Skype Outage Lesson: Don't Rely On Consumer Services For Business Functions

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New Microsoft LifeCam Cinema Shoots in 720p HD

Microsoft releases the new LifeCam Cinema Aluminum body webcam that is capable of true 720p HD video capturing at up to 30fps. The LifeCam Cinema features Auto Focus, a high-precision glass element lens, ClearFrame image-processing technology for smooth, detailed video, even in low light conditions, and integrated digital microphone. It's similar in looks to the old Apple iSight and unlike the iSight it does not use FireWire rather it uses USB 2.0. The LifeCam requires a beefy computer to get the best performance: Intel Dual-Core 3.0 GHz or higher, 2 GB of RAM.

Read the details from Microsoft

PC Worlds First Look: Skype for the iPhone

"At long last, Skype has made it to the iPhone. Skype for iPhone offers features similar to those found in the company's other mobile versions, which work on Windows Mobile, Android, and Java-based phones. It lets you see when your Skype contacts are online and available; make free Skype-to-Skype calls; use the SkypeOut feature to make calls to landlines and cell phones; send instant messages to your Skype contacts; and receive incoming calls via a SkypeIn number. You can't make video calls or conference calls, as you can with the desktop version of Skype, but you can, reportedly, accept an incoming conference call (though we weren't able to test this feature).

Skype for iPhone requires Wi-Fi to make any kind of voice calls. 9to5Mac was able to make voice calls over AT&T's 3G network on an iPhone running the not-yet-released 3.0 software; we tried the same thing on a 3G iPhone running the current 2.2 software, and were unable to connect."

Read the full PC World article here

Skype handles more international calls than AT&T

"Skype has become the world's single largest provider of international calls, surpassing even incumbent telcos like AT&T. Unfortunately for the company, few of these calls generate any revenue, and corporate parent eBay grows impatient.

Skype might not be performing quite as well as parent company eBay would prefer a $2.6 billion acquisition to perform, but that hasn't dampened worldwide enthusiasm for the VoIP service. Skype is so popular, in fact, that new numbers out from TeleGeography suggest that it has become the "largest provider of cross-border voice communications in the world." Take that, AT&T!

Actually, AT&T probably doesn't care, since long distance has lost some of its revenue-generating luster, but the surging popularity of VoIP no doubt keeps future-thinking execs up at nights. Skype's revenues are more modest than the big telcos, despite its usage numbers; at eBay's annual meeting earlier this month, the company said that Skype pulled in $550 million in 2008."

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