Extras

It’s been a few months since my last update regarding support. The reason is that I wanted to wait until the new Extras Manager 2.0 has been released with Skype for Windows 3.8 so that there would be more good news to tell then normally. Now 3.8 is finally in Gold!

Some of you have been asking, what exactly has been changed in EM 2.0. Well, it looks pretty much the same as the old version, but there’s too many bug fixes to list them all here, more than ever before. It’s also more stable than before. We recommend that whenever your users are expriencing problems with Extras that you suggest them to try out 3.8 with EM 2.0. Here is the complete Change Log of EM 2.0.

So, below is a long list of fixed bugs and completed feature request followed by the known problem in the end of the list. Please notice that the list of known problems only has new cases from the last Support blog post. Please click on the link below in order to get the list.

Continue reading "Support updates and fixes in EM 2.0" »

In April there have been certified the following new software products:

Convenos Meeting Center Extra

Convenos Meeting Center is web-based collaboration software that combines a variety of collaboration functionality — participants can share documents and make notes on them, also share media and webpages, show and control their desktops or applications and draw pictures together. The initiator can use this Extra to select Skype contacts and start a meeting which will also create conference call and send a link to participants, collaboration will take place in web browser. In the meeting environment participants can post messages and collect notes, while the host can create polls that everybody can answer and see results. Alternatively, host can log-in Convenos via a homepage, enter contacts’ e-mails and create meeting from the web, then the invitations will be sent to e-mail addresses rather than via the Skype Extra. Starting a meeting this way, user can also choose what privileges to give to certain participants, create an Ongoing collaboration workspace for longer term projects, and add a Recorder to any meeting which means that s/he can record the whole collaboration session, both screen and audio. Convenos Meeting Center Extra is offered as a 30-day free trial product for Skype users. For more information, see http://www.convenos.com

PamFax

A straightforward application for sending fax. User can select file or scan a document, enter fax number, add some front page and send it, also get notification about its status on e-mail and Skype chat. After installing PamFax user will get some credit which is enough to send one page to some European or North American country, also to Australia or New Zealand. If sending fax costs more, user can pay for that in Skype credits. For more information, see http://www.pamfax.biz

Ripplex Address Book

After two and a half years of Skype software certification, here is the first Skype Certified product that works on Mac OS. It has three different installers, Japanese and English for Windows and one in both languages for Mac. As the name itself says, it is an address book where user can enter friends’ information — name, address, phone, e-mail, Skype, webpage, YouTube, Google Talk etc. When connected to Skype, it imports also Skype contacts so user can call or chat with them directly from Ripplex. Also, Ripplex is a sort of community — its users can send friend requests to each other, choose what information to disclose to different friends and get notified about friends’ profile changes. For more information, see http://www.ripplex.com

If you are a frequent viewer of skype.com, you maybe have noticed that our Webteam is working on the website.

As part of the work, we have changed the server of our web gallery extras.skype.com.

As a side-effect, some of you may have had problems uploading images. This problem is now fixed.

However, if you encounter any other issue please lets us know. Drop us a message at: Our Gallery Editor

A call center application for businesses to handle customers’ requests. Unlike many other call centers, it is fully web-based, application window gets its content directly from the web and all configuration takes place in the web, too. To start using it, user must register on company’s webpage, then OnState people will prepare the account for him/her. To give customers opportunity to contact people with different skills in one’s company, user can create Call, Callback and Chat buttons to one’s webpage. About managing workers, user can add their Skype usernames, add skills and assign them to different workers, then the customers’ calls and chats will be routed to available worker that has the needed skill. On configuration page user (technically the administrator) can see the status of all workers (how long they have been available/busy/out to lunch, how many calls have been handled and who is currently on call) and make reports about that. And of course, administrator can make internal calls to workers. For more information, see http://www.on-state.com

In January there have been certified the following new software products:

YugmaSE

Yugma is a Desktop sharing application that actually works without Skype also, this particular one is Skype Edition. To start using it, user can select one’s Skype contacts and an invitation message with meeting’s ID will be sent to them. The other parties must enter the ID in their Yugma window and then the sharing session can start. Alternatively, they can join session on Yugma webpage but in this case Java must be installed in their machines. Sharing party can select whether to share the whole Desktop or some applications, also change who will share one’s things there. First 15 days sharer can also give remote access to the viewers, later user must upgrade YugmaSE to Premium to continue using this functionality. For more information, see http://www.yugma.com

SkyLYNX

SkyLYNX is a call center application that enables user to set extensions and DTMF tones so the incoming calls can be transferred. If extension is not available, a caller can leave a voice message to the extension or to the operator. Also it keeps log about all incoming/transferred calls and voice messages. Technically SkyLYNX is a very simple application. Actually it is not even installed, just downloadable exe does everything. For more information, see http://www.zipcom.com.tw/products/Product-SkyLYNX-AST.htm

The festive season has once again crept up on us all too fast. Suddenly the days are getting shorter (or longer for our southern hemisphere friends) and our minds are filled with planning parties, last minute shopping and getting out of the office for that all important holiday break.

Continue reading "Last chance for an Extras update in 2007" »

We have recently found a bug in Publishing Studio version 2.0.0.396 which caused Synchronizing with server not to work properly. It means that Extras which have been created or updated with this version of Publishing Studio are having problems as there’s no licensing information saved on the DRM server.

We strongly recommend for every developer to upgrade to Publishing Studio version 2.0.0.400 where this bug has been fixed.

• If you have been working on something with Publishing Studio version 2.0.0.396, then after upgrading just push the synchronize with server link on the left and it will update all the info in the DRM server.

• If you have published something with the old version, you should republish as these extras won’t work properly!

Known issues:

• In some cases there have been reports of „Error 3“ during the first synchronization with the new PS. In this case try to sync again, the error should not repeat and synchronization should be finished correctly. If you see a different behavior, please report it in Jira.
• In some cases you might start seeing a Buy Now message, although you have a Free or Free Trial Extra. This problem has been reported here

If you experience any other errors or problems with this new Publishing Studio - we want to know! Please file a new Jira case here.

In August there have been certified the following new software products:

IM+ for Skype

This is the first product certified in Remote Access category which means that people can use it to access their Skype account without being at computer. IM+ for Skype works on BlackBerry, Symbian S60 and Palm devices and Java powered phones. On IM+ for Skype user can send and receive chatmessages, initiate and answer calls and see one’s contact list and SkypeOut credit level. Technically there is no Skype on the device, Skype runs on IM+ server instead which device connects to. To be able to make and receive Skype calls, user must enter one’s phone number because IM+ for Skype doesn’t call the other party directly but redirects call to the number, so the call is actually a conference between remote device, telephone and target(s). Therefore user needs SkypeOut credit for calls. Chatmessages go directly and they are free, as always.

For more information, please visit their website.

LeadOrb Chat Translator for Skype

LeadOrb Chat Translator was actually certified in June already but that time it was not published yet. This is an automatic chat translator that knows Japanese, English, Korean, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese and can translate between any two of them. It’s interface is similar to Skype chat window — text area and input area. Before chatting with somebody, user must choose one’s own language and chat’s language, for example, English and German accordingly. Now, when user types something in LeadOrb input area in English and sends it, it appears on text area and after some moments the same text in German will be added there. German text will appear in chat, instead of English. When the other party answers in German, it will appear also on LeadOrb text area and after some moments it will get translated to English. So it is a good tool for chatting with foreigners, and also for multichats where not everybody understands the language. However, in case of more complex sentences it can produce weird results but at least the idea of sentences remains understandable.

To use it, user must first register one’s e-mail address, also it needs Microsoft .NET installed. For more information, please visit their website.

Have you ever noticed the placement of the Do More menu in Skype? The user simply opens ‘Tools’ in the Skype client then click on ‘Do More’ and is presented with a shiny list of appealing graphics and exciting titles such as ‘Skypify your Outlook with Skylook’ and ‘Crazytalk Video Avatar’. This list is actually called the ‘Extras Premium List’ and we take applications to appear in this place every quarter.

Continue reading "Apply now for Premium and Featured placement in Skype Extras" »

Skype has announced that for the remainder of 2007, it would cut the cost of standard extra developer fees by 50% when using the new Skype Credit Payments DRM system.

In addition to this, premium extras will now provide users with more information on additional functionality premium extra’s offer. This will be done by taking users to the extras manager instead of the application automatically downloading from the premium menu.

Developers can find out more information on how to develop a Skype Extra at https://developer.skype.com/

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’" »

The time has come to apply for premium or featured placement for the third quarter of 2007, entries are due 14th May.

These spots receive much higher promotion in the extras manager and are consistently represented in our top downloads lists. If you want us to promote your application you will need to complete the document which is available in the DevZone or directly from downloading here.

This document contains instructions on how you submit a completed request for consideration. If you are successful in your application then we will contact you with additional information. Successful applications will appear as Premium or Featured from July until the end of September.

In August, we will send out the document again for partners to reapply/apply.

Currently we have many third party hosted applications running in our extras gallery.

Many were added to the site last year and haven’t been updated since. In an attempt to update our records and ensure the promotion of applications that intend to have an ongoing relationship with Skype, we are requesting developers of these third party applications to contact us.

It is particularly important to have these contact details on hand in the case of any potential security threats to your application. If you wish to further your relationship with Skype, please send the following information to our Gallery Editor.

• Name:
• Skype ID:
• Email:
• Phone number:
• Application name:

If we don’t receive contact details by Friday 11th May, we will remove your application from our Extras Gallery.

After reviewing the recent applications for Premium and Featured in the Extras Manager, we’re all sure it will be a successful and exciting second quarter of 2007.

For those hoping to submit new builds for Q2, time is swiftly running out. We have already started testing new Extras and are aiming to put them live in the gallery and the manager mid next week. The absolute final time to submit a new or updated extras build is Monday 26th March, 9am GMT.

As previously confirmed, we have removed our requirement for premium extras to comply to the new DRM however we do require that all extras submitted have done so in the most recent publishing studio builds (2.0.0.385 or later), which is available here: https://developer.skype.com/Download.

So don’t wait for the next round, submit your application.

The Extras team

As we communicated about the DRM status some days ago, we were meantime listening to the communty of our developers. And as usual these people came with fair new feature requests they wanted to see happening with the DRM about ‘multiple concurrent licenses’.

The way it works at the moment for developers who wanted to use our DRM was: they would have to submit a ‘free’ product and a ‘commercial’ product. The multiple concurrent licenses will allow partners to offer a ‘free’ product and a ‘commercial or paid for’ product using the same product so there would be two offerings in the Extras Manager soon.

As we are working to get this Extras License Management System (also known as DRM) up and running, we expected the new build to be available today, as we were building a new version of the publishing studio.

However the development work has not progressed as planned because we decide to change the specifications by adding the developer feature requests’.

We hope to have the new build, including multiple concurrent license functionality, available early next week. We will update you with new dates when we have received and confirmed the new build.

Note: Due to the late arrival of Publishing Studio and these new feature requests, we have removed the DRM requirement for Q2 Premium applications.

The Extras Team

Need good “lecture” over the week before Christmas…

It is easy as using our Extras, so please just visit and enjoy to read Skype december newsletter.

If you are interested in writing for Skype and sharing information with our software partners via our newsletter, feel free to contact the editor.