Luxembourg, January 13, 2005 - Today, Buffalo Inc. and Skype Technologies, the Global Internet Telephony Company™, announced a new agreement to co-brand Skype’s Internet telephony software in Japanese as Buffalo-Skype, and to market a series of headsets and microphone products optimized for Skype.
As part of the agreement Skype’s free Internet telephony software will be available from Buffalo’s website (http://buffalo.melcoinc.co.jp/download/driver/skype/index.html) for free download and branded as Buffalo-Skype. The well-known Japanese networking and peripheral company will also be selling Skype-optimized headsets and microphone products from its website.
Buffalo-Skype offers the rich features and simple-to-use functionality of Skype in easy to understand Japanese. Buffalo-Skype users can make superior quality voice calls to each other and to any other Skype users worldwide for free using any Internet-connected computer.
"Skype is a leading global company providing free, high-quality, and easy-to-use innovative Internet communication tools," said Hideyoshi Yamaguchi, Director, Digital Home Solutions Business Unit, Buffalo Inc. "By establishing a strategic alliance between Buffalo and Skype we are offering our customers new communication methods and progressing our company's theme, 'Internet, more free to use'."
Buffalo-Skype free features include:
- Conference calling - enables simultaneous and seamless voice communication between groups of up to five friends, family or colleagues
- Instant messaging for groups of up to 50 people in one chat
- Global Directory - the user-built global Skype contacts directory with numerous search options and an easy add-a-contact tool
- Tracking – call and message tracking
- Presence – easy views of contacts availability
- Customization – MyPicture image display, ring tones, call alert options
- File transfer – the ability to send and receive files via Skype and education and warning regarding virus potentials with file attachments
- Mobility –login into Skype account on more than one PC anywhere in the world.
- Multiple Skype accounts on one PC
"Buffalo is a leader in recognizing demand for innovative offerings that help customers make the most of their broadband connectivity," said Niklas Zennström, Skype CEO and co-founder. "Our alliance with Buffalo is bringing the freedom and expanded options of Skype’s multi-mode communication software to the Japanese market."
Buffalo-Skype is available immediately for download from http://buffalo.melcoinc.co.jp/download/driver/skype/index.html and works on any Internet-connected Windows 2000/XP PC with a 400 MHz processor, a headset, or microphone and speakers.
