Our Travelations

For avid and independent travellers, Skype shouldn’t be something new. It’s a very popular software application that allows users to make free calls over the Internet. Calls to mobile phones or conventional landlines can be made at a really low rate.

Since getting the Apple iPhone, I’ve been making use of Skype more and more because it really is very convenient. There’s no need to have a headset or microphone connected to my laptop, I just dial and talk on the iPhone using the Skype app. I use it a lot for work as well as for calling friends, relatives and other contacts while travelling.

However, I had only been using Skype whenever I managed to get a WiFi signal because Skype couldn’t be used over a 3G connection in the past. But now it can and I’m really happy about that!

Jeff and I received that update and learnt about other developments at a Skype blogger event organised during this year’s CommunicAsia in Singapore last month.

One of the more exciting things to come out of the company recently is Skype on TV. Having Skype on your TV will allow you to chat ‘live’ with others on a widescreen high definition TV.

Skype on TV in action

The feature is available on selected television sets. I think this will be useful for groups of people who need to talk to each other, like families who are living a great distance apart, or when a certain demonstration needs to be done, like in a virtual sales meeting, for example. You can read more about it at this Skype “On your TV” page.

Besides this, we learnt that a large chunk of Skype users are those who use the application for business purposes. I’m guilty as charged. But I love my job which makes it kinda like play – does that count?

We were given some pretty cool door gifts and one of them is this Skype iPhone cover. It’s quite cute and trust me, it’s waaay thinner and classier than my previous chunky silicone one (which attracted dust actually).

Skype iPhone cover in white

Can you spot the Eiffel Tower with the fireworks going off?

Anyway, we bagged three covers so that we could run our very first GIVEAWAY!

Get one for yourself by leaving a comment on how you use Skype in your life. Share some tips with us all! Do this by the end of the day on August 7 and we’ll pick three of our favourites to win a Skype iPhone cover each. Don’t forget to leave your email address so that we can contact you if you win.

A big thank you to Daphne of XPR and Skype for inviting us to the event!

Esther