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Early version of Skype client for Windows Mobile Smartphone released !!!
April 29, 2005 [MS Smartphone] | By Edward J. R.

It is text only version - doesn't support voice yet - it's only for instant messaging (IM) but anyway this is big breakthrough and since (yet) most MS smartphones doesn't have Wi-Fi anyway, the lack of voice is not crucial. Voice over IP over GPRS, due to low transfer speeds and big network latency, would be impossible anyway....

Skype client for MS Smartphone = Windows Mobile Smartphone

Information from Skype staff follows.

* * * * *

A bit offtopic but somehow related with Pocket PC. We have early version of Skype for Smartphone available. Please provide feedback directly to me or in this forum.

Download is already available at http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-smartphone

Below are release notes and mini-FAQ

----------------------- Relese notes ----------------------------------------

Skype for Smartphone BETA
* participate in Skype network - log in, presence
* instant messaging
* centrally stored contact list support

Things to be aware of
* no voice (yet)
* network traffic usage - depending on your buddy list network usage can be quite large - up to several megabytes per day even without actively chatting, this is important if you pay per megabyte. There is option automatically disconnect then Skype is in idle and it's switched on by default, feel free to switch it off if you have flat-free rate.

----------------------- FAQ ----------------------------------------

Q: Why not voice?
A: CPU power and network connectivity of currently available phones is not sufficient to enable Skype voice calls

Q: Why such big network traffic consuption?
A: Skype is built on peer-to-peer platform and by nature it requires more communication with other peers than simple server-based messaging. We are working to lower network usage in future versions.

* * * * *

Credit: Diego Angemi.

To learn more or to discuss this Skype client for MS smartphone with Skype staff click here.

Conclusions: there is reason to rejoice - the little brother of Pocket PC - Windows Mobile smartphone - is getting Skype! No Symbian phones have Skype yet, but all Windows Mobile phones have. Skype is a revolutionary new technology to deliver voice over IP (VoIP) + instant messaging to mass market, and due to ease of use Skype made it possible what previously was difficult (due to cumbersome configuration and lack of easy to use VoIP software): widespread acceptance of VoIP ! On the other hand we should realize that realistically VoIP in general and Skype in particular are usable only with Wi-Fi ... or at least over Bluetooth connection to broadband line (like ActiveSync over Bluetooth to computer connected to DSL line).

Warning: be careful when using Skype for MS Smartphone because, as above mentioned, it uses P2P (Peer 2 Peer) technology and thus generates much more traffic than regular instant messaging clients (like MSN messenger, Agile Messenger, etc) - if you don't have flat rate mobile Internet access, then it may cost you a lot to use it, even in text only form...


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