Skype and iPhone OS 4.0 - this is sort of a big deal..

Apple today announced the upcoming features and road-map for iPhone OS 4.0. In short multitasking is supported. This means that you can make and receive Skype calls and presumably receive IM anytime the application is running in the background. Skype actually demo'd a VoIP call on stage during the event on an iPhone.

This is a gamechanger.

The adoption of Skype in Business is a no brainer now. With Verizon, 3 and iPhone supporting Skype calling on their platform and devices, businesses have to take Skype as a serious as they take the PSTN, do you really want to be the only business that doesn't accept incoming Skype calls? If you're competition is doing it, you better as well.

Kudo's to Apple for opening the platform, RIM has some serious competition coming - they need a refresh of the OS in a BIG way...

Tungle & Skype are two peas in an "interconnected flat world pod"

I have been using Tungle a lot lately. It simply rocks, if you work like I do in multiple time zones, scheduling meetings is a royal pain in the a$$. I actually dread the emails that come into my inbox that copy 4 people and ask "whats a good time for all of us to meet?". The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and the dog hides under the couch.

Tungle solves all that - I can set up a Skype conference call in 1 email, with 5 persons globally in different time zones. I can't put a value on this, everyone I work with I push to Tungle now. There is no other way to solve this problem as elegantly as Tungle does it. Oh, by the way - Tungle is FREE. Click here to see my tungle me link. My Calendar.

Anyway - Tungle is running a 'ask the customer contest' and I wanted to share my answers to the 5 questions, as I am a sucker for a free T-shirt.


Q. What made you decide to start Tungling?
A. I work with a Virtual team in almost all timezones on the planet, there is no way to schedule calls efficiently - Tungle solves this.

Q. What’s one thing we do better than any other productivity app out there?
A. You solve a real world problem, and you don't force me to change anything I am not already doing.

Q. What’s one thing we could do to create a better experience for you?
A. You need to take a long think on how to manage trade show/conference calendars. In this scenario Tungle is helpful but not perfect, usually you have a group of people all sharing the same calendar.

Q. Do you refer Tungle.me to others? If yes, why?
A. Yes all the time, if you want to meet with me you have to book it through Tungle - also I want a free Kindle.

Q. What would you Google to find an app like Tungle.me?
A. Probably - Time Zone Calendar Synch or free exchange calendar


Thanks Tungle team!!

Interesting Skype Mobile Facts

Russ Shaw, General Manager of Skype Mobile, has a great blog post recapping some of the stats Skype and its carrier partners have collected on Skype mobile usage.

The two I found most interesting are:

Skype for iPhone push notifications are coming!! Skype is working on it and as soon as the process is perfect it will be released.

Skype on 3 in the UK with the INQ phone, has been a amazing success as well. Most importantly the stats 3 has observed is that revenue from a Skype customer is 60% higher than other customers and provides 3x the SMS revenue as well. I've said it before, 3 gets it.


Hopefully Apple will remove the restrictions on 3G calling VoIP apps., in 2010. Mobile VoIP is hot, and must be a fun sector to be working in.

Skype on the Nokia N900 - WOW!!!

My Xmas list just got a little bit longer, the Nokia N900 has Skype completely integrated into the OS.. I am drooling..

More information on the integration here..

Great new Skype Video on Skype.com/magic

VodBurner - A skype video podcast tool

A hearty congratulations to guys at Netralia, for their latest product VodBurner. VodBurner is launching on Oct. 29th and promises to be a fantastic tool for creating, editing and uploading Skype video calls - into first rate podcasts.

I look forward to trying Vodburner, you can sign up to be one of the first to get it at Vodburner.com.

Skype Video Opens up - The developer program evolves...

LifeSize, the fantastic HD video conferencing solution provider has just released an absolutely fantastic business product for Skype. The LifeSize Passport.



The Passport is the only product to ever allow for Video interop to the Skype network. This is the first in a what I think will be a series of products allowing for features that have never been possible working with Skype as a platform, the recently scaled back client API developer program that Skype had fostered is being reworked into something that can create real solutions for business and end users. First Digium with Skype for Asterisk, and now LifeSize with the Passport have worked with Skype to do a true network interop, that is scalable, easy to use and maintain.

Kudo's to LifeSize, I am anxious to see the Passport in action.