Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

It seems like its been forever since we have posted anything Vonage related aside from patent disputes and personal changes that we almost forgot they were still around.

This latest news however seems to be positive, Vonage and Covad Communications have announced a partnership that will allow Vonage to offer a DSL service. The new offering from Vonage will be a re-branded version of Covad’s DSL service and it will simply be called Vonage Broadband. The service is expected to be available by the end of this year and will offer download speeds of up to either 3.0 or 6.0 Mbps for home or small business customers, no mention of just how much this will set you back.

Read [PR Newswire]

Remember what we told you about Skype needing to give itself a boost to avoid getting sacked by its mother company, eBay? Well, after successive announcements the past couple of weeks, it looks like Skype is really out to prove itself and hopefully sends the signal that its “synergies are strong.” For its latest buzz creation strategy, Skype has just taken version 3.9 for Windows out of beta.

So, what’s in mean for us, the Skype-using public with this new version? A couple of good features actually, including reduced background noise during calls, less delay, fewer call drops and fewer cut-offs. Plus, changing headsets, headphones and microphone will now be easier as Skype 3.9 will adjust the settings of the devices automatically. Another major improvement made by Skype is the taking out the default profile image that previously shows up when authorization request is incoming. This is in response to users’ demand as some of them encounter offensive profile photos of other Skype users. These plus other improvements which the Skype blog did not mention, are supposed to come with the new version of Skype for Windows.

It’s up to you if you want to be part of Skype’s move towards strengthening its synergies. By all means download the new Skype for Windows version or just continue using the old one.

Via [Skype]

Getting pressured by eBay into proving its worth seems to be working well with Skype. After recently offering unlimited calls to their users at an affordable rate, Skype is making headway yet again with the beta release of their mobile client. The Skype for Mobile now works with around fifty Java-enabled phones worldwide. Yes, this new service works with incoming calls from Skype and SkypeIn features. It also features chat, chat group and Skype presence.

In addition, Skype for Mobile features Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls for mobile handsets, but only for Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the UK.

If you want to give Skype for Mobile a spin, as I know you really want to just like me, you can either download the application directly into your mobile phone or download it into your computer before transferring it into your mobile phone. And if you are not sure whether your mobile phone supports Skype-for-Mobile, you may check out the Skype-for-Mobile site and look into the directory of mobile phones supporting this Skype mobile client.

Read [Skype]

Didn’t we just reported that eBay has given Skype until the end of this year to prove its worth and viability before they decide to sell it off or keep it? Looks like Skype is starting to shape up as it just announced that it will begin offering an unlimited international calling for $9.95 a month.

The new Skype plan will give users unlimited calling features to 34 countries worldwide including most European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. The new plan also includes Skype to landline and cell phone calls in Canada, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

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eBay has given Skype one more year to prove its viability and relevance to eBay’s online auction service. Skype was acquired by eBay with the hopes of the VoIP company helping boosts its online commerce business. However, since its acquisition, Skype failed to live up to eBay’s expectation of bringing more tie-ins between Skype and eBay’s online payment system through call-billing arrangement.

Citing an interview with the Financial Times, News.com reports that eBay CEO John Donahue said that eBay is giving Skype until the end of this year to test its synergies and if the synergies are strong, eBay will keep Skype in its portfolio. For eBay, its not a question of whether Skype is generating revenue for the company but more on the question of whether Skype blends well with eBay and its other web products and services.

In fact, Skype has managed to generate around $126 million in revenues during the first quarter of this year, which is a 61-percent increase from previous year’s first quarter revenue. Profit wise, it is expected to generate $500 million and still manage to post a profit. But this seems to be not enough for eBay to keep Skype. It wants something more from the PC-to-PC calling service. And whether Skype can give what eBay wants remains to be seen. Skype has a few more months to shape up, before it finds itself lost in limbo or still with eBay’s care and comfort.

Read [CNET]

I have used my share of VoIP phones out there, so when Plantronics sent me the newish Calisto Pro Series, I didn’t have too high of expectations.  However I became impressed quickly with the great Bluetooth integration, among other features.  There are three ways you can talk on the phone (or Skype): speakerphone, on the handset, or on the included Bluetooth headset.  This amount of flexibility is a great thing to have when you’re in an office—or even at home—since you have the choice to go anywhere in your house.  So what if you want to sit in your living room, and the Bluetooth signal can’t make it that far?  Don’t worry, the headset is paired with the handset, so just bring the handset with you!

Have I mentioned that the Calisto can also be used as your landline phone?  Well, it sure can.  The device has seemless integration with both Skype (and your computer) and your landline connection.  So if you’re talking long distance to someone across the world, and hang up to make a local call, you don’t even have to switch anything… just hang up, dial the number, and press talk.

Design

Overall, the Calisto’s design is sleek, but not too fancy.  The phone’s handset is a bit bulky, but it’s smaller than most traditional cordless phones, so we won’t dock them there.  The Bluetooth headset is a big flimsy, and I had a hard time with it - but while you’re sitting at your desk, it’s really OK to have a flimsy headset on since you’re not making any sharp movements that will knock it off.

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It was back in November when Skype first announced the beta release that added video chat support for Linux users, and now they have announced the official Skype 2.0 with video for Linux. Now Linux users will be able to freely and without having to worry about running beta software, be able to have video chats with Windows and Mac users alike. Similar to other Skype offerings, version 2.0 for Linux is of course a free download.

Read [Skype] Via [Gizmodo]

Panasonic has recently launched its first ever phone to work with Skype, officially called the Panasonic KX-WP800, this Skype phone features it own access point so even if the PC is turned off you can still make and receive voice calls. The KX-WP800 Skype phone offers 4.5 hours of talk time and 55 hours of standby time, and since Panasonic has worked with FON, you can make calls using a FON hotspot wherever you may find one available.

While Skype fanatics in Japan are rejoicing with the release, there is no word yet on when or if the Skype phone will be available in the US or Europe. Panasonic’s Skype phone will retail for ¥29,800 (around $293 US).

Read [akihabara news]

Logitech has shown-off a new headset at CeBIT, the ClearChat PC Wireless headset. It combines a comfortable looking stereo headset with 2.4GHz technology which will let you stray up to 30-feet away from your computer. It also looks to provide an audio rich experience that keeps interference at a minimum.

The headset works with both PC’s and Mac’s, and is compatible with Skype, Windows Live, Yahoo, Google Talk and AIM. It is expected to have a May release in the U.S. and Europe and should retail for $99.99.

Via [Business Wire]

Could possible competition be coming for the mighty iPhone from its sibling, the iPod touch?  Surely I am kidding...well maybe not.  Sprint is offering up this WiFi in your pocket router that hooks into an EVDO card, giving you on the go WiFi.  Price for the router is $180 direct from Sprint.  While we’d all love a combined offering, this is interesting.

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