Release Candidate 1 of Skype Software Certification Test Specifications v7.07 is now published (scroll down to “Development releases” section). A change log relative to discussion draft 1 will be published today. Please use the discussion page to record your last-minute comments and suggestions.

The updated specs will enter into force on July 2. After this date, all new submissions must be made against the specs v7.07.

However, if you’ve already started filling in the self-certification checklist but cannot complete it before end of June, we’re going to accept certification requests made against 7.01 specs until 06jul07 23:59:59 GMT.

I remember, when I was an IT student, I was waiting so much for the summer holiday that now I could miss this feeling sometimes. I’m sure you remember: spending night after night working on coding and development to make sure projects were submitted on time; by the end of June we all end up looking like

However, I recall now that only a month later I was already looking for something fun to develop with friends and I would have loved to play around with all these APIs (Skype, eBay, PayPal, Twitter, facebook, GoogleMaps, MySpace).

As we had our first Skype Night in London two months ago (Meet and Greet) , we heard that developers would like to see some mashups competition sponsored by Skype, eBay, PayPal and some other quite famous companies too . So your wish is our command - we present the Skype mashup competition!

To make it short, the one core part we need to see is a Skype element but I invite you to read more about the competition in our Mashup wiki page. The competition will run from the 1st of July to the 31st of August. The Sep 13th, the jury will welcome all developers to join us for the Skype Night at our Prague office.

For the moment, I would encourage you to join our Public chat, to collaborate by sharing what you know about any API you like and then it will be time to develop during the next two months what you would like to see. Also at the end of the period, I’m happy to share with you that we’ve just opened a new Mashup, Web & Remote channel in our Extra Gallery, where we would like you to submit all your Skype mashup until end of August.

Remember, Skype API is:

Free to use (as in ) with commercial and non-commercial applications.

We, Skype, are all looking forward supporting your concept and of course meeting you in September. Just enjoy your vacations and come back to say Hi!

Last week Microsoft emailed us and said they are getting a large number of Windows Error Reports from a recent version of the Skype add-in for Internet Explorer. 
Thus:

• I deeply apologize for any trouble this might be causing you
• We are working hard to find the solution to the problem
• We thank Microsoft for reaching out to us to notify us of this problem.

You now have three options for how to solve this problem:

1. Update to the latest version of Skype 3.6 . As far as we know it fixes the vast majority of Internet Explorer crashes. Download it by clicking on one of the download links on the Skype main website.
   If you have a Skype version earlier than 3.6.0.216 we advise that you upgrade to benefit from this update.
   Note that, as usual:
   • You will not need to un-install anything - just install over the existing version
   • The chat-history, contact list and all other settings in Skype will stay the same
   • You don’t have to sign up for a new Skype name, your password and username stays the same
2. Uninstall the add-in from the add-in menu shown here (click to enlarge):
   
   If you choose to un-install Skype will remember that preference and not try to install the IE add-on again. To install again you will need to specifically tell the Skype installer to include this option (click to enlarge):
    
3. Another way to get rid of the add-on is to go into Tools-Manage add-ons in Internet Explorer. If you disable the Skype items there that should make sure IE doesn’t crash due to Skype.

Some background:

The last few months we have bundled the Skype add-in for Internet Explorer with the Skype client. It has become really popular and we are delighted to see that a lot of phone calls are now being initiated from the web pages. We are continually trying to improve everything about this add-in. Most importantly we are trying to get better at

• Minimizing false positives - we do not want to  highlight numbers that are not phone numbers
• Messing up web pages - we do not want to change the html in any way that is bad for the user or the web developer
• Installation and un-install - it should be as simple as possible

Evidently something went wrong this time for a small minority of users.

To learn a bit more about the Skype add-on for Internet Explorer - please look at this 3 minute video demonstration about Skype add-on for Internet Explorer:

Changes:

Since MS is now automatically redirecting everyone having this problem to this page we will continually update this page so that it reflects the latest status. I’ll note changes here:

• The 2.2.0.144 version is now published with Skype 3.6. .117 turned out to not entirely perfect. All remaining issues are now solved
• The 2.2.0.117 version is now published with Skype 3.5.0.234 - we are hopeful that this build will findally stop these crashes.
• The 2.2.0.105 version of the Skype add-on for Internet Explorer is now included in the GOLD version of Skype 3.5
• Latest BETA version is 2.2.0.112 linked above.
• Seems this bug is inflicting not only Vista and the previous version of Skype (as was first posted) - but several Skype versions and both Vista and XP. Thus we are now recommending un-install or upgrade of this component until we can publish a Skype client hotfix (hopefully July 4th).
• More information indicates that it is NOT the latest version having the problem (as was first posted) but instead an earlier version. Thus - I am now suggesting upgrades instead of un-installing.
• Previously we “blamed” Vista - it has nothing to do with it. Most of the reported crashes are actually coming from Win XP Home

Starting today, Skype invites you to build and demonstrate innovative, exciting, useful and even down-right weird Mashups.

With over 450 API programs in existance today listed in programmableweb website, there are countless combinations. And of course all the news Mashups will be listed there too.

The one core part we need to see a Skype element. The competition will run until August 31st, and on the Sep 13th we will welcome all developers to join us for two days in Prague (Skype developers days).

At the moment and until the 1st of July (new blog post coming), we invite you to join our Public chat about Skype Mashup.

Continue reading "Calling all developers: Mashup with Skype!!" »

eBay Developers Conference 2007 is history. Compared to the last year’s event in Vegas, I noticed a few differences in Boston.

First (as this is a Skype developer blog), Skype was no longer the “most beautiful girl on the dancefloor”, but an equal member of the eBay family just as PayPal and marketplaces. While in Vegas we held the lab sessions and manned a booth, this year we just gave our presentations — and, of course, talked and listened to a lot of people. By the way, all the slide decks are available for download and may be used under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 license.

Second, although the number of attendees was probably a bit smaller than last year, the presentations and the audience seemed to be a bit more focused. And if I have to choose between quantity and quality, then… well, you know I run our software certification program, so this choice really is a no-brainer.

Finally (although this is probably not too significant in terms of world revolution), I just happen to like Boston much more than Vegas.

There are some very neat and new additions to services included with Skype Pro which include Skype To Go which allows you to for example call a local number using your cell phone and reach a international number using Skype, as well as “Call Transfer”. Call Transfer should not be confused with Call Forwarding.

Call Transfer allows your calls to be transferred to other phone number(s) or Skype name(s) on a Skype call by Skype call basis.

Skype Pro is available in the following countries Click Here.

Call Transfer with Skype Pro also supports using a Group of any combination of multiple Skype names and/or phone numbers so that a call can be transferred to many Skype names and/or phone numbers at once and the first one to answer gets the call.

Example 1:

Not sure where you will be?

Not a problem with Call Transfer, using Call Transfer, you can add multiple phone numbers and Skype names to be added to a group, Transfer all your calls to the Group, and you can answer those calls on your cell phone, on your land line, or at work, or even while using another Skype name. The first one to answer the call gets the call that was transferred.

Example 2::

Have multiple people in a small office and want a cost effective software only solution to receive and route calls in the office without any of those expensive hardware solutions? Make custom Skype contact groups like marketing, shipping, and others. Transfer calls to people in marketing, shipping, using their Skype names or phone numbers and let the first one in the group answer the call, or transfer to a unique Skype name or SkypeIn or PSTN phone number.

Skype Pro can offer you this:

Call Transfer from Skype names to phone numbers via SkypeOut as well as Call Transfer from inbound calls via SkypeIn to SkypeOut numbers requires Skype Pro.

This includes the United States as well as Canada, with or without the unlimited call plan. Call transfers in both these countries without the unlimited call plan will be billed at normal SkypeOut call rates.

Call Transfers from Skype name to Skype name are free and do not require Skype Pro or SkypeIn.

To learn more about how you or your company could use Call Transfer with and without Skype Pro or SkypeIn as well as with a free Call Transfer program and much more details on how Call Transfer works, please click on the continue reading link.

Continue reading "Skype Pro Does Call Transfer" »

The eBay DevCon is in full swing out in Boston this week. Today I delivered my session on publishing extras using the Publishing Studio to a eager crowed of eBay developers. It was pretty amazing to see how many people came along to the event just to see the presentation and to hear what Skype had to say.

I was lucky enough to have Lou Garcia from Webdialogs present on his experiences developing Skype extras during my presentation. Its always good to get a reality check from real developers.

The week so far has been very productive and I have managed to catch-up with a few old friends from the developer community, Jerry, High Speed Conferencing, Rebecca Cavagnari, Convenos, Jim Courtney from Skype Journal to name a few. I also meet some new friends including Jesse Ahrens from CenTaur (they do the Via motherboards and chips). Jesse showed me a cool device that has gone to the top of my Christmas and birthday wish list. Take a look at http://www.oqo.com/ and you’ll want one as well. It’s a fully functional PC that will probably fit in your pocket. It runs everything a PC runs and you can even get a docking station for it so you can plug-in a full sized keyboard and connect it to a monitor.

You have no idea how bad I want one, it makes my laptop seem like a surfboard.

Yesterday the PayPal folk sponsored a great party then took everyone off to see the Blueman group. Unfortunately I went back to my room to pick my wallet and woke up 7 hours later. The joy of jetlag.

Tonight we have been invited to see the Red Sox play so off to a ball game which I am really looking forward to.

I have uploaded my slides here. When I get back to London I will record my demo and make it available as well.

You can also see some pictures of the event here.

If you are out in Boston keep an eye out for me and say hi. I am normally around in the Skype sessions sitting at the back.

The first discussion drafts of the upcoming version of software certification test specifications are now available at the end of the TestSpecs page in Skype Developer Zone. Read more to find out about the purpose and nature of the changes, and don’t hesitate to add your comments on the discussion page which also includes a detailed change log.

Continue reading "New certification specs: discussion drafts available" »

Last week Microsoft emailed us and said they are getting a large number of Windows Error Reports from a recent version of the Skype add-in for Internet Explorer. 
Thus:

• I deeply apologize for any trouble this might be causing you
• We are working hard to find the solution to the problem
• We thank Microsoft for reaching out to us to notify us of this problem.

You now have three options for how to solve this problem:

1. Update to the latest version of Skype 3.8 . As far as we know it fixes the vast majority of Internet Explorer crashes. Download it by clicking on one of the download links on the Skype main website.
   If you have a Skype version earlier than 3.8 you will benefit from this update.
   Note that, as usual:
• You will not need to un-install anything - just install over the existing version
• The chat-history, contact list and all other settings in Skype will stay the same
• You don’t have to sign up for a new Skype name, your password and username stays the same
2. Uninstall the add-in from the add-in menu shown here (click to enlarge):
   
   If you choose to un-install Skype will remember that preference and not try to install the IE add-on again. To install again you will need to specifically tell the Skype installer to include this option (click to enlarge):
    
3. Another way to get rid of the add-on is to go into Tools-Manage add-ons in Internet Explorer. If you disable the Skype items there that should make sure IE doesn’t crash due to Skype.

Some background:

The last few months we have bundled the Skype add-in for Internet Explorer with the Skype client. It has become really popular and we are delighted to see that a lot of phone calls are now being initiated from the web pages. We are continually trying to improve everything about this add-in. Most importantly we are trying to get better at

• Minimizing false positives - we do not want to  highlight numbers that are not phone numbers
• Messing up web pages - we do not want to change the html in any way that is bad for the user or the web developer
• Installation and un-install - it should be as simple as possible

Evidently something went wrong this time for a small minority of users.

To learn a bit more about the Skype add-on for Internet Explorer - please look at this 3 minute video demonstration about Skype add-on for Internet Explorer:

Changes:

Since MS is now automatically redirecting everyone having this problem to this page we will continually update this page so that it reflects the latest status. I’ll note changes here:

• In Skype 3.8 we have released version 2.2.0.177 of the IE add-on on April 29th of 2009
• The 2.2.0.147 version of the Skype add-on for Internet Explorer is now included in Skype 3.6
• The 2.2.0.117 version of the Skype add-on for Internet Explorer is now included in the GOLD version of Skype 3.5
• Seems this bug is inflicting not only Vista and the previous version of Skype (as was first posted) - but several Skype versions and both Vista and XP. Thus we are now recommending un-install or upgrade of this component until we can publish a Skype client hotfix (hopefully July 4th).
• More information indicates that it is NOT the latest version having the problem (as was first posted) but instead an earlier version. Thus - I am now suggesting upgrades instead of un-installing.
• Previously we "blamed" Vista - it has nothing to do with it. Most of the reported crashes are actually coming from Win XP Home

This quote by Glenda Cloud is one that inspires the Skype Developer Program Team to constantly improve developing with Skype. With this in mind, we have decided to overhaul the online extras gallery and provide a platform for Mac, Linux and Mobile apps while also promoting our remote access third party extras and further the exposure of those published in the Extras Manager.

Currently, we have two ways of publishing Extras – the first is our former method which involved publishing through the Extras Gallery and meant users had to leave Skype to download Extras from third party websites. Our more recent version is through the publishing studio and allows users to download from both the Extras Manager in the Skype Client and the Gallery.

Continue reading "‘Change is inevitable, growth is intentional’" »

Hello.

I’d like to mention a great article that appears on O’Reilly Emerging Technology website and is referenced on Skype Journal today. I have three sons, and having favourites is one of those strict no-no’s you quickly learn (often the hard way) as a parent.

We feel all SDP partners are trying to add value, but I wanted to highlight our relationship with WebDialogs. Lou, Gershon and the team provide for me at least, a great model for all developers who:

• Innovate often and fast
• Stay solution focused, even in the choppy oceans on Early Adopter Platforms and Programs
• Keep communicating and pushing opportunities across Skype
• Start with the end in mind - how can we add the most value to end users?
• Bring opportunities for more revenue, more users or more usage to the table

There a lots of great examples of other ‘role models’ amongst SDP partners, WebDialogs is not alone. However, just wanted to say well done to the WebDialogs team. Keep that innovation coming. We want you to succeed with us.

Stay tuned - Paul & SDP