Skype Technologies, which
offers a P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Voice over IP (VoIP) solution for Windows desktop
PCs, has released a beta version of its software for Windows Mobile 2003
handhelds. VoIP enables people to use the Internet as the transmission medium
for telephone calls instead of standard telephone lines. IP stands for Internet
Protocol.
The new application is free. It is a thin version of Skype for the desktop;
developed specifically for PDAs and enabling users to make Skype voice calls
using a Wi-Fi enabled Pocket PC.
According to the company, PocketSkype retains the same core features of the
desktop version, including free Skype to Skype worldwide calling to any Skype
user, the ability to participate in free Skype conference calling, instant
messaging, access to the Global Decentralized Directory, an online presence and
contact lists.
Wi-Fi enabled handhelds can be used anywhere a 802.11b connection is
supported, such as at home, in the office, and at hot spots. The analyst firm
Gartner predicts that by the year 2008 there will be more than 167,000 public
Wi-Fi hotspots around the globe and over 75 million Wireless technology users
worldwide. That’ll be a lot of places to make Wi-Fi enabled phone calls.
In addition, several smartphones, such as Motorola’s MPx and Nokia’s 9500
Communicator, announced this year, but not due till later this year, are slated
to include both 802.11b LAN (local area network) and cellular or WAN (wide area
network) access. Should VoIP be supported on these devices, then users may be
able to leverage the cheapest, fastest and most available wireless technology to
make their phone calls and access the Web.
T-Mobile has taken a step
in this direction with the announcement in February that it will integrate Wi-Fi
and 3G (GSM/GPRS, EDGE & WCDMA) mobile services this spring with the goal of
creating a multi-speed network to carry data traffic.
Speaking in a press conference at the 3GSM World Congress, T-Mobile Chief
Executive Rene Obermann said, “we are creating one multi-speed, multimedia
network; integrating 2G, 3G and Wi-Fi.” He added that the goal is “total
seamlessness” between the technologies.
This would allow users to have one service plan for
using the fastest network technology available to them.
Reprinted from PocketPC City.
