3G. Wireless Communication Solutions

Skype Wi-Fi VoIP phones already announced by four companies (SMC, Belkin, Netgear, Edge-Core), Skype is working with other manufacturers to produce dual-mode phones for later this year.

Skype current parnters for these GSM/ WiFi dual-mode phones include Nokia and Motorola. One of the issues still to be worked out is whether the dual-mode phones will be released SIM-free, or whether they’ll be able to work out deals with cellular providers. As this sort of Skype experience would be more seamless than some of the current efforts to run Skype on smart phones, including PDAs such as Palm. The key breakthrough is that they could also connect to a mobile network at other times.

This might have been a reference to mobile network 3, which at the end of this year will launch a “specific Skype service” allowing users to call other Skype users for free through their 3 handsets. However, 3’s service will be based through its 3G handsets rather than Wi-Fi, and will probably involve a monthly charge for the service.

While GSM isn’t going to be to everyone’s liking, this is the kind of step forward that is likely to catapult Skype to the top of the VoIP market share, regardless of service category, and help them earn their keep. (Remember that eBay purchased Skype for US$2.6 billion.) Hopefully they’ll be following up with similar announcements for other types of cellular networks.

More detail at Silicon.com

At the VON Europe conference in Stockholm, Nokia introduced a new software upgrade for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. The upgraded features of the introduced OS 2006 edition include support for rich Internet communications, including pre-installed Google Talk - all on a portable broadband mobile device. Google Talk is Google’s free instant messaging service that enables people to chat and make calls through the Internet.

In addition to Google Talk, which is based on open standards and is compatible with all instant messaging clients that support Jabber/XMPP, the tablet also offers Google as the default search provider, making it even easier for users to get the information they need quickly and easily.

The upgraded Internet Tablet software platform can also support SIP based VoIP solutions for broadband business benefit. Standalone software applications, like the popular Gizmo Project by SIPPhone, is planned to be available for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. The Gizmo Project has a rich feature set including the capability to make and receive calls from public telephony networks.

The Internet Tablet OS 2006 edition which is based on popular desktop Linux and Open Source technologies is planned to be available during the second quarter of 2006 in selected countries in Europe and the Americas. It is downloadable free of charge from the Internet.

The upgraded device is expected to knock out for about €370 (US$470)

For more detail go to Nokia.com