skype

Happy New Year from Skype! Free Wi-Fi in NYC for New Year's Eve

Skype is giving people in the Big Apple free access to Wi-Fi on New Year's Eve so they can call and video chat with friends and loved ones at the stroke of midnight.

The company, which allows people to make phone and video calls over the Internet, offered free Wi-Fi in airports around the U.S. from December 21 through December 27. Now it's teamed up with Wi-Fi provider Towerstream to give New Yorker's and visitors free Wi-Fi on December 31 from noon until January 1.

To connect to the service, users should look for the "… Read more

Skype giving away free holiday Wi-Fi at select U.S. airports

Travelers stuck at the airport during the holidays will find at least one free gift, courtesy of Skype.

The IP-based calling service is offering free Wi-Fi at more than 50 airports across the U.S. from December 21 though December 27. People traveling through any of the select airports will be able to log on to a Skype Wi-Fi connection via their PC, Mac, or Apple iOS device to make a video or voice call.

The gift package includes airports in some of the country's major hubs, such as Atlanta; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Miami; Chicago; San Francisco; and … Read more

How to remove ads from IM clients

Ads within instant-messenger or browser clients are rarely welcomed by the user. They can slow down your computer and have the potential to contain harmful content--from adult products you don't want young eyes to see to adware or malware. RemoveAds is a Windows program that can be installed to remove those pesky (and sometimes dangerous) advertisements from just about any IM client or browser.

Step 1: Download and install RemoveAdsRemoveAds. 

Step 2: Launch the program from the Start menu by searching for RemoveAds.

Step 3: Be on the lookout for any ads that made it through the … Read more

Skype 2.6 for Android knows how to share

Skype for Android jumps to version 2.6 today, and it brings with it some really nifty sharing capabilities.

Now you can send photos, recorded videos, or other files to your contacts directly from Skype's chat interface. Based on the screenshot, the feature seems simple enough, and we're sure it'll be popular with anyone who regularly uses the Skype app. File sharing is free and available over Wi-Fi or through your device's data connection.

Also, anyone with a device running Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset will get to enjoy improved video quality and battery life.

Skype 2.6 for Android … Read more

Skype desktop app now makes Facebook video calls

Skype deepened its partnership with Facebook today by adding Facebook video calling to both its Mac and Windows applications.

With the just-announced Skype 5.4 Beta for Mac and Skype 5.7 Beta for Windows, you can initiate a Facebook video call without having to open up your browser and log in to the social-networking site. Just connect your Facebook account to Skype, select a Facebook friend, and hit the Skype video call button. Your friend picks up the call directly from within Facebook. While the feature isn't exactly a game-changer, we do think it's superconvenient. Since you … Read more

Skype co-founder Friis working on Netflix rival

A new service called Vdio will join the growing number of companies with sights set on Netflix's streaming service, the company confirmed to CNET today. And the person behind the company is none other than Skype and Kazaa co-founder Janus Friis.

In a statement to CNET today, Vdio Senior Vice President of Operations Scott Barrow, confirmed that Vdio will "let you instantly watch the best in TV and movies, right now." The spokesman said that the service is "currently in closed beta" and will initially only be available in the U.K. The service's … Read more

Microsoft closes $8.5 billion Skype acquisition

Microsoft has completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype Global, giving the software company a major foothold in the growing market for Internet telephony services.

"Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement late last night. "We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues--anytime, anywhere."

Microsoft announced in May the deal to acquire Skype. A final hurdle was cleared last … Read more

European Commission OKs Microsoft's Skype buy

Today the European Commission green-lighted Microsoft's acquisition of Skype, a pioneer in personal VoIP communications.

Although Microsoft announced its intentions to buy Skype in May, the software giant had to clear international hurdles before it could complete its acquisition of Skype, which is based in Luxembourg.

"This is an important milestone, as we've now received clearance from both the United States and the European Union," Microsoft's Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president, said in a statement. "We look forward to completing soon the final steps needed to close the acquisition."

While … Read more

Microsoft's Skype deal to win EU approval, report says

Microsoft might finally have all the pieces in place to finalize its Skype acquisition.

Joaquín Almunia, the European Union's competition commissioner, is ready to approve Microsoft's acquisition of Skype, the Financial Times is reporting. The publication says that Almunia will approve the deal without requiring Microsoft to give any concessions, indicating that the governing body does not feel the deal will stifle competition.

In May, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion. As part of the terms of the deal, Skype will become its own division within the software giant's operation, led … Read more