| Skype ships beta for MIDs |
Jan. 08, 2009
 eBay subsidiary Skype is beta-testing a "Moblin" version of its proprietary VoIP softphone. Skype 1.0 Beta for Intel-based MIDs (mobile Internet devices) is claimed to offer excellent, free video calling, thanks to the high-performance processors and high-bandwidth 3G/4G/WiMAX wireless networking capabilities MIDs are expected to have.
(Click for larger view of Skype on Nokia's N800 Internet tablet)
Skype claims that the "higher" performance of MIDs, along with their 3G/WiMax data networking capabilities, will offer users an "excellent" mobile video calling experience. Presumably, the performance is better than that offered by the Java version of Skype for mobile phones, or the native ARM Linux port bundled with Nokia's Linux-based 'Net tablets and Sony's MyLo communicator.
Other touted features of the Moblin port include:- "Fast, smooth" kinetic scrolling
- Touchscreen support
- Free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls anywhere
- Cheap calls to landlines and mobiles
- Receive calls from other Skype users or to personal online number
- Instant messaging, group IM, SMS, call forwarding, voicemail, presence
The beta port was announced this morning in a press conference at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. It primarily targets ODMs (original device makers) and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) using Moblin to build MIDs based on Intel Atom Z-series processors. Skype is also demonstrating the product at its CES booth, it said, at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel from 6-10 PM PST on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
Skype says the beta is available now, but we could not find it on the company's website. Nor could we find any videos of it yet, on YouTube. Skype did not say whether its beta supports Moblin 1, or the Clutter-based Moblin 2 release (YouTube video link) expected this month.
More details may be available from Skype, or from Moblin.
-- Henry Kingman
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