Looks like someone decided to leak the desktop installation files for the Skype Beta application!

The files that were leaked seem to have been developed for the BlackBerry Storm. Please keep in mind that this is a Beta application that still has flaws and bugs that may cause your BlackBerry some problems. Install at your own risk!

If you decide to install it be sure to leave some feedback in the comments.

• Download ZIP via BrettWyman: Skype Beta for the Storm
• How To: Install Applications and Themes via Desktop Manager

Source: BlackBerryOS

Yesterday Skype announced in their forums that they have begun a closed Beta of their BlackBerry application.

Not surprisingly the Beta is closed and no new users are being accepted at this time, and it looks like we won’t hear anything about it:

Everyone accepted to the Closed Beta testing will have to sign Non-Disclosure agreement with Skype.

Sign-up has been closed, due to extensive amount of sign-ups.

For now all we can do is wait for leaked info Skype to either allow more users or move the application into public Beta. Or maybe the next step will be a public release? We’ll see…

You can follow the Skype Closed Beta announcement thread here.

Vopium has launched a free VoIP application for BlackBerrys through the  BlackBerry App World.

Features:

• Vopium is compatible with more than 500 handsets across Java, Symbian, BlackBerry RIM, and Windows Mobile, as well as offering a complete iPhone solution
• Vopium is free to download at www.vopium.com; BlackBerry users can download the application directly from the BlackBerry App World™
• Vopium re-routes international calls as a local call to a Vopium gateway and then via global traffic carriers as ordinary voice traffic in order to ensure voice quality
• All new users are given 30 minutes of talk time and 30 international SMS for free
• Calling internationally with Vopium can result in up to 90 percent savings versus traditional carrier rates; for an overview of current pricing, visit: http://vopium.com/tariff
• Calls made through Vopium are always routed using the cheapest method while preserving the highest quality
• Vopium Wi-Fi users can call each other around the world for free
• Vopium users keep their own mobile number and SIM card, and maintain their numeric identity when making calls
• When a user calls from their home country, a local rate may be applied by their operator
• When calling from abroad a roaming charge will be applied by the subscriber’s operator
• Wi-Fi calls made with Vopium will not incur additional charges from a subscriber’s operator

Vopium is available for pretty much every BlackBerry in the 8000 and 9000 series except the Pearl Flip 8200 series, which will have its own version soon.

Full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Just got an email about another promotion happening right now for SHAPE Services BlackBerry applications.

Until May 1st, all of SHAPE Services’ BlackBerry apps that cost more than $19.99 are now only $19.99.

Price break down and apps that are part of this promotion:

• IM+ for Skype was $29.95
• IM+ All-in-One Messenger: Facebook,AIM/ iChat, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, GTalk and MySpace was $49.95
• Mobiola Video Studio: Watch your favorite Videos, DVD, YouTube, iTunes on mobile was $24.95
• RDM+ : Remote Desktop for Mobiles was $49.95
• Mobiscope: Video from webcams on mobile was $29.95
• TSMobiles: Terminal Service client for Mobiles was $44.95
• VR+ : Record your voice, Email and Share in Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Blogger.com was $29.95
• VNC+: Virtual Network Computing, BlackBerry version was $29.95

All of these applications have free trials if you’d like to test them out before purchasing. This deal allows you to save up to 60% on SHAPE Services applications.

Check it out!

Let me know what you think of them!

It looks like mobile carriers aren’t pleased with Skype for the iPhone and the upcoming version for BlackBerry, which would allow free skype-to-skype calls.

By David Flynn:

iPhone users are taking up arms against some of the world’s largest telcos in an effort to use Skype over the 3G airwaves. With the support of Apple, mobile carriers in the US, Canada and Germany have blocked Skype from their networks so that the popular VoIP service can be run only over a local Wi-Fi connection.

Since its release last Tuesday, Skype has become the most popular download at Apple’s iPhone software store. But AT&T in the US, Canada’s Rogers and T-Mobile in Germany are all on the front line to defend what they see as their right to determine how their networks are used.

Read more @ apcmag.com

I realize the article concentrates on the Apple iPhone, but since it’s about “mobile carriers,” that means they aren’t happy with Skype altogether. This would most likely affect BlackBerry users just the same once Skype gets released for BlackBerrys.

I know plenty of people have been waiting for a Skype client for BlackBerry. Revolt anyone?

Remember: Without customers a network is nothing!

Some highlights from the press release:

• Skype today announced that the lite version of Skype™, a ‘thin’ Skype client for mobile phones, will soon be available as a free download for BlackBerry® smartphones. A beta version will be available in May for the BlackBerry® Bold™ and BlackBerry® Curve™ smartphones, with support for other BlackBerry smartphones coming later.
• BlackBerry smartphone users who download Skype can save money on calls to landlines and mobiles abroad, and stay connected with friends and family over Skype. The application works wherever your mobile phone works, without needing a Wi-Fi connection.
• The lite version of Skype will be available to BlackBerry users worldwide. The ability to make calls will be available in 10 countries: Australia, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the United States and the UK. English will be supported first, with additional languages to follow.
• Costs for using the lite version of Skype

Read the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Image via Digital-Lifestyles

Some highlights from the press release:

• Skype, the Internet telephone unit of eBay Inc, is planning to launch its service for iPhone users on Tuesday and for BlackBerry in May as part of its effort to expand beyond desktop computers.
• Skype has been pushing to make its service work on the most popular advanced phones with an aim to expending its more than 400 million users who were mostly lured by the promise of cheap and sometimes free calls made using its computer application.
• In May it will launch Skype for Research In Motion’s BlackBerry devices, which popularized mobile email. It has already announced Skype for Nokia phones and for phones based on Android, Google Inc’s mobile system, and Windows Mobile, from Microsoft Corp.
• “Whether you’re Twitter, MySpace or Facebook you want to be embedded in the address book,” said Wood. “This puts Skype firmly into the game.”

Read the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

* UPDATE In my haste to post this (was running late for a class) I placed it in the wrong category. Xobni is actually meant for use on a desktop PC. I posted about it because I thought it was pretty cool with all its features, and because of their new involvement with the BlackBerry Partners Fund. I also changed the screenshots to a demo video so you can see what it’s about. Sorry about the confusion. *

Some highlights from the press release:

• Xobni, the popular Outlook search and relationship plugin, today announced an investment from the BlackBerry Partners Fund to bring the company’s Series B round to over $10 million. The company has also removed its beta label with the introduction of Xobni v1.7. The new version of Xobni includes significant performance improvements to its relationship management sidebar and is available as a free download here: http://xobni.com/download
• The BlackBerry Partners Fund’s investment allows Xobni to continue developing innovative solutions, including its lightning fast inbox search and powerful relationship management tools.
• Since the launch of Xobni’s public beta in May 2008, the company has been working to optimize speed and performance.
• Xobni has also enhanced its product offering throughout the past year by developing strategic partnerships with leading content providers including LinkedIn, Facebook, Yahoo! Mail, Skype and Hoover’s.

Read the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

This sounds and looks very cool. Can’t wait for it to be available for BlackBerry devices so I can try it out .

Some highlights from the press release:

• iSkoot, a mobile software pioneer known for groundbreaking mobile Internet calling solutions, today announced it has added support for the popular Twitter community to its innovative Kalaida mobile services platform, which can deliver real-time Internet functionality to almost any handset sold today.
• Twitter’s rapid updates and “micro-blogging” format have made it one of the world’s fastest-growing social networks.
• “Twitter is a dynamic and engaged community that’s both online and mobile. We’re excited to make it easier for all people to participate in the Twitter conversation wherever they go, no matter what type of phone they have,” said iSkoot Senior Director of Product Management John Beckmann. “We’ve started with something simple, but will be adding new features soon and supporting more handsets, including BlackBerry.”
• Other services enabled on the Kalaida platform include full-time, real-time connection to social networks, personal e-mail, instant messaging, and leading news, sports, and entertainment feeds.

Read the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Whoever invented the expression “talk is cheap” obviously didn’t have to pay his company’s mobile phone bill. Mobile handsets have become the primary phone for many business users, even when they’re in the office.

The sheer convenience of a single, roaming device makes the mobile phone the preferred choice for many, especially when that device includes essential business features such as address books, calendars, to-do lists, and email and web clients.

But few business mobile users think closely about the cost implications of all that convenience and accessibility. According to the telecoms consultancy Analysys, around 80% of corporate telephony spending now goes on calls made to or by mobiles.

In-country mobile-to-office and office-to-mobile calls are a pain point for business, and international mobile roaming and interconnection charges are worse still. Even though a May 2007 EU agreement capped the price of a mobile call while abroad at €0.49 per minute, and incoming calls at €0.24 per minute, mobile costs remain high.

So while few companies want to scale back the use of mobiles, the majority are actively seeking ways to slash the running costs of their mobile fleets. Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) via Skype offers a way to do just that.

Read more at IT-Director.com.