New Web, Email and Desktop Toolbars Integrate Skype into New Computer Applications, Enhancing Productivity and Adding Convenience
LUXEMBOURG, JULY 27, 2006 – Skype, the global Internet communications company, today introduced three new toolbars for Web, email, and desktop applications, designed to help make Internet calling even more convenient for both consumers and businesses. The new Skype™ toolbars let people easily initiate voice and video calls, and instant messages directly from popular computer applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer.
A toolbar is a row of onscreen buttons or icons that, when clicked, activate key functions of the program. Skype is introducing three new toolbars that enable the seamless integration of Skype into desktop applications – Skype Toolbar for MS Office, Skype Toolbar for Outlook Express and Skype Toolbar for Thunderbird. Skype also announced upgrades to two existing toolbars for popular Web browsers – Skype Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Skype Toolbar for Firefox– as well as an upgrade to the Skype Toolbar for Outlook.
After downloading the free toolbar software, a Skype user can call any phone number contained in a Microsoft Office document, email or Web page with one click. Each of the Skype toolbars will recognize a phone number and enable a user to initiate calls, send instant messages and transfer files. All Skype toolbars are free and can be downloaded from skype.com.
“Extending Skype functionality into popular computer applications brings simple communication and collaboration to our customers,” said Peter Kalmström Toolbars Product Manager for Skype. “With our new toolbars, a Skype user can instantly connect with the desired party with just one click, making Internet calling extremely convenient.”
In a business environment, Skype toolbars can be used to streamline the editing or approval process. If a user receives an email about a collaborative project, that user can see the online status of their colleagues and initiate a conference call or multichat with them instead of continuing the email thread. In a consumer environment, a Skype user, surfing the Web in search of a place to eat, can click on the highlighted restaurant phone number and talk to the restaurant staff directly to make sure that a table is available.
Skype toolbars are backwards compatible, supporting all versions of Microsoft Office through Office 2000 (Outlook/Office 2000, XP and 2003), Firefox 1.5 and 2.0 (beta), as well as Internet Explorer 5.5, 6.0 and 7.0 (beta).
Skype Web, email and Microsoft Office toolbars are all currently available online at Skype.com. Internet Explorer and Firefox toolbars are available at Skype.com/download/skypewebtoolbar/. Skype email toolbars can be downloaded at Skype.com/download/skypeemailtoolbar/. Skype Microsoft Office Toolbars can be found at Skype.com/download/skypeofficetoolbar/.
About Skype Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing people everywhere to make unlimited voice and video communication for free between the users of Skype software. Skype is available in 27 languages and is used in almost every country around the world. Skype generates revenue through its premium offerings such as making and receiving calls to and from landline and mobile phones, as well as voicemail and call forwarding. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Skype is an eBay company (Nasdaq: EBAY). To learn more visit skype.com.
Skype is not a replacement for your ordinary telephone and cannot be used for emergency calling.
