Skype Technologies Sa

A federal judge has thrown out an antitrust lawsuit filed by the distributor of Morpheus file-sharing software against Internet phone service provider Skype Technologies, EBay Inc. and other defendants. StreamCast Networks Inc. had sought more than $4.1 billion in unspecified damages and a court order blocking EBay from selling Skype services.

The Federal Communications Commission should reject a petition by EBay Inc.'s Skype division to require wireless operators to allow any device on their networks, the agency's chairman said. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin told an audience at the CTIA Wireless trade show in Las Vegas that the industry's recent push toward openness makes such a rule unnecessary. Skype provides free voice calls and videoconferencing over Internet connections.

Skype Technologies, the Luxemburg company famous for its free Internet telephone calls, last week launched an update that brings us closer to an elusive technological dream: the videophone. The Skype 2.0 software offers the ability to see as well as hear computer-to-computer callers -- provided that both parties have webcams. Video chats, as part of instant messaging services such as one sponsored by Yahoo Inc.

EBay Inc. dialed up a steep third-quarter loss Wednesday, as the accounting effect of paying too much for the Skype Internet calling service offset strong growth in its core online payment and auction businesses. The $936 million in red ink was the San Jose company's second-ever loss. Earnings were dragged down by a $1.4-billion one-time charge to write down the value of its Skype acquisition and settle its remaining financial obligations to Skype shareholders.

The Federal Communications Commission should reject a petition by EBay Inc.'s Skype division to require wireless operators to allow any device on their networks, the agency's chairman said. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin told an audience at the CTIA Wireless trade show in Las Vegas that the industry's recent push toward openness makes such a rule unnecessary. Skype provides free voice calls and videoconferencing over Internet connections.

Skype is introducing a $30 annual subscription to make unlimited calls with the Internet-based telephone service to any regular or mobile phone number within the United States and Canada. The new calling plan comes as Skype phases out a promotion launched in May allowing unlimited free calls in those two countries.

Skype is upgrading its popular Internet telephone service to add video calling and a toolbar for Microsoft Outlook to find and dial contacts with a click. The long-promised 2.0 edition was launched today by Skype, which was acquired last month by EBay Inc. for $2.6 billion. Although the Windows download is available to any user, the application is a Beta version, meaning the company is still tweaking the software. Skype did not provide a timetable for the final edition.

EBay Inc. dialed up a steep third-quarter loss Wednesday, as the accounting effect of paying too much for the Skype Internet calling service offset strong growth in its core online payment and auction businesses. The $936 million in red ink was the San Jose company's second-ever loss. Earnings were dragged down by a $1.4-billion one-time charge to write down the value of its Skype acquisition and settle its remaining financial obligations to Skype shareholders.

Internet communications company Skype Technologies has gained a worldwide following over the last couple years for one major reason: free phone calls anywhere. Actually, they're computer-to-computer calls, via the Internet. All that's needed on each computer is a broadband connection, Skype's free software, a microphone and a speaker. The problem is that both people need to be at their machines at the time the call is made.

News Corp.'s MySpace social networking site and EBay Inc.'s Skype will offer MySpace members free Internet calling services, executives from the companies said, in a bid to expand their base of users while fending off competitors. Beginning in November, Skype's voice service will be folded into MySpace's existing instant messaging technology, enabling MySpace members to place free calls to other people on the MySpace and Skype networks.

News Corp.'s MySpace social networking site and EBay Inc.'s Skype will offer MySpace members free Internet calling services, executives from the companies said, in a bid to expand their base of users while fending off competitors. Beginning in November, Skype's voice service will be folded into MySpace's existing instant messaging technology, enabling MySpace members to place free calls to other people on the MySpace and Skype networks.

A federal judge has thrown out an antitrust lawsuit filed by the distributor of Morpheus file-sharing software against Internet phone service provider Skype Technologies, EBay Inc. and other defendants. StreamCast Networks Inc. had sought more than $4.1 billion in unspecified damages and a court order blocking EBay from selling Skype services.

Skype is introducing a $30 annual subscription to make unlimited calls with the Internet-based telephone service to any regular or mobile phone number within the United States and Canada. The new calling plan comes as Skype phases out a promotion launched in May allowing unlimited free calls in those two countries.

The problem with free calls over the Internet is that you have to be at your computer to make them. You can't be cooking, driving, operating heavy machinery or doing the thousands of other things we do while chatting on the phone. But a new device called the VoSky Call Center allows you to make free Internet calls from any phone in your house -- even your cellphone.

Skype Technologies, the Luxemburg company famous for its free Internet telephone calls, last week launched an update that brings us closer to an elusive technological dream: the videophone. The Skype 2.0 software offers the ability to see as well as hear computer-to-computer callers -- provided that both parties have webcams. Video chats, as part of instant messaging services such as one sponsored by Yahoo Inc.

Skype is upgrading its popular Internet telephone service to add video calling and a toolbar for Microsoft Outlook to find and dial contacts with a click. The long-promised 2.0 edition was launched today by Skype, which was acquired last month by EBay Inc. for $2.6 billion. Although the Windows download is available to any user, the application is a Beta version, meaning the company is still tweaking the software. Skype did not provide a timetable for the final edition.

The problem with free calls over the Internet is that you have to be at your computer to make them. You can't be cooking, driving, operating heavy machinery or doing the thousands of other things we do while chatting on the phone. But a new device called the VoSky Call Center allows you to make free Internet calls from any phone in your house -- even your cellphone.

Internet communications company Skype Technologies has gained a worldwide following over the last couple years for one major reason: free phone calls anywhere. Actually, they're computer-to-computer calls, via the Internet. All that's needed on each computer is a broadband connection, Skype's free software, a microphone and a speaker. The problem is that both people need to be at their machines at the time the call is made.