If there was something that was missing from Facebook, it is a calling feature that can be use by friends. For this to happen, and to leverage on the internet, VOIP would be the best solution. This will be in line with the essence of Facebook being free to use. Over the last couple of years there had been talks about VOIP apps being introduced into Facebook only for T-Mobile pulling out Babaloo over small commercial matter.

Now it seems apparent that Facebook has something up their sleeves. According to Reuters, they are talking to Skype to include it as their primary VoIP vehicle on the Facebook. It seems that its not only Facebook, but Google as well. This is an excerpt of the Reuters report;

Facebook and Google Inc are separately considering a tie-up with Skype after the web video conferencing service delayed its initial public offering, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions told Reuters .

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has been involved in internal discussions about buying Skype, according to one of the sources. Another source said Facebook had reached out to the Luxembourg-based company about forming a joint venture.

Google has also held early talks for a joint venture with Skype, the second source said. AND ALSO, Microsoft has joined the fray! Microsoft is of course playing catchup.

A Skype deal could be valued at $3 billion to $4 billion, the first source said. Skype’s IPO is expected to raise about $1 billion, several other sources said.

Why buy Skype

So why is Skype being chased by these giants?

1. For Facebook, they need a real time communication platform. It is about time they provide such facility. In essence, they would become a telco of the future.

2. For Google, well they can just buy about anything they want. They already have gtalk and other voip applications in the work. They do not need it but by buying Skype, they will hinder Facebook progress.

3. For Bill Gates Microsoft, what else can it be for them. For an organisation that started this “revolution”, they became stuck to being a dictator for a long time that they lost out on a lot and still am. So Microsoft would need something to appeal to the revolutionary masses. Skype will be able to give them that – apart from slowing everybody down so that they can catch up. Another reason would be to get hold of Skype Connect which is a business platform. A competition of sorts for their business Unified Communications area.

So theres plenty of cash to be flown around. Whichever way it goes, the shareholders are rubbing their hands with glee.

LATEST NEWS

Wall Street Journal that Microsoft is planning to buy the company for $7 billion, in a deal worth closer to $8 billion after Skype’s debts are considered. This mirrors an earlier rumor of a Microsoft-Skype deal published by GigaOm.

Recently we reported that Skype has a privacy issue for those using it on Android. Now Skype has reported that they have released a new version of Skype for Android that fixes the privacy vulnerability. This was mentioned by Skype’s Adrian Asher:

After a period of developing and testing we have released a new version of the Skype for Android application onto the Android Market, containing a fix to the vulnerability reported to us. Please update to this version as soon as possible in order to help protect your information.

Also, Skype for Android update ensures that VoIP calls are now supported over 3G in the US. This is unlike previous versions of the android app that had limited 3G voice calls via Skype to WiFi connections. Now Skype has the ability to be accessed from the carriers.

The latest release of Skype’s 5.0 beta allows you to make video calls to as many as 10 people simultaneously. This was revealed by Skype in september. The 10-way calling is an upgrade from the first 5.0 beta, which had offered only 5-way video chatting. Of course, you want to try out the 10-way calling, your Skype friends will need to install beta 2 as well. Apart from just upgrading skype video calling feature, the engineers at Skype have outfitted beta 2 with other new features and tweaks.

Skype 5.0 new features

Skype “Home” page will offer updates about skyp service, details on your call purchases, and tutorial videos to help newbies get started. The new offline IM feature will let you send messages to and receive them from other people who are offline. The messages are kept on hold and delivered once you or the other person is back online.

Skype Beta 2 has also tried to improve both the quality and reliability of Skype calls. A built-in client messaging service tells you about any potential problems with a call and offers suggestions to improve its quality. Should your network connection go down, the new Skype beta will try to quickly re-establish that connection so the call doesn’t get dropped. If the call is lost, Skype will quickly redial it for you. In addition, the engineers at Skype have also improved skype’s interface by displaying photos of your contacts and a log of previous conversations.

Skype requirement

To learn more and download the Skype 5.0 beta 2, go to at Skype’s Web site. To install the beta, you’ll need to be running Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

Viber is the latest iPhone voip app touting Skype-like free voice calls, which uses people’s phone numbers as their ID, digging into their address books.

Basically users can make international free calls to other Viber voip app users using 3G or Wi-Fi.

Users can browse through their contacts to see which of your iPhone contacts is already on Viber.

Go ahead and call. It’s free* and it works great!

VIBER APP REVIEW

I have tried calling my wife using the Viber app. Loading took some time. Otherwise using the Viber app is simple.

Straight away in your contacts, you will see who has viber installed on their phone. Viber also have a component to list all your contacts with viber app.

Using it is simple as any. I tried calling my wife using viber. However, as it takes time to convert from packets, the voice will come much later. Hence you have to wait for about couple of seconds to hear the person from the other end.

I suppose if you are overseas and in a wifi area, such delay is welcome.

Skype says that it will be offering cheap calls to more than 170 countries in a bid to establish itself as one of the leading global telecommunication companies. The VOIP company will be offering price plans with unlimited calls for as little as 69p per month to some countries. Unlimited Skype calls to landline in the UK is charged at £3.39 per month with the unlimited world package which covers more than 40 countries costing a rather steep £8. Skype may face increase competition from the likes of ISP Talktalk who offers a similar package for as little as £1.95 for the first 12 months for a service, which unlike Skype, doesn’t require a computer. In a statement issued yesterday, Skype said that it would offer more choices for its customers, ranging from 1-month, 60 minute calling subscriptions to 12-months, unlimited packages.