Nimbuzz which offers mobile social messaging services has teamed with GIPS to develop an HD-voice enabled mobile VoIP application for Android phones. Release

Google is playing up the budding relationships it is forming with wireless carriers around its launch of Google Voice, according to an article in BusinessWeek. Google, which already co-brands the G1 Android smartphone with T-Mobile, has restricted Voice's access to WiFi connections, which causes customers to use their paid mobile minutes to make Google Voice calls. Some analysts see this as a sign Google is catering to carriers to smooth the way for greater adoption of the service. VoIP market analyst Jon Arnold says in the article that he doesn't think Google has ambitions to become a phone company, however, and the carrier-friendly policies so far introduced by Google signal a partner role could be more likely.

Google Voice's mobile rates are lower than Skype's in most top international calling markets, including Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, China, and the United Kingdom, according to a comparison of posted rates. Google Voice doesn't break out the mobile rate for calls to India, but the rate to landline phones is also less than Skype's. Google also has announced plans for a Google Voice application for the iPhone and has already rolled out apps for BlackBerry and Android phones, which could increase adoption and use of the service dramatically.

Skype's user base, however, is obviously orders of magnitude larger than Google Voice's at this point, so it remains to be seen if Google Voice will ever be able to scale like Skype has. Google's push into the mobile market as a partner with carriers, rather than appearing as a substitution threat, could help the company eat away at Skype's sizable present advantage.

For more:
- see the BusinessWeek article here
- see Google Voice's international rates here
- see Skype's international rates here 

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Skype 3.0 for Windows Mobile has left beta testing and has added SMS capabilities and file transfer. The two new features, which require Skype Out credits, can be accessed through the contact menu on the Skype client.

Additional upgrades to the 3.0 release include a contact list wizard and a new interface for the status, chat and history tabs, according to CNET. The new Skype client was downloaded more than 250,000 times from CNET's site by 10 a.m. EST, showing the high demand for the full release of the product. 

For more:
- see the CNET article here 

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Skype enjoyed tremendous success with its iPhone application, which was downloaded more than 2 million times in its first 10 days of release. Skype also rolled out a BlackBerry version recently, and has also released versions for Windows Mobile, Java, Android and Symbian. So it's somewhat surprising that Skype is holding off on developing an app for the Palm Pre application store, especially given the hype around the phone's launch.

A company spokesperson told GigaOm that Skype is "keeping an eye on the Pre and its webOS platform," but is not ready to announce development for the Pre.

For more:
- see the GigaOm post here 

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The open-source Android platform created by Google is picking up momentum in areas beyond the cell phone. In Asia, Android set-top boxes, TVs, VoIP phones, digital picture frames and even Karaoke boxes are all going to hit retail shelves shortly.

A large number of Android-toting devices are expected to be on display at CEATEC, Japan's largest electronics show, including a prototype Android set-top box developed by Motorola for service provider KDDI.

The Open Embedded Software Foundation (OESF) is rallying support for Android on non-phone devices. The OESF is a group of 25 companies who plan to have working groups on set-top boxes, VoIP, network and security, measurement and control, system core, application and services, marketing and education. Current members include ARM, KDDI, Japan Cable Laboratories, Alpine Electronics and Fujitsu Software Technologies, with other silicon companies contemplating participation.

The popularity of Android beyond its mobile phone roots is linked to its use of Linux and open-source, and its free availability. And, needless to say, adding in VoIP to a set top box, TV or even a Karaoke box should be easy and cheap.

For more:
- EE Times covers Android proliferation to other devices. Article.

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"These aren't the droids you are looking for..." Maybe you weren't expecting an Android desktop phone, but Gizmodo came across one at CES last week.

Developed by a former iPhone product engineer, the NIMble concept desk phone features a 7-inch, multi-touch screen with 800x400 pixel resolution, a StrongARM processor, SD expansion slot, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a lot of interesting software on top of Android to support entertaining and home networking, as well as the ho-hum task of making phone calls and organizing voice communications.

Touch Revolution, creator of the NIMble concept phone, envisions a family of devices in different form factors, feature sets, and supporting an array of peripherals and screen sizes. Gizmodo says the NIMble should turn up in September for around $300 list, or free with a $10 to $20 per month phone home service contract.

For more:
- Gizmodo finds the an Android desktop phone. Post.

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Rounding off a busy week, Skype officially announced Skype Lite for Android and more than 100 other Java-enabled phones and threw in a beta announcement for a Skype on mobile internet devices (MIDs).

The thin-client Skype Lite includes Skype-to-Skype call functionality, IM capability to either individuals or groups, presence and the ability to receive calls to your SkypeIn number.  Network connectivity is through whatever mobile internet connection is available, and calls use local air time, so users will need both a calling plan and a data plan on their mobile phones to use it. Charges will occur against air time, data plan time, and SkypeOut time if applicable; Skype recommends an unlimited data plan.

Android users can download the Skype Lite beta through Android Market. Java-enabled mobile users can download their version directly from Skype.

Meanwhile, Skype 1.0 Beta for Intel-based MIDs is designed for devices based on the Intel Atom processor and using the Moblin-based Linux OS. MIDs "typically" incorporate a 4 to 7-inch touch screen, camera, GPS, and WiFi connectivity; WiMAX or 3G/4G support may also be available on higher-end products. The beta supports free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls, IM, group IM, SMS, call forwarding, voicemail, presence and the ability to receive calls from other Skype users or to your personal online number, plus the all-important low-cost international calls to the regular phone network.

For more:
- Skype's releases on Lite and MID

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Las Vegas - Truphone CEO Geraldine Wilson is, as you'd expect, confident in the company's ability to grow and execute over the next 12 to 18 months. Examining the company's business in two parts, GSM SIM cards and applications, she said Truphone SIM cards will start appearing in a variety of channels by the end of the year - including within North America. Refinement of applications for the iPhone and on the Google Android platform will continue, as well as for other platforms, including Nokia. 

The widespread proliferation of WiFi-enabled devices around the world is an important factor in Truphone's expected growth in the months to come. WiFi's proliferation and ubiquity provide opportunities for any mobile device to act as a phone, such as Apple's iPod Touch. Truphone would also like to get customers who use the service on an occasional/limited basis to a more active mode. Wilson recognizes people will have another/primary service provider for mobile and/or broadband connectivity, but she'd like to see them use Truphone "most of the time" when it comes to voice.  

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