Skype introduces Skype Pro

There is no Skype client for Symbian and Palm OS but there is Skype client for both Windows Mobile platforms – MS Smartphone and Pocket PC. Now Skype is introducing major changes and by the way points out that mobile Skype is possible – only with use of Windows Mobile (!) phones:
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

NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC

ACCESS CO., LTD. announced the availability of a technical preview version of its NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC, an Internet browser for Pocket PC devices. By making this technical preview available, ACCESS expects to obtain extensive feedback from users prior to releasing the final commercial version of the browser, which is scheduled for release in the first half of this year. Both the Japanese and English language versions of the technical preview version of NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC will be available for download from ACCESS’ website free of charge.

The NetFront Browser v3.4 is designed to provide high performance in resource-constrained environments such as those with limited memory or CPU capabilities and is an ideal Internet browser for mobile terminals and other consumer electronics. The NetFront Browser v3.4 enables full Internet browsing on more than 1,000 commercial devices including PDAs and smartphones. There are currently 300 million NetFront Browser deployments worldwide.

The technical preview version of NetFront Browser v.3.4 for Pocket PC delivers significant functionality to both corporate and individual users including increased operating speed thanks to optimized communications processing and a redesigned module structure. The technical preview version also includes a new, improved Page Pilot™ feature, which allows users to quickly zoom in on any area of a Web page. Also featured is Visual Bookmark an advanced technology that allows users to easily select a bookmark through a thumbnail image.

ACCESS will incorporate valuable customer feedback received from the availability of the technical preview version into the final commercial release of NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC.

Inventec Iris / Mercury Pocket PC

Yet another Pocket PC phone with slide-out QWERTY keyboard is coming… this time manufactured by Inventec, that was known from making Palm OS devices. This Palm OS business must be drying up so that they switch to Windows Mobile…

Highlights about this Pocket PC phone:
built-in bar code scanner!
the title says that the name of the phone is “Iris” but then “Mercury” is mentioned also in user manual
very popular design recently : Windows Mobile Pocket PC phone with screen and with a QWERTY keyboard that is sliding out from the side (not from the bottom)
mini-SD card slot
A2DP (wireless stereo over Bluetooth) support – standard feature of Windows Mobile though
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
GSM but no 3GSM
bar code scanner and lack of camera indicates that this phone will be rather sold for commercial/enterprise usage and not for end users (consumers)