[gui-talk] Article: Skype introduces 100-person Internet conferencing

[Steve Pattison]

[May 03, 2006]
Skype introduces 100-person Internet conferencing
By PETER SVENSSON AP Technology Writer
The Associated Press

)eBay Inc.'s Internet telephone subsidiary, is extending its reach 
with "Skypecasts"
-- free audio conferences for up to 100 participants.

Skype is used mainly for person-to-person calling but also has a 
conferencing feature
for up to 10 people, who can all speak at the same time. A Skypecast, 
however, will
be moderated by a host who controls when someone can speak.

The service launches Wednesday in an "early preview" form, said 
Skype's vice president
of global marketing, Saul Klein.

Users will be able to find Skypecasts on the Skype Web site, where 
all the conferences
will be listed publicly.

Skype envisions Skypecasts as a way for people to discuss shared 
interests and hobbies.
Six Apart Ltd., the parent of blogging and networking services 
TypePad, Movable Type
and LiveJournal, plans to promote Skypecasts as a way of expanding 
online communities,
Klein said.

The term "Skypecast" could cause some confusion among bloggers -- it 
has been used
to describe a recording of an interview conducted via Skype, then 
distributed as
a "podcast."

Skype is also releasing a new beta, or trial version, of its main 
application that
includes the option to send text messages to cell phones for a small fee.

Other new features:

_ Contacts in Microsoft Outlook can be called directly from Skype.
_ Groups of contacts can be shared among users.
_ Users will be able to pay for services like calls to landline 
phones without leaving
the application. In the previous version of the software, users went 
to Skype's Web
site to pay.
___
On the Net:
http://skypecasts.skype.com


Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
Skype:  steve1963
MSN Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com