SanDisk, the world's largest supplier of flash memory card storage products, and Skype have announced a device that enables Skype users to make free calls and chat on "almost any PC" without having to download software. Vonage last month launched the V-Phone: the Vonage software on a USB device, with earphone and microphone included.
SanDisk and Skype are offering the Skype software pre-loaded on SanDisk's newest Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium lines of Skype-certified U3 enabled smart drives. "This will allow consumers to make free PC-to-PC audio and video calls to Skype users in most major markets," they claim.
The U3 platform, which allows a variety of applications to be loaded onto a flash drive, is a standard feature on all capacities of SanDisk's latest versions of its Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium USB smart drives.
"SanDisk sees the U3 platform as the next major step in mobile computing," said Carlos Gonzalez, senior director of USB for SanDisk. "The Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium with U3 will enable people to carry around, on a small, convenient USB flash drive, their complete personal desktop with all their favourite U3 smart applications, settings and contacts and allow them to work on any PC, wherever they go."
The new drives will display the Skype logo on the packaging and will feature one free month of Skype voicemail for the mobile user to get messages from their Skype calls when on the go.
Cruzer Micro devices are available at retail outlets in the US and Europe, including Skype's online store, for suggested retail prices ranging from $US39.99 to $US199.99 with capacities from 512 megabytes to d 4 gigabytes. SanDisk Cruzer Titanium with Skype comes in 1GB and 2GB, at suggested prices of $US74.99 and $US119.99 respectively, and is now shipping in most major markets.
After Vonage on a chip, it's Skype on a chip, with video
Skype and SanDisk have mimicked Vonage in launching a softphone on a USB memory stick, but this one supports video calls.
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Stuart Corner
Tracking the telecoms industry since 1989, Stuart has been awarded Journalist Of The Year by the Australian Telecommunications Users Group (twice) and by the Service Providers Action Network. In 2010 he received the 'Kester' lifetime achievement award in the Consensus IT Writers Awards and was made a Lifetime Member of the Telecommunications Society of Australia. He was born in the UK, came to Australia in 1980 and has been here ever since.
