The Skype people are busy, as they have released version 1.1 for the iPhone in addition to the WinMo version we covered earlier. This new version adds the ability to check Skype voice mail and to send SMS messages, but it lacks a highly desirable feature: push notification.

Push notification is the feature enabled in 3.0 that addresses the lack of multi-tasking on the iPhone. Some users of Skype on the iPhone are pitching a fit on the Skype blog that this “little” feature is not included in Skype 1.1. If any program needs push notification, then Skype is certainly it, as you can’t just run it all the time to the exclusion of all else. I guess your Skype buddies have to call your mobile number to tell you to switch to Skype to save money. Yes, that must be it.

The Skype folks seem to release new versions of the VoIP program all the time on one platform or another. That would exclude Windows Mobile, as they seem to sit on versions for a very long time. Those of you who use Skype on your WinMo phone should note that Skype 3.0 has gone gold and is available for download.

This new version adds two features that users have long requested: file sharing and SMS texting. Skype is available in either a version to install from a PC or a downloadable CAB file for installation direct from the phone.

If the word “beta” doesn’t bother you and want some screen-sharing action on your Windows PC, go have a look-see at Skype 4.1. Version 2.8 for Mac already had the screen-sharing option, so this is new for the PC. Now you won’t be able to remotely interact with a fellow Skyper when sharing a screen, but this feature is useful for showing someone a doc, file or other object on your desktop. The latest beta version also restores the birthdates of your contacts and allows for the import of contacts from Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and AOL.

Thanks for the tip, Dave!

Don’t tell anyone, but right now I am on a conference call with the GigaOM team discussing editorial topics. We conference the team in from all over the world using Skype on the computer and it works well.

Normally I use my USB headset to make sure the audio quality is good enough for the call, but today I wanted to go with an easier solution. I use Skype on the MacBook and I decided to use the Bang & Olufsen headset for the iPhone. I plug it into the audio out jack on the MacBook and the jack passes both input and output. This means the headset works as well with Skype on the MacBook as it does on the iPhone for calls. It’s much more comfortable for long calls than the bulky USB headset, so give it a try if you have a good audio headset. Thanks to Kevin for the idea.

Now I’m sure that there are other notebooks this will work on other than MacBooks, so no slamming. It’s what I have so I know it works with the MB.

Skype has been one of the top downloaded apps for the iPhone since its release last week, even though Apple bowed to AT&T in the U.S. to prevent the VoIP program from working on 3G. US Skype users are relegated to finding a WiFi hotspot to take advantage of Skype on the iPhone, something we’re not surprised to see. Phone carriers are no doubt concerned that cheap VoIP calls will cost them talk minutes so they do whatever they can to prevent that.

T-Mobile Germany is following AT&T’s path by also prohibiting Skype use over 3G but extending that ban to WiFi hotspots they operate. That’s right, T-Mobile Germany is prohibiting the use of Skype over any network they own, 3G or otherwise.

The reasons, say T-Mobile, are purely technical rather than economical. A spokesman for T-Mobile told German media that the company has been in fact blocking all VoIP applications over its mobile network for two years.

“There are two reasons for this – because the high level of traffic would hinder our network performance, and because if the Skype program didn’t work properly, customers would make us responsible for it.”

The people behind the world’s leading VoiP application are not impressed. Skype’s general counsel, Robert Miller, has called the decision “an April’s Fool joke at the expense of Skype users in Germany”.

“What amazes me is that Skype is the number one download on the App Store in Germany, and yet the country’s dominant telecom operator has already made it known that it would block the use of Skype on iPhone (and on BlackBerry), both for its mobile network customers, and at its Wi-Fi hotspots” Miller wrote on the company’s blog.

This donnybrook is going to get worse with Skype set to release shortly on the BlackBerry platform. The wider it gets spread the more active these carriers are going to be to block its use. It’s also unsettling to see Skype being blocked by anyone over WiFi. That’s a good reason to call for a boycott, if you ask me.

(via apc mag)

This morning James and I got a chance to test out the new Skype for iPhone client. My impressions are that Skype nailed the implementation for voice. I’m wondering if Skype’s newest in-house audio codec has much to do with the voice quality. No matter how they did it, the sound quality is very impressive. Of course, the main limitation right now is that you can only do voice calls over WiFi and not on 3G. For our call this morning, I shared the Internet connection from my Mac to my first-gen iPhone by setting up a WiFi network. It’s drop-dead simple and since I’ve already received a few emails asking how to do this, here are the simple steps on a Mac. I don’t have a PC with me so I can’t detail exactly how to do this in Windows, but it’s not any more difficult on that platform. Here are the steps:

1. In System Preferences, open the Sharing Folder.
2. Click the Internet Sharing service (not the checkbox in front of it) and configure the options on the right. Here you simply pick the connection you want to share (Ethernet, 3G, etc…) and make sure the AirPort option is checked.
3. Click the AirPort Options button to name your network and add a password.
4. Check the Intenet Sharing service.
5. If you keep the AirPort icon in your Mac Menubar, you’ll see it change to indicate that it’s now sharing your connection over the custom WiFi network.
6. On your iPhone, simply connect to the WiFi network you created on the Mac. That’s it!

This easy process shouldn’t take more than three minutes, but I’m allowing you two extra ones just in case. This is also illustrates why I’m not the ideal customer for a 3G router. Using software, I can easily replicate the same functionality and create a wireless hotspot to share a 3G connection. Yes, my computer has to be on for this to work; that’s not required for a hardware-based router, but my computer is nearly always on to begin with. For me, this is a better solution and far less expensive since those routers can cost $200 or more. Plus, I don’t have to carry an additional device.

It’s been all over the web today that Skype has been officially released for the iPhone. It would be remiss of us to neglect covering such important mobile tech news and what better way to cover it than to show it in action. In this video I call Kevin who is goofing off hard at work in Las Vegas in preparation for the CTIA show tomorrow. In the video you’ll see and hear first-hand how clear the calls are using Skype on the iPhone and also find out what Kevin is doing out on the Strip at 4:30 in the morning.

We BlackBerry addicts will soon get to cash in on some of that Skype action as reported by Reuters. Skype will be coming to the RIM BlackBerry in May according to Skype COO Scott Durchslag. What is not clear is if Skype will only work over WiFi on the BlackBerry as opposed to using 3G connectivity. If that is the case then some of the popular models like the Storm will not be able to take advantage of the cheap calls made possible by using Skype.

On a related note, Om Malik points out that his breaking news last week has been confirmed: Skype is coming to the iPhone shortly. Skype calls on the iPhone will cost 2.1 cents/ minute and will only be possible over WiFi. No 3G for you.

GigaOM is reporting that Skype will be coming to the iPhone as early as next week. This is big news for road warriors who need VoIP to stay in touch on the road. Since the rumor has this announcement going live next week, maybe it will happen while Kevin is at the CTIA.  Hey, he can Skype the news in to the jkOnTheRun Gulf Coast Bureau.

This rumor deals with an official Skype app for the iPhone.  Skype has been possible on the iPhone through TruPhone and Fring for a while now.

The Skype folks have certainly been busy with Windows Mobile development after what seemed like years with little evolution on the platform. They have informed us that Skype version 3.0 for Windows Mobile is now available and this new version adds two cool new features.

The best one in my book is the ability to share files with chat-mates, something that Skype has long been able to do on other platforms. This makes it a simple effort to send files from any Windows Mobile phone to any Skype contact on any platform. The other new feature is the ability to send text messages using Skype’s low rates thus avoiding roaming charges when abroad.

Grab your copy of the new beta here.