Windows Phone Thoughts: Skype 1.0 Released, PocketSkype Gets PSTN Functionality

"Skype has announced the availability of its free Skype for Windows Version 1.0 software. Skype 1.0 includes SkypeOut, Skype's first commercial consumer offering, enabling Skype users to call any phone number in the world with pre-paid minutes. New beta versions of Skype for Linux and Skype for Pocket PC with the new SkypeOut feature are also available today. The new SkypeOut service offers global calling at local rates. The service allows Skype users to pre-pay and use their PC and Internet connections to call landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world.

The minimum pre-pay for SkypeOut is 10 Euro and call pricing starts at 1.7 Euro cents per minute, approximately $.02, for the 22 countries currently included in the Skype Global Rate. Outside the Global Rate, pricing varies by country. Pricing is subject to change. Skype 1.0 free features include conference calling, global directory, tracking, file transfer 8O and instant messaging."

Skype is the most popular p2p VoIP solution, and getting out of beta is a big accomplishment. Although the big news is about Skype 1.0, PocketSkype gets quite a few updates as well, not least of which is a name change - it's now "Skype for PocketPC". Personally, I like PocketSkype better. ;) Updates include:

• PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) functionality
• Conference calls (as non-host only)
• Receive contacts
• Avatars
• Ability to rename contacts
• A slew of bug fixes

<shameless plug>For those of you who'd like even MORE information about using your Pocket PC as a telephone replacement, stay tuned for a series of upcoming articles by yours truly.</shameless plug> :mrgreen: What do you think about this? How many Skype users do we have out there? What do you think about the file sharing aspect?