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

gigaom.com carries word that the big global Telcos such as AT&T, British Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, NTT etc could be working together to create a ‘Skype rival’ for 2009.

No real detail or grit is given on the product although I would hope that it would be a SIP or at least standards-based system unlike Skype which is uses a proprietary method.

The service is said to be designed to ultimately be available for mobile devices with 3G or 4G connections so presumably the model would be direct connection or client/server connection rather than Skype’s P2P routing model.

Some more detail over in Om Malik’s article.

According to Voip Watch Skype are now offering global POTS calling package for a monthly flat-rate.

Previously, the flat-rate charging was only available to USA and Canada based Skype customers.

Also available is a plan with almost global coverage for $9.95/month.

Startup operation iSkoot is aiming to offer a Skype VoIP solution which will work over mobile telephone networks.

One of the main problems with Skype (other than it’s incompatability with SIP) is that it utilises client bandwidth to route call data in a Peer-To-Peer (P2P) network model. Obviously, when you’re on the end of a contended and potentially quite low-bandwidth / high-cost GPRS or 3G mobile link, you don’t really want that.

iSkoots concept seems to revolve around the concept of having telcos install iSkoot hardware at their gateways to make the connection to Skype. The call is completed between the handset and the iSkoot hardware at the gateway using the normal GSM network so presumably 3G is not required although a ’smartphone’ is probably necessary to run the iSkoot software.

This system allows the mobile user to place and receive calls on the Skype network without incurring massive data charges and the telcos continue to make money on the calls at the normal rate - perhaps even better for the telcos as they don’t have to pay other network connection costs.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has launched it’s new Go!Messenger Voice over IP product for both ‘fat’ an ’slimline’ Playstation Portables.

This should be a bit of a boost for ‘fat’ PSP users who would have been disappointed to discover that the recently released Skype for PSPs would not work on their consoles.

PSP Go!Messenger users will be able to enjoy video and VoIP at 2,500 BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK