So as many of the slightly geekier readers of this blog may be aware, this past week was the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. Skype was out there (though I didn’t get to go 
) and announced / showed off several new things. One of the coolest is that Skype will be making its way onto a new series of mobile internet devices based on Intel mobile processors and chipsets called (wait for it) MIDs (as in Mobile Internet Devices).
The specs on these MIDs will vary by manufacturer (though they’ll all have Intel chips), but it’s safe to say they’ll have touchscreen LCDs, WiFi or WiMax, and will run Mobile Internet Linux. Skype will be preinstalled, so free calls, instant messaging and group chats can be made from the get-go. And some MIDs will have cameras for video calls on Skype—pretty cool.
If these seem a bit similar to UMPCs, another Intel-based small form-factor mobile computing platform, you’re right, though the major difference is that MIDs are smaller and run Linux rather than Windows. Engadget as done a nice post noting all the differences, which you can check out here.
Intel MIDs running Skype on Mobile Internet Linux should be available during the first half of 2008. You can learn more about the MID platform here.
