iSkoot, a mobile Internet systems service provider of Cambridge, Mass., announced on Wednesday it joined forces with Skype (News - Alert) to co-market mobile-PC calling products.
 
The new partnership will enable iSkoot to mass market Java-phones, as well as high-end smartphones, to place and receive Internet calls through Skype's software via handsets, without the need for PCs, special hardware, or WiFi (News - Alert) hot spots.
 
The agreement calls for Skype to certify iSkoot's products for making and receiving Skype calls on mobile phones. Once certified, iSkoot's software will be available online from Skype.
 
"We are looking forward to working closely with Skype to deliver true mobility, free of PCs, special hardware, or WiFi hot spots. We are extremely pleased to be Skype's partner for delivering a solution that will allow people to use Skype anywhere," said iSkoot's chief executive officer Jacob Guedalia in a statement. "By connecting cell and smart phones to Skype, iSkoot software allows handset vendors and mobile operators to gain new PC calling minutes and increase ARPU."
 
Through its partnership with Skype, iSkoot will also enable Skypers to make their SkypeOut service mobile.
 
Today's news follows Skype certifying security risk management provider McAfee's Internet Security Suite 2006, the McAfee VirusScan 2006, and the McAfee Personal Firewall 2006 products last week. Now Skype-certified, McAfee Internet Security Suite and VirusScan will add an extra layer of protection for files sent using the Skype file transfer function through a scanning process by the Skype-certified McAfee products. Skype calls and chats will be protected using Skype's encryption technology.
 
The McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 will now carry the Skype certification mark on retail packaging. Skype-certified McAfee products are now available online.
 
iSkoot
Skype Limited
 
-----
Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne's columnist page.


Back to Communications Solutions