily be deployed “Over the Air” (OTA) to provide mobile VoIP to handsets based on S60 and other Smartphone platforms. Lately many devices has been droping the build in VoIP capabilities that made the S60 such an attractive device.
Following is the Press Release;
Manchester, UK – 29th September 2008 Leading mobile development expert EMCC Software has created a VoIP engine for S60 devices as part of its suite of business mobile integration products.
In creating a new suite of enterprise products that enable easy deployment and use of mobile PBX integration software, EMCC has built up extensive expertise in mobile VoIP. EMCC has developed a cross-platform VoIP engine capable of being installed on S60, Windows Mobile and other platforms that may lack built-in VoIP capability. The comprehensive VoIP engine can easily be deployed “Over the Air” (OTA) to handsets based on S60 and other Smartphone platforms. It is a fully functional engine that does not rely on any of the in-built handset capabilities.
Nokia’s market leading smartphone platform S60 has been the foundation for some of the most exciting devices available and continues apace with the latest round of new releases. However, built-in VoIP capability is absent from some of the more recent models. This may presents a significant barrier to companies wishing to create VoIP applications or provide VoIP services.
“Our technical expertise and platform experience has enabled us to overcome a major hurdle that prevented effective deployment of a VoIP solution across the S60 platform which accounts for around 50% of the smartphone market” said Garry Partington, CTO. “We were concerned that the uncertainty caused by the absence of such a solution on certain handsets may be a limiting factor for companies wishing to develop VoIP solutions. EMCC understands the need to remove such uncertainty and are happy to discuss potential options with organizations wishing to pursue such a solution.
To arrange a discussion regarding our VoIP engine solution please email voip@emccsoft.com
See the rest here:
EMCC Brings A VoIP Engine For S60 Platform To Facilitate Mobile VoIP.
September 29th, 2008
If you were waiting for WiMAX service to utilize the your Nokia 810 WiMAX or any other devices that are WIMAX enabled, you are in luck, provided you live in downtown Baltimore. Today Sprint unveils it’s XOHM WiMAX Broadband Service there. Last January Sprint announced that it will be bringing WiMAX to Chicago, Baltimore and Washington D.C.
What I like to know is not the debut but how the service will continue to make things easy for day to day users.
Yes VoIP over WiMAX is not a problem as it is just another IP connection as any other broadband service. So those people with WiMAX equipped UMPC’s could talk away on there favorite Mobile VoIP Network or service.
Following is the Press Release by Sprint;
HERNDON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A next-generation 4G wireless network based on mobile WiMAX technology debuted today in Baltimore, heralding the start of a new era for wireless consumers as Sprint (NYSE: S) officially launched XOHM(TM) mobile broadband commercial service in the first major U.S. city.
“This is truly an historic day with the birth of a completely new Internet-based business model that alters the dynamics of the traditional telecom industry,” explained Barry West, president of Sprint’s XOHM business unit. “Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility.”
XOHM WiMAX will extend the home or office Internet experience and mobile multimedia applications to other places and additional devices. With XOHM, consumers, businesses and local governments will ultimately be able to experience new forms of interactive communications, high-speed mobile Internet browsing, social-networking tools, location-centric services and multimedia including music, video and on-demand products at faster average downlink speeds of 2-4 Mbps. The data-centric XOHM broadband service differs from present wireless offerings in that:
- No long-term commitments or contracts are required, freeing customers from restrictive long-term subsidized plans;
- Monthly home, on-the-go and day-pass Internet plans provide service choices;
- A single monthly charge covers service for multiple WiMAX access devices;
- WiMAX devices are purchased like other computing/consumer electronic devices,
- XOHM broadband service is self-activated and includes future updates capability;
- Customers can enjoy an Internet portal offering enhanced mobile services;
- The Open Internet business model transcends other carriers’ wireless walled gardens that restrict services, choice and innovation.
Starting today, customers can purchase XOHM-branded Samsung Express air cards for $59.99 and ZyXEL modems for $79.99 via XOHM web, telesales or select Baltimore-area independent retailers. Additional WiMAX devices such as a ZTE USB modem, Intel Centrino 2 WiMAX notebook PCs and the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition are expected in market later this year.
Introductory offers allow customers to choose from both daily and month-to-month service options. At launch, mobile WiMAX service plans include a $10 Day pass, $25 monthly Home Internet service and $30 monthly On-the-go service. Special launch pricing includes a $50 “Pick 2 for Life” monthly service option covering two different WiMAX devices. Visit www.xohm.com to view the current XOHM WiMAX coverage area, details of the introductory broadband service offerings and device sales information.
XOHM subscribers will be given free access to a unique and customizable Web site, called MyXOHM, focusing primarily on local services and entertainment content, as well as providing security services, hosted storage and interactive communications. After choosing preferences, subscribers will have their content pushed to a customized and location-aware portal via small digestible widgets.
XOHM continues to work with WiMAX ecosystem partners and others to incorporate WiMAX technology in a range of computing, portable multimedia, interactive and other business and consumer electronic devices, including the availability of XOHM WiMAX in vehicles for navigation information, news and entertainment.
Sprint will be the first and only national wireless carrier to offer customers a dual-mode 3G - 4G device that extends the power of Sprint’s NOW network. Expected to launch in the fourth quarter, this Sprint device will operate on the nation’s largest 3G mobile broadband network and the 4G network in Baltimore and other markets as WiMAX service becomes available.
The Baltimore XOHM service launch is one of the most rapid ever for new network development, approximately two years after Sprint’s selection of WiMAX IEEE 802.16e as a technology standard and the formation of a charter WiMAX ecosystem with Intel, Samsung and Motorola. Those firms shared a common vision of next-generation mobility services predicated on an embedded chipset model and the wireless enablement of millions of consumer electronic devices that lack wireless connectivity or Internet capability. Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Google, ZTE, ZyXEL and others have since joined the XOHM WiMAX ecosystem.
Sprint’s XOHM business unit focuses on developing the WiMAX ecosystem and standards to bring the latest broadband wireless technology to U.S. customers while pursuing roaming and interoperability agreements globally. The XOHM WiMAX network utilizes the 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings that were combined in the Sprint and Nextel merger to deploy next-generation technology. XOHM uses WiMAX infrastructure developed by Samsung Electronics Corporation Ltd. and has worked with them in deployment and buildout of the Baltimore-area WiMAX network. Additional markets are in various stages of infrastructure development for commercial readiness. These efforts are ultimately intended to allow customers to experience a nationwide 4G mobile broadband network that is designed to offer faster speeds, lower cost, greater convenience and enhanced multimedia quality.
As announced earlier this year, Sprint expects to complete the anticipated combination of its XOHM WiMAX business assets with Clearwire to form a new company in the fourth quarter. This new company, to be called Clearwire, will continue to expedite the deployment of a nationwide mobile WiMAX network. Following the transaction, Sprint will be the only national wireless carrier to sell 4G services through an MVNO structure with the new Clearwire.
Continued here:
Sprint Brings XOHM WiMAX Broadband Service To Baltimore
September 29th, 2008
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