News

Skype Expands Partner Ecosystem with Consumer Electronics Industry Leaders; Alliances with Creative, D-Link, IPEVO, Kodak, Netgear, Panasonic, and VTech Illustrate Skype Market Leadership (24/1/2006)

Skype(R), the global Internet communications company, today announced seven deals with consumer electronics industry leaders that will make Internet calling even easier for consumers. With these announcements, Skype continues to enrich the ecosystem of products that make Skype simple to use.

New Skype Products

-- Creative Skype Internet PhonePLUS - a standalone phone that enables anyone to make free Skype calls over the Internet without a PC connection

-- D-Link Skype USB Phone Adapter (DPH-50U) - a Skype phone adapter that enables the use of Skype on a traditional phone

-- IPEVO Fly-1 Cordless Handset and Xing Speakerphone - PC and Mac compatible IPEVO Fly-1 cordless Skype USB handset and an IPEVO Xing Skype USB speakerphone

-- KODAK Photo Voice - a beta version of the first Skype certified online photo sharing service, available as a free download at Kodakgallery.com/photovoice

-- NETGEAR - a new communications device to be unveiled at CES on Wednesday, January 4th (details below)

-- Panasonic - a cordless telephone product that interfaces directly with Skype, allowing users to make and receive Skype calls and traditional calls using the same device

-- VTech USB7100 Phone - availability of the previously announced VTech USB phone, expandable with up to four handsets and allows users to view their online contacts

"Skype and the companies joining its ecosystem - from retailers like RadioShack to device manufacturers such as NETGEAR and Panasonic - are bringing Internet telephony to the mass market even faster than expected," said Will Stofega, Research Manager, VoIP Services, IDC. "By moving Skype off the desktop and into handsets, the free service becomes much more compelling and familiar so that it may appeal to a wider range of callers."

With these new products, consumers will be able to use cordless phones away from the desktop to make Skype calls, easily switch between free Skype calls and ordinary landline calls, and enjoy Skype's simplicity on regular phones via a desktop USB connection. Skype consumers and small business owners now have more choices when using the Skype service.

"The growing Skype ecosystem of leading consumer electronics companies gives Skype users innovative, easy-to-use products and validates the market for Internet calling," said James Bilefield, vice president of business development for Skype.

www.skype.com