January 2007

International Architects cut costs and boost teamwork with Skype

January 29, 2007 London, UK – Skype, the global internet communications company, has launched the first Skype™ for Business showcase in conjunction with international architects firm, Lewis & Hickey. The showcase is a live representation of how Skype makes it easier for employees and customers to communicate in a real-life office setting.

The showcase includes live demonstrations by Lewis & Hickey staff using different Skype features, including; conference calls, video calls, IM (Instant Messaging) chat and file transfer.

The latest range of Skype Certified™ hardware products will also be on show from Skype’s hardware partners including Plantronics, Logitech®, Philips, Lenovo PCs powered by Intel® Core™ 2 Duo based technology and Polycom.

As more businesses all over the world adopt Skype to communicate with customers and colleagues, Lewis & Hickey says Skype has helped it work as one global team rather than separate teams situated in different offices. L&H claims that Skype for Business has helped its staff communicate better and work more closely and creatively together. Because Skype is so easy to use, L&H is encouraging its customers to introduce it into their businesses.

Lewis & Hickey’s Chief Executive, Paul Miele sees the full business potential of Skype. “We were keen to use Skype because we knew we could save a lot of money on our telephone bills. But now we have the whole business using Skype, the benefits are far greater than just cost savings.”

Miele continued, “Skype has made communicating a more personable affair. Rather than just picking up the phone and talking with colleagues or customers, we all feel that we are building stronger relationships.”

Skype has made it is easier and faster for Lewis & Hickey to work as a global team, without the usual constraints. UK and global customers such as Sage and Reliance are joining the Skype for Business wave, Benoit Mareschal, Director of Business Development for L&H says, ‘Ultimately, Skype will be our main voice and video communications tool both in and out of the office.”

Skype for Business not only enhances the way L&H communicates but has reduced its calling costs significantly. Since making its first Skype call, the 103-year-old firm has saved up to 7.6 % off its standard call charges and is aiming to reach a cost reduction of 50% of its total telephony expenditure in the near future.

L&H now uses Skype instead of an expensive ISDN video conferencing system that was complicated to use and had to be booked in advance.

“You can now conference call from your desk whenever you like and it feels the same as a normal conversation you have with someone in the office”, says Benoit. “It gets used much more than our specialist system ever did, plus it’s free.”

L&H employees make free Skype calls to other Skype users and can also make low-cost calls to traditional landlines and mobile phones using SkypeOut™.

Among its 200 staff spread across the company’s offices in the UK and Prague, L&H is also using other features within Skype such as conference and video calling, file transfer and instant messaging. The instant messaging feature is a particular favourite with L&H employees because they love sharing & discussing ideas as well as asking for feedback.

“Using Skype in the business workplace makes perfect sense”, comments Stefan Öberg, VP & GM, Telecoms for Skype. “Saving money is just the start. Being able to communicate and work efficiently as a team is really important. Skype is also a fun product to use which keeps people motivated and interested in their work.”

Lewis & Hickey is introducing a new range of Skype accessories to staff as it extends its use of Skype Certified™ hardware across its entire business. Hardware such as the Plantronics .audio 910 wireless headset is being launched at the showcase and is optimised for Skype. It allows calls to be answered when you are away from the PC. The .audio 910 also works seamlessly with mobile phones and PC’s at the same time

The Polycom® Communicator™ is also on show and offers the ultimate hands-free high-fidelity Skype experience. The Philips VOIP841 DECT phone allows you to make Skype calls without a PC as well as normal landline use. The Logitech QuickCams Pro 5000 and Notebooks Pro are Skype compatible and deliver a high quality, visual and personal dimension to business communication. These are but a few of the Skype Certified products that will be on show.

Skype’s hardware partners and software developers are an essential part of the Skype ecosystem. There is a vast range of solutions available to meet any business need e.g. Unyte that allows you to show documents in real-time with other Skype contacts, to Pamela, that enables you to record your Skype calls.

Today Skype has more than 4000 developers, approximately 50 hardware partners and more than 160 Skype Certified products.

About Skype
Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 171 million registered users, Skype is available in over 28 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, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. 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.

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

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January 25, 2007 – Skype today announced it has taken Skype for Business one step further in response to continuous demand by businesses all over the world to use Skype™ to communicate with customers and colleagues. Skype for Business has proven to be incredibly popular because firms save both money and time as Skype is so easy to use and a convenient way of keeping in touch.

Business users have always been part of the Skype family and make up over 30% of Skype’s global community, now numbering at 171 million. In a recent survey of 250 businesses using Skype, 95% claimed to have saved money and 80% claimed that using Skype increased employee productivity.

One particular firm, Lewis & Hickey, a group of leading international architects that has recently installed Skype across its offices in the UK and Prague, claims that since making its first Skype call, it has saved up to 7.6 % on its standard call charges and wants to reach a cost reduction of 50% of its total telephony expenditure in the near future.

Benoit Mareschal, Director, Business Development at Lewis & Hickey, comments: “We have clients and teams across the UK and abroad and like many creative businesses we need to share ideas and keep in touch with one another. This can come at a high cost. We wanted to find a way to communicate but pay less for the privilege. Since we started using Skype, the amount we’re spending on international mobile and landline phone calls has dropped significantly. Skype creates a human bridge between technology and personable communication.”

The survey also revealed that 62% of the businesses communicate better with customers on Skype and 76% said they work more closely with colleagues because Skype is so easy to use.

Benoit Mareschal agrees, “Now we have Skype, the ability to talk with one another has increased enormously. People used to rely on email but with Skype you can get an immediate response to a query without disturbing the whole office – especially if you are using the instant chat feature. You can see when people are online, ask your question and carry on with what you were doing.”

With additional new features unveiled today, Skype has also made it easier for businesses to install and manage Skype. Skype can be easily installed on multiple computers using the Windows Installer package (commonly known as MSI), giving IT Administrators greater control over how Skype communications traffic runs across their corporate networks.

An online control panel enables companies to allocate individual users with Skype credits that can be used to make cheap SkypeOut™ calls to traditional landline phones or mobiles and provides a consolidated view of what is being spent.

Meanwhile, Skype is working collaboratively too. Together with its partners it has been working on a range of new business productivity tools, called Extras: these include the Convenos web conference and collaboration service, a package called Unyte which enables users to share the view off their PC desktop and a Skype-enabled call-centre offering from ACD.

To learn more about Skype for Business visit www.skype.biz.

About Skype

Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 171 million registered users, Skype is available in over 28 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, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. 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.

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

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Disruptive pricing gives Skype users more value and choice.

LUXEMBOURG, January 18, 2007 – Skype, the global Internet communications company, today announced its new global pricing structure which offers a simple, convenient and cost-effective way for consumers worldwide to call landlines and mobiles over the Internet. The new pricing structure complements the foundation of Skype’s success in letting anyone in the world talk for free, from one Skype software account to another.

The pricing structure is the latest in a series of new steps Skype is taking to give consumers a choice of easy-to-understand, value-based Internet communications packages. Initially focused on Europe, Skype’s new pricing strategy will roll out worldwide during 2007.

When launched in full, the pricing strategy consists of a premium subscription package (Skype Pro), one feature of which removes per-minute charges for SkypeOut calls to domestic landlines and includes a small connection fee.

“People like using Skype to make free calls from one Skype account to another but more and more they are choosing our paid for products that offer excellent value. As a result of this, we’re introducing a new pricing strategy today that will include a premium package. This premium package builds on the success we’ve had in North America and the UK with subscription-based calling promotions. It offers our users more for less because they can buy additional Skype paid for products but for a smaller cost,” said Stefan Öberg, General Manager, Skype Telecoms.

As a part of Skype’s premium package the global dialing rate to a number of countries is also reduced. The first phase of the SkypeOut pricing structure, effective from 13.00 CET on Thursday January 18th 2007, includes a reduction in global dialing rates to 0.017 € per minute for:
Czech Republic (including Prague), Guam, Hungary (including Budapest), Israel (including Jerusalem), Luxembourg, Malaysia (including Kuala Lumpur), Puerto Rico and both Alaska and Hawaii in the United States.

For some countries, this represents a reduction of up to 65 per cent.

Skype also confirmed today that its previously announced connection fee rates, applicable worldwide, are now effective. The connection fee is a straightforward set-up charge per call. The Skype Unlimited Calling plan in the U.S. and Canada and the Talk for Britain campaign in the UK do not include a connection fee for national calls.

The connection fee is 0.039 Euro, excl VAT or the equivalent in local currency.

Today Skype users around the world can make free voice and video calls to any other registered Skype users as well as send instant messages, transfer files and participate in Skypecasts which are live moderated conversations with up to 100 people.

Skype users can also take advantage of Skype’s premium calling features, including SkypeOut™ (calls from Skype to traditional landlines or mobiles), SkypeIn™ (a number which can be called from a normal phone anywhere in the world) and Skype Voicemail (takes calls when users are busy or offline).

As the world’s largest Internet communications community, Skype is committed to giving its users the ability to set their conversations free at home, at work and on the move. It is focused on further developing its ecosystem of more than 50 hardware partners and more than 150 Skype-certified devices to broaden the appeal of Skype to a wider base of users who want to use Skype away from the PC, no matter where they happen to be. This is especially true for Skype users who want to take advantage of the mobile Skype experience, which is already accessible to more than 5 million Skype users on over 120 different Windows Mobile Smartphones and pocket PC devices.

For more information, please go to http://www.skype.com/products/skypepro/

Connection Fee Rates Rates Based on Currency* (excl. VAT)

• Australian Dollar (AUD) 0.059
• Brazilian Real (BRL) 0.09
• British Pound (GBP) 0.029
• Canadian Dollar (CAD) 0.059
• Danish Krone (DKK) 0.29
• Euro (EUR) 0.039
• Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) 0.39
• Japanese Yen (JPY) 4.9
• Norwegian Krone (NOK) 0.29
• Polish Zloty (PLN) 0.149
• Korean Won (KRW) 49
• Swedish Krona (SEK) 0.39
• Swiss Franc (CHF) 0.059
• Taiwan Dollar (TWD) 1.6
• US Dollar (USD) 0.039

*If your currency is not listed, the Euro rate is applicable

About Skype
Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 136 million registered users, Skype is available in 28 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, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Visit Skype at www.skype.com.

Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). To learn more visit skype.com.

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

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Sets Conversations Free with New Skype Certified™ Internet Phones from Leading Consumer Electronics Manufacturers

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #35974), January 8, 2007 – Skype, the global Internet communications company, is setting conversations free at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show with the announcement of new devices and accessories that improve the Skype™ experience for consumers and small business users regardless of where they’re located – at home, at work or on the move.

As part of Skype’s efforts to bring more flexibility to communications, the company unveiled twelve new Skype Certified devices and accessories in a press conference today, many of which eliminate the need for a PC to make Internet-based Skype calls. The new devices and accessories, from leading consumer electronics manufacturers ASUS, IPEVO, NETGEAR, Philips and TOPCOM add to the more than 150 Skype Certified products already available worldwide.

The latest hardware announcement comes on the heels of the company’s release last month of its new Skype 3.0 software, which provides Skype users with even simpler and easier ways to talk to one another, as well as new range of richer communications features designed to bring together users who share similar interests. Some of these new features include community-led text chat and discussion (Public Chats), live moderated conversations (Skypecasts) and the ability to play games and collaborate with other Skype users (Skype Extras).

“Communications today involves more than just free voice calls over the Internet,” said Eric Lagier, Director, Business Development, Hardware and Mobile. “Skype’s goal is to set conversations free by making them possible in many forms and places. Skype Certified devices and accessories are a crucial part of this vision as their simplicity and power make Skype even more relevant to people’s lives.”

New Skype Desktop Internet Phones
The newest Skype Certified hardware category to emerge in 2007 is Skype desktop Internet phones that enable users to place and receive calls with Skype via broadband Internet connections without being connected to computers. The first products in this category include:
• IPEVO’s Solo.1 – This uniquely designed Skype desktop Internet phone with built-in speakerphone features an adjustable 2.4-inch color screen that allows users to select contacts, add new contacts, and perform other contact list operations. Caller information and remaining Skype credit are shown as well.
• TOPCOM’s Webt@lker 5000 with Skype – This attractive device comes with a large 2.4-inch color screen and can be configured to work in any of 14 languages.

New Skype Certified Cordless & Wi-Fi Phones
CES 2007 builds on the innovation Skype demonstrated in 2006 when it introduced Wi-Fi phones that let Skype users make and receive calls in any open Wi-Fi network without their computer, and cordless dual phones that let users plug into both their landline and broadband connections to make and receive both Skype calls and regular PSTN phone calls. Marking the expansion of these categories, Skype is debuting two new phones, including:
• NETGEAR’s Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) – This dual-mode DECT cordless phone simultaneously connects to a user’s home network router and phone line wall jack, enabling users to place and receive both traditional phone calls and Skype Internet calls from a single cordless handset without needing to be tethered to a PC.
• Philips’ VoIP841 Cordless Phone – This advanced DECT cordless phone harnesses the power of Internet calling via Skype without requiring a PC. Winner of a CES Innovation Award for its outstanding design and best-in-class feature set, the VoIP841 allows users to make and receive both free Skype Internet calls and traditional landline calls simply by connecting an Ethernet cable and phone line to the phone’s base.

New Skype Certified Accessories
In addition to cordless, Wi-Fi and desktop Internet phones, Skype’s partners are also introducing additional accessories that will help users make Skype Internet calls from their computers. These accessories include:
• ASUS’ AiGuru S2 Cordless Phone – The stylish AiGuru S2 is the world’s first USB phone to offer support for Skype, Windows® Vista™ SideShow™, and both Apple® iTunes® and Windows Media® Player for wireless music play. Its slim design, brilliant color display, backlit keypad and simple menu structure and interface make the cordless AiGuru S2 easy to use around the house or office, regardless of where the user’s computer is located.
• ASUS’ Skype-Embedded Motherboards – The TA-CP600/400, M2N/TeleSky, P5B/TeleSky and P5LD2 SE motherboards come pre-loaded with Skype so that PC DIYers can turn their ordinary corded or cordless phones into multi-function phones that also support Skype Internet calling. After installing these motherboards, people will be able to use their regular phones to operate Skype to talk to other Skype users for free on the Internet, make cheap calls to landline and mobile phone numbers or receive incoming calls.
• IPEVO’s free.2 USB Handset – Available in black and white, this corded USB phone for Skype features the same design of the multiple-award-winning free.1 phone, but with an extended range of functions thanks to an added LCD screen on which users can browse the Skype contact list, view the calling history and call contacts, without needing to look at the computer monitor. The free.2 also includes a recording button for instant recording.
• IPEVO’s TRIO Speakerphone – This innovative two-in-one device connects to a Skype user‘s computer via USB and can be used as either a hands-free speakerphone or a personal handset.
• Philips’ VoIP080 USB Handset – Offering users the benefits of Skype Internet calling, the VoIP080 handset is an ideal travelers’ companion, allowing users to connect with family and friends easily through a computer’s USB connection, while delivering premium conversation quality with clear voice sound.

All of the new devices and accessories support Skype’s premium features, including SkypeOut™ (call from Skype to traditional landlines or mobiles), SkypeIn™ (a number people can call that users answer in Skype) and Skype Voicemail (takes calls when users are busy or offline).

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

These products will be available for purchase in the Skype web store at skype.com/shop, alongside a wide range of other devices, accessories and bundles that provide everything a Skype user needs to set their conversations free at home, at work or on the go.

About Skype
Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 136 million registered users, Skype is available in 28 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, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Visit Skype at www.skype.com.

Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). To learn more visit skype.com.

Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

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IPEVO and TOPCOM Set Conversations Free with New Skype Certified™ Desktop Internet Phones

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #35974), January 8, 2007 – Skype, the global Internet communications company, is setting Internet conversations free at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show with today’s debut of the first available Skype™ desktop Internet phones, bringing more flexibility in how users place Skype Internet calls at home or at work.

This new class of devices enables consumers and small business users to call other Skype users, mobile phones or landlines via broadband Internet connections, without needing to be directly connected to computers.

“Skype users tell us that they want to put Skype to use in multiple ways, both at home and at work,” said Eric Lagier, Director, Business Development, Hardware and Mobile. “With these new desktop Internet phones, consumers and small business users will have more flexibility to make Internet calls and enjoy the great Skype cost savings and sound quality without needing a computer to fire up Skype.”

The two new desktop Internet phones announced today are IPEVO’s Solo.1 and TOPCOM’s Webt@lker 5000 with Skype.

The user interface on these new desktop Internet phones is familiar to anyone who has used Skype on a computer and includes exactly the same calling features. With built-in Skype software and large 2.4-inch color screens, these devices let users select, manage or add new contacts, as well as perform other contact list operations. Users without Skype accounts can also register for Skype through their device.

Skype Certified desktop Internet phones are perfect for use in home offices and small business settings. In addition to free Skype-to-Skype calls, these devices bring Skype’s premium features, including SkypeOut™ (cheap calls from Skype to traditional landlines or mobiles), SkypeIn™ (a number that lets users receive calls from landlines and mobiles on Skype) and Skype Voicemail right to users’ fingertips.

Please note, just as with Skype running on a computer, Skype embedded in a desktop Internet phone or other handset is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Combining the powerful communications functions of Skype with the flexibility to access Skype without a PC, the new Skype desktop Internet phones will both be available from the Skype web store at skype.com/store beginning in March 2007.

About Skype
Skype is the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering, allowing unlimited free voice, video and instant messaging communication between users of Skype Software. With over 136 million registered users, Skype is available in 28 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, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. Skype also has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers. Visit Skype at www.skype.com.

Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). To learn more visit skype.com.

Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

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