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Skype co-founders invest in Asian 3D social networking company

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frenzoo.jpgAmbient Sound Investments (ASI), established by the four co-founding engineers of internet telephony software company Skype, will acquire a stake as part of a Series A funding round in 3D social networking company Frenzoo, to bring to market an exciting new online experience across the region.

Frenzoo enables teenagers and young adults to connect with their friends and become budding fashionistas. Frenzoo users can express themselves by personalizing their own virtual 3D characters, and play mix-and-match with a variety of branded clothes, footwear, accessories, furniture and lifestyle items.

“We are attracted to Frenzoo’s unique technology and business model” said Toivo Annus, Managing Partner at ASI. “Integrating 3D and social networking opens up a world of opportunities for both users and advertisers. Asia is a dynamic and growing market, and we look forward to helping Frenzoo bring this service to life.”

The Frenzoo experience utilizes the company’s RealFashion 3D Engine that simulates users’ character, clothing and living environments in true 3D, leveraging recent advances in graphics hardware.

Originally posted on May 29, 2007 @ 7:31 am

Skype, Wal-Mart inks deal to bring Internet communications to the masses

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Skype and WalmartSkype announced that it is teaming up with Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, to address the growing popularity and demand for Internet communications among U.S. consumers. Starting today, Wal-Mart is offering Skype Certified hardware in the Internet and voice communications area of 1,800 of its stores throughout the country, providing more opportunity and accessibility for people looking for affordable calling options. This partnership gives shoppers immediate hands-on access to headsets, webcams and handsets designed to work with Skype, as well as the first pre-paid cards for Skype available in the U.S.

“We applaud Wal-Mart for recognizing the popularity of Skype and making it more accessible to Wal-Mart shoppers. This relationship with Wal-Mart will increase exposure for Skype and our hardware partners in a single dedicated Internet communications section. Our research suggests that when users add a Skype Certified accessory like a headset, handset or webcam, it greatly enhances their experience and they use Skype more to connect with family, friends and business colleagues,” said Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 14, 2007 @ 9:51 am

Microsoft’s Skype Assimilation (And Why Google Should Be Worried)

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The software giant has snapped up one of the hottest VoIP startups from the jaws of Google by paying twice as much as the search engine giant in cold hard cash.

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) and Skype Global S.à r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype. (Microsoft)

Skype was on the verge of going public when Microsoft and Google entered a bidding war over the VoIP king.

Although the search engine giant has their own “VoIP” service via Google Voice, Larry Page (Google’s co-founder and new CEO) may regret the day that he did not purchase Skype. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 10, 2011 @ 12:14 pm

Skype: Android 3G Calling Now Included

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Android users have one less reason to gripe about Skype as the VoIP king has given the green light for 3G calling upon their Android app.

And to show there are no hard feelings, tucked into this morning’s update is “Calling over your 3G connection is available worldwide – now including the US.”  This opens up 3G calling to everyone, not just Verizon customers like we’ve seen so far. (Android Central)

Previously Skype only allowed WiFi calling for their Android devices which was odd seeing as their official iPhone app could make 3G phone calls as well as WiFi.

Surprisingly Skype did not update any their corporate blogs highlighting this new ability, although they did note the change upon Android Market.

With the inclusion of 3G calling upon Android Market,  it looks like Skype is ending their practice of playing carrier favorites with users (although the Android app is still lacking when compared to its iOS brother).

Note: Unfortunately video calling over 3G isn’t listed as a feature for Android (is video calling even available for Android?), although hopefully the company will add that feature soon (so yours truly can video chat with his Droid loving relatives).

Originally posted on April 20, 2011 @ 12:53 pm

Will Skype Ads Pay Off?

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In an attempt to help monetize their platform, the VoIP king is launching ads upon Skype and is even leveraging their relationship with Facebook in order to empower users to share the ads with friends.

While including ads may help Skype off set the cost of providing free video chat services for millions of users, the question is will their service pay off?

Skype “Home” provides a sponsored large masthead space at 650 x 170 pixels expandable to 650 x 340 pixels for advertisers to display ads that can include audio or video. Since the ads are on Skype, advertisers can add a Click & Call button in the ad as another call to action. In addition, it allows people to share the ad to their Facebook or Twitter accounts, and with one-click, ads can also be closed with the “Close Ad” button. (Business Wire)

Skype’s plan on placing ads upon the home screen instead of on top of conversations is great for Skype fans, but it may not benefit advertisers as users will probably spend most of their time in the “conversational area” of Skype (unlike the home page).

Unless Skype was able to present some kind of “Groupon like” deal of the day, I fail to see how these ads will receive an abundance of user attention outside of Skype fans closing the ad out of annoyance.

Although it’s great to see Skype putting users ahead of advertisers, hopefully the company an adopt a strategy that benefits users and advertisers in order to help pay for their free video chat sessions.

(Image Credit: Official Skype Blog)

Originally posted on March 7, 2011 @ 1:23 pm