eBay’s latest acquisition announced they have added new mobility and personalization options to their phone call client for Windows.
Skype has moved version 1.4 for Windows out of beta. This latest version has been in testing since August. The company has made two new features available for 1.4 users, Call Forwarding and Personalize Skype.
Call Forwarding works as users would expect it to do. Skype users will have two forwarding options. A free option lets Skype calls forward from one Skype name to another. Skype can also forward calls to as many as three landline or mobile numbers; that option is free for the caller and billed to the Skype recipient.
The Personalize Skype option looks like a way for Skype to take a shot at hitting financial goals eBay has set for it. This option lets users add pictures, sounds, and ringtones to Skype, with a fee charged for each. American Greetings, WeeWorld, and Qpass have been lined up as content providers, and Skype wants to find more.
If Skype can achieve three undisclosed financial targets by 2009, its shareholders could earn as much as an additional $1.5 billion USD on top of the $2.6 billion in stock and cash eBay has agreed to pay.
In Skype’s statement, an interesting tidbit has been mentioned in passing (emphasis added):
(Skype for Windows Version 1.4) builds on Skype’s already extensive product offering which allows people to instant message, set up group chats, make conference calls, transfer files, send and receive voicemails, call and be called from a traditional phone system, and access Skype over Wi-Fi for extremely low rates.
A Wi-Fi model could make Skype very competitive with traditional cellular networks. Currently, enterprises and home networks outfitted with Wi-Fi access would benefit. But if someone developed a massive network with wireless access points throughout a number of major population centers, cellular phones could go the way of the Sega DreamCast.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
