Skype at CommunicAsia 2010 (giveaway at the bottom!)
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CommunicAsia 2010
Skype at CommunicAsia 2010
Giveaway!
CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010 is Asia’s premier business event for the global infocomm technology (ICT), broadcasting and media industries. It’s held at Singapore Expo from 15 – 18 June 2010.
(info from CommunicAsia’s press release)
On June 16 I had the privilege of attending the blogger’s session from Skype at CommunicAsia 2010. I have Daphne from XPR to thank for that.
I was so in love with the Skype booth. It’s so cheery, with sky blue and rainbows all around!
Isn’t that just pretty?
We were guided around the booth by Peter Parkes, social media lead of Skype, who explained to us the new features/functionalities of Skype.
Yes that’s me listening. Hehe.
Basically what Peter informed us is the availability on Skype on other platforms other than the more traditional computer (PC/Mac alike). Skype is now available for mobile devices (Symbian phones, iPhone), and even TV!
Yes, TV!
It actually supports HD video, and the camera/microphone combo has 4 microphones and is able to pick up sound from 45 metres.
Example of the video:
There was very little grain/noise. It was quite impressive.
However the Skype on TV is only available as embedded software within select TVs. Currently Panasonic Viera HDTV supports it, with the requirement of a communication camera (sold separately). Not sure whether it’s required to use Panasonic’s own communication camera or it’s possible to use other compatible cameras. Peter also mentioned Samsung and some other brand of TV to embed the Skype software. Not sure about the details.
And then of course there was Skype for iPhone and Symbian phones. Skype in the Nokia N900 is not even a separate application, it’s actually seamlessly embedded in the phone. When you scroll through your contact list, for example, you can see the option “Call using Skype” appear. Interesting! After the event, I just had to download Skype to my Nokia E72 and it’s pretty easy to use! It can also merge the Skype contacts and the phone contacts together, but it’s not yet seamless like N900′s.
Screenshot:
Peter also talked about Business usage for Skype. Basically Skype will help businesses (Peter mentioned especially small and medium businesses) save costs on communications. Makes sense, because Skype can enable people to call, chat, send files, and even do conferences/group callings at the same time! The new feature available at Skype Business is Skype Manager, which is a web application you can use to manage the usage of Skype inside your organization. For example – if you want to manage how much Skype credits to give to your employees. You may go to Skype for Business website for more details.
Oh, and I think the Skype Manager ad is so cute!
By now you might be wondering – even if it’s on mobile phones, how exactly can I call people without Skype? Understandably, Skype has traditionally been used for free Skype-to-Skype calls but apparently it can also be used to call landlines/mobiles. You can purchase Skype credits to do so, or even better, you can use Skype subscriptions for unlimited calls to countries/Europe/World. Pretty good deal I think! Sadly, the Skype subscription worldwide that I got excluded Indonesia (my home country), so I said good bye to my unlimited calls to home. Sigh.
Giveaway! (updated!!)
Yeay! Now it’s time for the giveaway!
I have 2 Skype iPhone covers to give away!
(They both have the same design, only different colours – white/black)
To enter the giveaway contest is simple!
- Leave a comment at this post with your name and (valid!) email, stating what you use/you can use/you plan to use Skype for.
And that’s it! Yes, it’s that easy. 
You can also have another chance by tweeting about this giveaway. Please see the directions at the first comment below!
Some T&Cs:
- The last entry of the contest will be accepted at 23 June 2010 23.59 PM 25 June 2010 23.59 PM. Winners will be announced at latest by 30 June 2010.
- This contest is open to people who reside at Singapore or have a Singapore mailing address.
- Postage fee will be borne by me a.k.a postage is freeeeee
- One person (with one e-mail) is allowed one entry via comment on blog post and two entries via Twitter (directions at the first comment below!).
- There will be 2 winners. Winners will be chosen by random numbers (Random.org)
- Colours will be determined by random too.
Looking forward for your entries!
Note: A number of other blogs will be having the same giveaway, I’ll post links to their giveaway’s so you can have more chances of winning one! 
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21 Responses to “Skype at CommunicAsia 2010 (giveaway at the bottom!)”
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Sylvia Giacinta
on June 18th, 2010
Directions for entering the giveaway contest via Twitter
You can either:
Each method will guarantee you one chance. So there are maximum of two chances per user. Multiple tweets/retweets will not be counted.
Have fun, and good luck!
NOTE:
My Twitterfeed (the one that sends links of my blog to Twitter) is a bit out-of-order, it published my blog post twice. To confirm, your entry via twitter is only valid when you use the exact link http://bit.ly/afbvga. Thanks!
Isman Tanuri
on June 18th, 2010
Hey! Great coverage from the event! I really wanted to attend this on Daphne’s invitation too, but could not get away from work. Sounds like a really fun, casual event and appreciate your sharing. Now I know what I’ve missed!
I like Skype (the idea and philosophy behind it) although I have never gotten around to using it. This might just change that
Isman Tanuri´s last blog ..The Digital Edge: People Development through Simple Technologies
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 18th, 2010
Hello! Thanks for dropping by! Would have loved to see you there
If you have unlimited broadband (on home, or even on mobile phone) Skype really comes in handy, I think. I’ve used it several times to call home (Skype-to-Skype though). Saved my phone credits
Skype has actually been my communication-software of choice in school since years ago (I found MSN was too slow) but not many people use it so I moved back to MSN. Such a downgrade
Would you want me to enter you in the iPhone cover giveaway contest?
Isman Tanuri
on June 22nd, 2010
Thanks for the offer! But I’ll leave the iPhone covers to the others
Well, I guess I did not use Skype because I had a corporate line for the last years, so I had no bill issues. But I guess now is a very good time for me to invest some time in discovering Skype
Isman Tanuri´s last blog ..The Digital Edge: People Development through Simple Technologies
Daphne Maia
on June 21st, 2010
hey man, u shd try out skype. it’s the most awesome IM and VoIP service!
video calls are great, and now u can do multi-party video con calls! i now use skype’s unlimited SG calls (for mobile and landline) 
makes more sense for me than getting a landline cos i’m online all the time! 
i hope more apps come up soon for Skype! android, eh?
Daphne Maia´s last blog ..Apple bans Google’s AdMob from iOS, but what about Nokia-owned NavteqMedia?
Isman Tanuri
on June 22nd, 2010
Well, give it to me on Android and I’ll be the first to download it
But I’m on Fring, does pretty much what Skype does with IM and VOIP and multi-platform (plus face-to-face video calls too! [sounds familiar? heh]) Then again, I should really give Skype a go, can’t be in the dark for too long if I’d like to be known as a tech geek, can i?
Isman Tanuri´s last blog ..The Digital Edge: People Development through Simple Technologies
victed
on June 18th, 2010
Awesome! I’ll RT : ) Didn’t have the chance to say hello at Skype booth!
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 18th, 2010
I’ll say hello now. HELLO!!
Hey do you need to be entered for the giveaway?
Or have you got one already? Haha confused!
Michael
on June 18th, 2010
I use Skype to keep in touch with my friends who are living overseas and it’s so convenient since the set up/program is all free!
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 18th, 2010
Thanks for the entry, Michael! You can also tweet/retweet for more chances!
Kelvin Soh
on June 18th, 2010
Hi, I use Skype for my work daily! i really love to have that Skype iPhone cover as im a big fan! Please!
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 19th, 2010
Hey Kelvin, will enter you to the draw! You can increase your chances by tweeting/retweeting about this giveaway!
Kelvin Soh
on June 19th, 2010
Thanks Slyvia! ^^
Daphne Maia
on June 21st, 2010
Hey Sylv, thanks for coming yeah!
Great way to get more eyeballs on ur blog – giveaways always work!
Daphne Maia´s last blog ..Apple bans Google’s AdMob from iOS, but what about Nokia-owned NavteqMedia?
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 23rd, 2010
You’re welcome Daph, thanks for the invitation!
I only didn’t have the slurpee, but it would have been bad for my diet anyway. haha.
Daphne Maia
on June 22nd, 2010
Isman: the word for android is… YEAR END!
stay tuned ok? 
u can find out more from @skype and @peteratskype on twitter.
also.. try out skype first, thn perhaps one day u’ll b convinced to use skypeout. esp if u end up travelling a lot for work! not everyone needs skypeout definitely, but those who do (esp travellers) find it very useful.
we had a couple of travel bloggers down at skype booth last wk, (ourtravelations.com) and they said tht this is really useful for them cos they travel a lot, n whr internet connection is available, they’ll always use skype. i think skypeout unlimited credits for singapore calls are something like.. 5 euros a mth. that’s cheap.
Daphne Maia´s last blog ..Skype – Streaming Live from CommunicAsia 2010
Peter Parkes (Skype)
on June 23rd, 2010
Thanks for coming along – and I’m glad you like the Skype Manager ad
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 23rd, 2010
You’re welcome Peter! Yes I think the ad was so cute, I was actually watching the ad while you were explaining about the Skype for Business… hehehe
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 26th, 2010
Hi guys, the giveaway is closed! I will select and announce the winners before June 30th. Stay tuned!
Sylvia Giacinta
on June 28th, 2010
Giveaway winners announced! Please check the homepage!
CommunicAsia 2010 – The Skype Experience & Giveaway! » My Notepad
on July 4th, 2010
[...] an augmented reality feature. Sylvia can be seen having fun with this feature above. She has also written a post on the event! Unfortunately, it is only for the booth and not for general use. We also have [...]