Andy Abramson for VoIP Watch has written an article on the just released Skype 4.0 Beta.

Andy makes a point that the new Video-oriented interface for Skype 4.0 lends itself to rich-media contextual advertising being piped to the client while they make calls.

Perhaps, in future, you may find yourself watching an advert before you can place a video call.

You can download the Skype 4.0 Beta for windows but a note in Andy’s article references Jim Courtney for Skype Journal saying you should only install it on a spare machine.

Asterisk, the lead open-source digital Private Branch Exchange software has released version 1.4.21.

This is a regular bug fix version, a complete changelog can be found here.

Counterpath, makers of the Bria softphone client have launched Quick Conference, an apparently easy-to-use audio conferencing server.

When deployed, Bria (and presumably other SIP standard) users will be able to dial a four digit number to create a conference on the Quick Conference server.

Quick Conference features web-based administration, IBM Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook calendar integration and remote management via PDA.

S60tips.com has an updated article listing VoIP applications suitable for use with the S60 smartphone platform.

Listed and reviewed in the article are Nokia’s own Gizmo, Truphone, EQO, Skype, fring and Yeigo
.

The article updates an earlier review of S60 Voice over IP applications.

Silicon Alley Insider is speculating that a comment by Gary Krakow of TheStreet may indicate that Google are looking to produce their own ‘Gphone’.

Google have previously stated that they do not intent to produce their own hardware, rather they intend to develop the Linux based ANDROID mobile phone software platform for deployment on partner’s devices.

There is further speculation about whether some devices might be available around Christmas time.