Rick Osterloh, Microsoft’s vice-president of the Skype division is the source behind this news after the comments he made during CES last week. He is reported to have admitted that the company is ‘working on a Windows Phone product that will be coming out soon.’ As the Telegraph reports this is a controversial move as Windows Phone is the only OS that lacks a Skype device, despite being owned by Microsoft.

Reports are also suggesting that the first Skype compatible Windows Phone device will not have a deep integration of the service on the platform; instead it will be made available as a downloadable app from the MarketPlace. It is thought that the feature will be integrated more heavily in the updated version of the OS, although it is believed an initial version will be unveiled at next month’s Mobile World Congress.

The Window Phone OS is currently on the version called Mango and according to reports Microsoft are currently working on updates that will bring the OS up to Tango and then Apollo versions, both of which could be the version which Skype could feature more heavily in, although nothing official has been announced as of yet. Head on over to the Telegraph for to see a video of the interview in which it was revealed that Skype would be coming to Windows Phone soon.

Are you looking forward to using Skype on Windows Phone devices?

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Skype first began integrating Facebook into their service over a year ago when they started allowing users to link their Facebook contacts to their Skye desktop. In order for the latest update to work users must first link their Facebook and Skype accounts, as the Microsoft owned firm’s design chief, Rick Osterloh explains. Users can then select a Facebook friend in their Skype contacts and hit the video call button to begin talking to them on Facebook face to face.

According to Metro, Osterloh went on to say that Skype’s new beta version 5.7 allows group screen-sharing for Windows users and version 5.4 gives better video rendering to Apple Mac computer owners. Push-to-talk support is also enabled which lets users use Skype like a walkie-talkie. Experts say the timing of the recent announcement is perfect as Facebook just closed a deal to bring Bing search to their site.

Skype was purchase for $8.5 billion dollars by Microsoft, who has every intention of integrating the VOIP service into their products which include Office, Xbox Live and now Windows Phone. The company has also reassured existing users of Skype that it will still remain available to products not necessarily associated with Microsoft. As the Windows Phone OS attempts to take off in the market, being fairly new and taking on the already successful iOS and Android OS, Skype integration is likely to play a key part.

Will you be making video calls on Facebook to your Facebook friends?

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Their VOIP service will allow O2 customers to make calls to others in the UK mobile or landlines via the internet, but unlike Skype it will be limited to just in the UK meaning users of the service will not be able to make international calls. According to 3G the service is to be trialed to begin with using 1000 smartphone owners who will be chosen and who get to experience the service free.

The company intends on bringing in certain charges when O2 Connect starts rolling out properly, although no details about how much the service will cost have been disclosed. Whether or not the charges will be inclusive on certain tariffs or will just be charged as added extras also remains to be seen. The service does not have to be used in just O2 hotspots it can be used over any Wi-Fi network.

For now O2 are only allowing Android and Apple iPhone users to apply for the service, but we expect other smartphone users such as BlackBerry owners will also be able to use the service when it becomes fully functional. Until then however we will all just have to carry on using Skype on our devices. Will you be using O2 Connect when it launches or will you prefer Skype?

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This news was confirmed on Twitter when the Windows Phone New Zealand Twitter account tweeted this:

Nice, they just confirmed at TechEd NZ that #WP7 devices with forward facing cameras are coming with Mango – and Skype will support it.

Previously we have not seen any Windows Phone 7 smartphone with a front-facing camera, so we presume that manufacturers will release devices in the future to make the most of this new WP7 feature. It has to be said that at the moment it is unclear whether this will be an app which has to be manually installed or something which comes as part of the Mango update, we would prefer it to be forced upon users like how RIM gives all of its smartphones BBM, this will promote its use in our opinion.

With Skype apps available for pretty much every software platform out there the potential of this new WP7 feature is massive, Facetime is limited to Mac products, however Skype apps are available for Android, iOS, PC, Mac and Linux so the possibilities are endless – could we soon video chat across all of the platforms seamlessly? We sure hope so.

As you are probably aware a smartphone codenamed “Sea Ray” is being released by Nokia later this year, this is Nokia’s first attempt a Windows Phone 7 device, however so far we have seen no evidence which suggest that this will feature a front-facing camera – we think that if this is the case Nokia needs a rethink as if video chat takes off in WP7 the Nokia Sea Ray will be lagging behind when it arrives – what do you think?

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When the Skype launched the function a lot of Android users were disappointed to see that it was only available for four handsets that use Google’s OS. The company has finally updated their service however and it is now compatible with devices that use Gingerbread. That means handsets that ship with the upgraded Android or have been updated with it will now be compatible.

The list of handsets that now have the Skype video calling functionality is quite a substantial improvement, bringing the total number of devices with the support to 21. The list also consists of some very popular smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy S II, which had already been reported to get it unofficially and some hotly anticipated devices like the HTC EVO 3D.

Completing the list is the Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung DROID Charge, Acer A5, LG Revolution, Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro, Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, HTC Flyer, HTC Desire HD, HTC Incredible S, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Sensation, HTC Thunderbolt and the HTC Desire.

The only downside seems to be that for some reason Skype can only access the rear camera with Android 2.2 and some cases 2.1, despite other applications not seeming to have this problem. This is the reason why Gingerbread is required for the support. Check out the Android Market now where you will find the updated information and some reviews from those already using the application.

Will you be using Skype video calling on your Android device now?

More About: Google Android Gingerbread, Skype

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In a strange move the Skype for iPad application went live on the App Store as a free download for users, and was specially designed for the device. The app worked via 3G or Wi-Fi with users being able to call their friends using both of the cameras found on the iPad 2. According to appboy.com the interface was nice to use, but strangely was soon pulled by Skype.

The company took to Twitter to say they were taking down the application because it “went live prematurely today”. After the app went live many websites reported on it and was mainly liked, so it seems a bit strange for the sudden pull. There was no time scale given for the app to go live again, and what of the people who had already downloaded it.

Meanwhile the service could be coming to the Xbox early this fall as Microsoft want to use the console and the Kinect motion sensor for the video calling service. The holdup is the wait for the EU Commission to approve Microsoft’s buyout of Skype. Tony bates CEO of Skype said the deal is almost complete and added “We already got through the US side of it”.

He went on to say that it could be another couple of months with an October time frame mentioned, according to Redmond Pie. The company will be hoping for the deal to be sorted in time for the dashboard update this fall. Microsoft will be bringing the Skype service to more Windows products as the company looks to start earning back some of the money its paying out to purchase Skype.

Did you download the Skype for iPad application yesterday?

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From Tango’s humble beginnings as a free mobile application, Tango will bring its free service to the PC later this summer, and allow users to use their video service to Tango between Windows based PC’s, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch, iPad and Android based tablets and mobile phones. In general, this means that you will be able to chat to people, no matter what platform you are running on your PC, or smartphone. Neat huh?

Tango are one of the latest in a long line of small businesses gone big due to the massive growth in mobile applications since the birth of the smartphone. Currently, Tango has a staggering 18 million users spread over 190 countries worldwide and have seen one million new users every two weeks since its launch on September 30, 2010.

The video communications company is also setting their goals high and say that they want to reach the goal of getting 100 million customers by this time next year. They intend to do this with the new Tango video service for PC, where you can see the first public demo at the FORTUNE Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen, Colorado.

The registering process is said to be simplified compared to other video based communication tools that are currently available too. As Tango is foremost designed for mobile phone use, no username or password will be required to login. All you will need is your mobile number and you are ready to Tango. They also say that Tango will automatically find people you know, which makes life a hell of a lot easier than remembering emails, usernames, and trawling through hundreds, if not thousands of people with the same name.

It seems that the only way is up for a company like Tango. The market for respectable video-to-video, PC-to-mobile communication systems is very limited, but it seems that they have taken the bull by its horns and have closed the $42 million Series B round of funding that enables the company to put its product on the map much more faster and efficiently.

The investment is lead by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, who was also one of the first investors for what we now know as Skype, and after having previous experience in that field, will know where the future lies with Tango.

For more information regarding Tango for PC and mobile, check out their website at www.tango.me where you can sign up for the PC version that will be available this summer. You can also download and check out the application for iPhone and Android devices.

Have you used Tango? Remember it is a free download, so if you haven’t, check it out and see if you prefer it to other video communications tools out there.

More About: Facetime, Skype, Tango

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Recently the Samsung Galaxy SII (aka S2) was one of a selection of Android handsets which managed to get the Skype update ported to it according to Engadget. But with the new Skype service becoming available on Facebook, what if more video calls are made on the social networking site than ones made on mobile devices such as the Galaxy SII?

An article on The Christian Science Monitor is looking why Facebook could become many users new phone company. Many users already use Facebook to share photos and personal details such as events and daily life. With the new partnership Facebook users are just a simple click away from a free video call to a friend.

Facebook and Google will be getting more traffic away from carriers and onto the web. Google+ doesn’t currently have the number of users that Facebook does, but both these sites together are changing online telephony.

It won’t stop millions of consumers still paying carriers for a traditional phone service as well as their access to the internet. Users still need an internet connection to make the Skype call via Facebook. But making a video call over the web is easier, and despite being available for a while video chat at present is not a thing everyone currently does.

When the Facebook service is available to all users video calling will be open to 750 million people, compared to only a select few currently able to use a similar service on Google+. The new social networking site has been getting positive reviews from those lucky enough to be able to use it.

Gmail users already had the ability to make video calls, but the new ‘hangout’ feature on Google+ allows users to reveal to friends when they are available to chat. Plus users can have group calls with up to ten people. People who have been using both services have given Facebook the advantage so far mainly down to the amount of people available to chat.

Obviously using Skype on a mobile handset allows users to make video calls anywhere, but they will need a Wi-Fi connection or data plan. But it is a great feature to have for the millions of users of social networks.

What do you think will more video calls be made via Skype and Facebook compared to cell phones? Have you used the Skype video chat yet on Facebook?

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Beginning now the service will let Facebook friends around the world communicate via video chat. The announcement was broadcast live via its Palo Alto, California headquarters today according to Jameson Berkow of the Edmonton Journal. The service is based on the Skype technology now owned by Microsoft.

Users will able to have the usual person to person video chat, and also will have support for multi-person chats. Facebook engineer Phillip Su said “A few months ago, we started working with Skype to bring video calling to Facebook”. He added “We built it right into chat, so all your conversations start from the same place.”

The video chat service has started rolling out in seventy different languages to all of the social networking sites users. This is thought to take a few weeks, and when available users can start a video chat by clicking the video call button which will be found at the top of any Facebook Chat window.

The Facebook Chat interface has been redesigned to allow for video calling, and now includes a sidebar which shows each user their most frequent calling friends. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said last week that it would be unveiling something special this week.

Microsoft snapped up Skype earlier this year in an $8.5billion deal, and at the time Facebook was also rumored to be looking to purchase the company. The launch of the service comes as the rival Hangouts video calling of Google+ becomes available. Those who have been luckily enough to get an invite to Google+ have said the Hangouts feature is pretty impressive.

Google’s latest attempt to take on Facebook has been well received so far, and looks to be more of a success than Google Buzz. Facebook Engineer Mr. Su is to make the first Facebook video call to his parents, which will then lead to millions more as it becomes available around the world.

Despite the publicity recently of Facebook losing users in certain areas, overall the social networking site continues to grow at a rapid rate.

Are you looking forward to use the new Facebook video chat service?

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You can download Skype 5.5 beta for Windows here, it runs on pretty much all Windows operating systems (from 2000 to 7) and is not too demanding in terms of required hardware, the installation is quick and easy and upon login you will see a similar looking interface, however there are some slight differences.

Below we have embedded a screen which shows a new Facebook tab which you can click on, if you click on this you can connect your Skype account to your Facebook profile, this allows the app to integrate with Facebook and make the most of lots of new features.

When granting Skype access to your Facebook account you are allowing it to access your basic information, send email to your email address, post on your Facebook wall, access posts in the news feed, access Facebook chat and much more, to be honest with you there is nothing to really worry about, but it is worth checking that you agree with Skype’s demands, we have embedded an image showing this below.

Once you accept everything you will see that Facebook is seamlessly integrated into Skype, where your Skype contacts are listed you can click on the Facebook button to talk to people via Facebook Chat, also on the right-hand sign you can see your news feed, here you can post status updates, like posts and comment on posts, the UI has two columns and the like and comment buttons (a heart shape and speech bubble) are pretty neat (see below).

Talking to Facebook Chat contacts is instantaneous and pretty impressive to be honest, the only thing that I didn’t like was the face that I kept on getting notifications showing that more friends had signed on, this is because of the way that people use Facebook and having 440 friends didn’t help, sadly I did not find away of turning the notifications off, the only way to do this would turn notifications off when Skype contacts signed in as well.

If you want to you can toggle the Facebook features on and off easily, simply go to “Contacts” and then click “Hide Facebook Contacts”, this is great if you want to separate Facebook Chat for pleasure and Skype for work, you can go to “Contacts” and click “Show Facebook Contacts” if you wish to use the Facebook functionality once again. There is also an option to disconnect your Facebook profile by clicking on the Facebook tab (right-hand column) clicking on the settings button and then click “Disconnect from Facebook” (see below).

Considering Skype 5.5 is in its beta stages it is very impressive, a friend of mine could not sync his Skype account with his Facebook profile, however I had no major problems. Personally I think it is great and I love how you can see your news feed easily without having to log onto the website, also the like buttons and comment buttons (see below) look nice and work perfectly and the notifications you receive when you receive a message are not too distracting. We just wish that you could turn off notifications independently for when Facebook contacts are available for chat.

Have you used the Skype 5.5 beta? If so, are you impressed?

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