Free SkypeOut + Soonr Talk = Crazy Cool

We (eBay) announced today that SkypeOut is free through the end of the year for users in the US and Canada. This is cool on its own, but I'm very excited because it makes  my favorite new software -- Soonr -- even more useful. Soonr is a mobile app that proxies your desktop. Soonr currently supports file sharing, Outlook, and most recently, Skype calls and chats.

The way Skype support works in Soonr is ingenious -- first you login to Soonr through your phone's web browser (I'm currently using Opera Mini). Then, you click on the Skype icon and up comes your buddy list. Click on someone in the list to call them, or optionally dial in a number to call someone not in your buddy list using SkypeOut. The magic sauce is that when you instigate a call, Skype (which is running on your computer) initiates a conference call with the person you are calling, while simutaneously conferencing your cell phone in using SkypeOut. That's what makes the free SkypeOut announcement so cool -- now you can call anyone in the world over Skype, from your cell phone, for free.

I tried it out to call Lester in England, and I left him a voice mail wishing his team (Arsenal) luck in tomorrows Champions League game. I then called Delyn, who was both impressed and confused as to what was happening. The call was better voice quality than had I called her on her cell phone, and of course it was free (just using up my cell phone minutes, of which I have plenty). The screen shot on the right shows Delyn's view of the Skype call she received from me. You can see my Skype user and my cell phone as members of the conference.

I love working for a company that makes big bold moves like this.

Comments

[Ro]

I thought SkypeOut was only free within the U.S. and North America?

[Alan Lewis]

Right. Thats what I said in the first sentence:

We (eBay) announced today that SkypeOut is free through the end of the year for users in the US and Canada.

The reason that me calling Lester is free, is that SkypeOut call from the Soonr client to me is a US to US SkypeOut call. Conferencing in Lester is done through Skype. Of course if you want to call someone not on Skype you can use SkypeOut for that too. If they are in the US or Canada, its free. If not, than its the normal cheap SkypeOut rate. Even in that case, though, you only have to pay 1/2 the SkypeOut charges as before, since the call from the Soonr client to your phone is still free.

[delyn]

still impressed and confused. :) but i'm going to download soonr so i can call my in-laws in the UK (who are on Skype on the weekend) on my mobile, and try this out myself. they will flip out!

[Pradeep Sethi]

I tried it, works great.

btw, It did not work with skype beta (2.5). I had to revert back to 2.0 to make it work :)

[martin]

Hi Alan - Thanks for the post, I am glad to see that you like what we are doing with SoonR and Skype. We originally started on this as we have a team in Denmark, and were using Skype for a lot of our company communications - yet we were also mobile using all kinds of phones. Obviously SoonR does a lot more, relating to other apps and information that resides on your PC.

Thanks

Martin

[Alan Lewis]

Sweet. You guys rock! Hey - are you over in the Pruneyard? My buddy Rob Abbott and I would love to come over and say hi. Of course we have a few feature requests too, and thos are always best delivered in person :-)

[Song Huang]

Hey Alan, I thought I would chime in. Yes we are in th Pruneyard on the 15th floor. We have a tremendous view of the entire eBay campus in the former "Greyland Business Park". I did a few startups in those building before eBay took over. Give us a time and we can arrange a meeting. Heck, it's just a stroll for you if you are over there! Email us with a few times and we'll figure out a time. I'll private email you more contact info. Look forward to meeting you and hearing your ideas.

[martinfrid]

Hi Alan - Yes, lets absolutely get together, I will unfortunately be in Europe next week, but will be back in town the week after. I look forward to hearing your feature requests, in exchange we have a number of enhancements to the API we will be sharing!

Best

Martin

[Chris]

I came across your blog when searching around for Soonr articles. I couldn't actually get Soonr to work on my phone. Another app that works in a similar way to Soonr is EQO, which I like better, but will only work for you if have GPRS and one of their supported phones. You tried this one?

Thanks for making SkypeOut free:)

Chris

[Alvin Lau]

How much data does Soonr use on a cell phone?