* Recent announcements from Google and Skype
Today, we highlight two recent announcements from Google and Skype.
Last week, Skype announced some enhancements to its software with Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows. The new version is available for download at Skype’s Web site.
In its statement, the company said the upgrades include:
* Skypecasts and Public Chats allowing users to join in multiperson community conversations and discussions. Using the service, public chat hosts can moderate the chat room access, as well as control the flow and content of conversation.
* Click-to-call which works with Internet Explorer and Firefox, and allows Web surfers to click on a phone number on the viewed page to initiate the call. The feature requires a SkypeOut subscription.
* A “more powerful and personal user interface” that allows users to customize the look and feel of their Skype interface.
Our analysis: Skype’s upgrades make perfect sense in light of the company’s acquisition by eBay last year as it makes shopping at the retail level easier for the user. Skype’s chat upgrades also allow the company to take advantage of the social trends toward “virtual communities.”
Also last week, Google announced the release of a new mobile client. The free downloadable Java application is designed to provide optimized Gmail search, conversation view, scrolling, and desktop synchronization. Google said that the new client give users five-times faster access than the previous version by using automatic “pre-fetching.” Gmail users who have J2ME-enabled phones can go to gmail.com/app from their mobile browser to download the application. Google worked with Sprint and other mobile providers to help design and deliver the optimized application.
Our analysis: Making mobility better and faster is a “no-brainer” and as 3G mobile network upgrades become more broadly available, we expect users will rely more and more on their mobile handsets for applications they typically use on the desktop. We think the busy executive is looking for more than just mobile e-mail from mobile handsets, and the play by Google and others is keeping up with market demands.
