Grandstream announces that its GXV3140 IP multimedia phone, which uses mega-pixel camera and H.264 codec to deliver razor sharp video calling over Internet, is officially certified by Skype and incorporates native Skype embedded software to allow Skype video calling without a PC. Skype's community of users worldwide, who already have the capability to send and receive free video calls to and from their computers, can now do so with Grandstream's IP multimedia phone.

Designed to strengthen relationships with business colleagues and customers, as well as keep in touch with family and friends, the GXV3140 offers FREE two-way or three-way video calling out-of-the-box along with real-time instant access to a variety of Web and popular social multimedia applications.

Skype 5.0 is now available for Mac in beta, introducing a revamped look and feel that simplifies navigation and provides a more Mac-like experience. For example, the Skype app has been brought together in one window for ease-of-use, and the Mac address book has been integrated, making it possible for you to call, IM and SMS your contacts when they are online or offline.

The new Skype for Mac also offers our popular new feature - group video calling - which allows you to make video calls with more than two people at a time as long as all participants are on the new Mac beta or Skype for Windows 5.0. Group video calling brings people together like never before, allowing you to do more things together with your friends, family and colleagues whenever you are apart.

Brekeke Software has confirmed interoperability between Skype Connect 1.0 and Brekeke PBX. This new interoperability allows the users of Brekeke platforms to connect seamlessly with Skype users. Until recently, connecting Skype with any VoIP service required a third-party product, such as a gateway, in between them. Skype Connect now allows direct connection between Skype and SIP IP-PBX, which is usually installed as a business telephony system. Using Skype Connect, Brekeke PBX users can connect with Skype’s 520 million registered users without adding any other devices to their existing telephone systems.

Nimbuzz has been asked by Skype to remove support for all Skype services, effective October 31st. The move is understood to be in line with Skype's mandate to disconnect with all third party VOIP and messaging services ahead of its impending IPO.

Nimbuzz recently announced that it has surpassed 150,000,000 downloads and has 30 million registered users across all major mobile operating systems. Moreover, 3.65 Billion Mobile Voice Minutes have been logged by Nimbuzz over the past year proving the increased demand and rapid adoption of the platform's own low cost calling service, NimbuzzOut. More competitively priced than Skype, NimbuzzOut is available on more mobile devices and networks than SkypeOut.

Skype announces the launch of the new Skype for Windows, which brings people together like never before.

• The integration of the Facebook News Feed and Phonebook in Skype makes it easier to stay connected with the people and communities you care about.
• A revitalised look and feel makes voice and video calling, instant messaging, screen sharing, file sharing and more, intuitive and easy to navigate.
• Skype users can bring even more of their family and friends together with the new group video calling feature available in open beta.

The Facebook integration makes Skype even more social. For the first time Skype users can keep up-to-date and interact with their Facebook News Feed, including posting status updates, commenting, and liking, directly from Skype. Even better, the Facebook Phonebook in Skype allows users to call and SMS their Facebook friends directly on their mobile phones and landlines with just a few clicks. If your Facebook friend is also a Skype contact, you can make a free Skype-to-Skype call.

Skype announces the release of Skype for Android, a client for mobile handsets, built for smartphones running Android OS version 2.1 or above. With this latest release, the majority of smart phone users globally will now be able to experience the benefits of Skype on the move using either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). Skype for Android is downloadable for free from the Android Market or consumers can visit www.skype.com/m to find out more details about how to get the application.

Avaya and Skype announce a strategic agreement to deliver innovative, real-time communications and collaboration solutions to businesses of all sizes. The multi-phase deal includes both go-to-market and an industry-first, joint technology integration that seeks to enable businesses to lower costs and expand how employees, customers, partners and suppliers communicate and collaborate with greater convenience and efficiency.

In the first phase of the agreement, Avaya customers in the U.S. market will have access to Skype Connect, a product which adds Skype calling to IP-based enterprise communications systems, providing a SIP communications channel between Avaya communications systems and Skype. Customers with Avaya Aura Session Manager or Avaya Aura SIP Enablement Server, CS1000, Avaya IP Office, or BCM systems can use Skype Connect to place calls globally for increased reach, while aiming to save on international calling. Enterprise-level security and features such as tracking, recording, regulatory compliance, and more are provided by the Avaya system.

Skype announces the official launch of Skype Connect 1.0 (formerly Skype for SIP). Previously available in beta, Skype Connect delivers a business solution that enables IP-enabled private branch exchange or Unified Communications systems to connect to Skype.

By using Skype Connect, businesses can now:

• Make outbound calls from desktop phones to landlines and mobiles worldwide billed at Skype's standard per-minute calling rates
• Receive inbound calls from Skype connected users worldwide by placing Skype's Click & Call buttons on their Web sites
• Receive calls from landlines or mobile phones in the corporate PBX using Skype's online numbers that have been purchased separately
• Manage Skype calls using existing PBX or UC systems' features such as call routing, automatic call distribution, conferencing, auto-attendant, voicemail, call recording and logging

Skype has filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its ordinary shares. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated will be the joint global coordinators as well as joint book-running managers for the offering. BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. will also be acting as joint book-running managers. Lazard Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets Corporation and UBS Securities LLC will be acting as joint lead co-managers; Allen & Company LLC and Evercore Group LLC will be acting as co-managers for the offering.

Skype announces it has expanded its pay-for-call offerings for advertisers. Click & Call Advertising with Skype supported by Marchex, is an advertising program which provides an efficient and measureable way to acquire new customers by using Skype to drive inbound calls. Skype is launching this offering for the first time in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe through a partnership with Marchex Inc., a leading call advertising company, which will help manage, operate and sell Click & Call Advertising with Skype.

ooVoo announces the results of a blind study conducted by a third party research firm to demonstrate how its product stacks up against category leader Skype.

The study results show that ooVoo is preferred by 8 out of 10 Skype users, who cited superior sound and video quality as some of the reasons why they favored ooVoo for a better video communication experience delivered anywhere, anytime.

In addition to quality, a number of factors contribute to users’ overall preference of ooVoo over Skype. For example, ooVoo offers 6-way multi-point chat, versus Skype which offers only 5-way, a feature that’s currently in a beta testing phase and has experienced a number of bugs1. ooVoo hosts video chat on dedicated servers that keep quality more consistent. Skype’s technology relies on users’ individual processors making service less reliable in situations with uncertain bandwidth.

Skype announces a new version of the SkypeKit Beta SDK that works on Windows (x86) and Mac OS X. Now almost any desktop application can offer Skype conversations — including video, voice, and text — without the need for users to separately download Skype software. Interested desktop developers can visit http://developer.skype.com/signup to request an invitation to the beta.

This announcement comes just a few weeks after our first announcement about SkypeKit being compatible with the Linux operating system. SkypeKit is a new software development kit that enables hardware and software makers to add Skype functionality to their devices and applications.

fring announces that it is being forced to stop its 4 years of Skype interconnectivity following threat of legal action. Skype’s anti-competitive ambush comes in the wake of fring’s mobile video calling on iPhone 4 launch, which continues to set the standard in rich mobile internet communication.

Since its foundation in 2006, fring’s rich mobile communications have been available to both fring users and open 3rd party networks including GoogleTalk, SIP, Twitter and, until now, Skype. However, despite fring expanding its network capacity over the last days to serve its enlarged user base, Skype is refusing to allow fring to restore connectivity to Skype. Accordingly, fringsters will no longer be able to communicate with their Skype friends the way they want, but can invite their Skype friends to join fring and enjoy unrestricted mobile video calling from any mobile phone, chat and voice services without restriction to a user’s mobile operator and the freedom to choose internet connectivity (3G/4G/WiFi).

Skype announces the launch of the new version of its iPhone application. Available to download from the Apple App Store today, this update allows iPhone users to make and receive Skype-to-Skype calls, and to call mobiles and landlines around the world at very low rates for the first time over their 3G data connection.

Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G will be free for a trial period which will run until the end of 2010. Details of pricing will be announced in the coming months and will be in line with Skype's commitment to providing customers with great value. Skype-to-Skype calls over WiFi will still remain free.

Panasonic and Skype announce the activation of Skype on your VIERA on 2010 Panasonic VIERA CAST enabled HDTVs as well as the availability of Panasonic's Skype-enabled communication camera (TY-CC10W). The collaboration with Skype, a leading provider of Internet communications software, was announced in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show.