Remember the "car" phones that used to weigh 55 pounds and were larger than your head? We have come a long way since then. Cell phones go smaller, added a "flip", ringtones, QWERTY keyboard texting, touch screens, and apps. What will they think of next? Being an At&t, previously Cingular, customer for 11 years, I now enjoy their 3G network. This means that while I am talking on the phone, I can text, browse the internet, or just check my Facebook account. There is a Skype app and I think that is very neat because now not only can you talk to someone anywhere in the world, you can look at them while you are doing it. I can just think how awesome this would be for anyone but especially soldiers who miss their families.
At&t has a Skype app and it appears that Verizon Wireless may be next. Skype is a VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) software that enables conversations that take place all around the world. The two companies issued a statement to the press saying they will hold a joint news conference Feb. 16 at Mobile World Congress. (http://www.internetnews.com) As a network that is the largest 3G network, this could be a major deal for Skype!
John Stratton, executive vice president and CMO at Verizon, and Josh Silverman, CEO of Skype, will be the speakers at the press conference next Tuesday at MWC, being held in Barcelona, Spain, according to the statement.(http://www.internetnews.com) You may ask yourself why this is such a big deal. Here is the kicker. Skype has been a non-supporter of wireless carriers for some time now. Skype CEO was known for saying that the carriers served their own interests rather than the interest of the customer. (http://www.internetnews.com)
I guess there was a change of heart. I wonder if the economic crisis has anything to do with it. Enterprisemobiletoday.com states that Skype is hoping to double their revenue by next year. Seems to me that Skype is starting to compromise and now understands that they need to be involved with wireless carriers if they want to stand a chance of surviving in the corporate world. Well, we will have to wait until this Tuesday to see what decisions were made in regards to Verizon and Skype.
If there was only a way to post a picture to a comment. My 82-year-old Grandmother LOVES skype! She has a web-cam and skype set up at her computer so she can speak to our family in Europe, cousins in Cali and friends in Washington. She absolutely loves that she doesn't have to hold the phone, the microphone and camera are built into her computer. That's so interesting that skype is going to wireless coverages. However, you have to pay for skype minutes. So are they going to basically double charges?? So you use wireless minutes along with skype minutes and money? It's interesting how that'll work out when it comes to billing. It really is a great idea because VOIP works much faster and mostly clearer.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Skype is starting to compromise when they attempt to get involved with wireless carriers. I really think Skype and Verizon are smart because they are building a business partnership that will benefit both companies. Skype is getting its name out in the public so that more people will use it. Even if people have the Verizon voice plan, they will be able to have the fewest number of minutes because using Skype will not cost any minutes. Really it is a win/win for both companies. For those customers that are loyal to Skype they may choose Verizon as their wireless carrier so they can benefit from using the Verizon network, which is extensive. Maybe Verizon will overtake AT&T in a very competitive market. We will just have to wait and see!
ReplyDeleteA combination of Skype and Verizon would hold numerous possibilities for education and personal use as well. Skype is quickly becoming a household name through its ease of use and free access for face-to-face chats. Point in case, my 16 month old niece comes running to the computer everytime she hears the dial-up signal that Skype is calling another user and starts yelling "HI, HI, HI, HI!" (her only word at the moment).
ReplyDeleteBy adding Skype as an application for Verizon, this could be a great asset for my own band students. Aside from the fact that I would have to give out my own phone number, students can show me their problems with their instruments by Skype instead of having to wait for a week before I return to their school for a lesson. Also, students could practice together on pieces without having to be in the same place which helps when they have no rides because of parents working two jobs. Currently, more students in school have access to phones than they do to computers. By having this union between these two companies, more doors would be unlocked for students and teacher to communicate.