Skype targets mobile VOIP

Skype`s acquisition of two companies specialising in mobile VOIP is a clear indication it intends to dominate that market as well as the PC-based VOIP market, reports Networking Pipeline.

The report says Skype`s purchase of Sonorit Holding and its US subsidiary, Camino Networks, is aimed at acquiring expertise for future versions of Skype, which has already shown its intention to enter the mobile market by announcing Skype for the Pocket PC 2.0.

In addition, the Skype client is preloaded on several mobile devices, including the HP iPAQ hw6900 series PDA, and Skype is working with Hutchinson 3 Group on the group`s 3G networks used by over 11 million customers worldwide.

Google will unveil a free Web-based calendar application today that is expected to heat up the race with Yahoo and Microsoft.

News.Com says the new application allows users to build online calendars that enable specific individuals or groups of people to access all or some of the events listed. A Gmail account is not necessary to use Google Calendar.

Users can search for and add events to their calendars from within the program or directly off Web sites that are either publishing events using open calendaring standards or which have added a Google Calendar button to their site. Users can also search for events from friends` shared calendars and import events from Microsoft Outlook.

The Butler Group says Red Hat`s acquisition of JBoss will create the first "open source supergroup" and strengthen the business proposition for the enterprise market, where software buyers are more sensitive to technology provider financial viability and business stability, reports Tekrati.

Michael Azoff, a senior research analyst at Butler Group, says the common subscription-based business models and open source basis make for an excellent fit.

He also predicts continued growth, commending both companies for competing based on delivering quality software and services at lower costs.

The Chinese government has made a fresh attempt to crack down on software piracy by introducing new regulations that require Chinese computer makers to install licensed operating software on machines before they leave the factory.

BBC News reports that foreign PC makers will also be affected by the new rule, which says retailers must install software on imported computers before they are sold.

The new regulations were announced following trade talks between China and the US in Washington on Tuesday to counteract the high level of software piracy in China, which is believed to be more than 50% higher than the world average of 35%.

Ubisoft`s first title for the Nintendo Revolution will be Red Steel, an action game which will work with the console`s unique `freestyle` remote controller, reports Games Industry.

According to the report, Red Steel is set in present day Japan, and will see players taking on Yakuza mobsters using both guns and katanas.

The game is in development at Ubisoft Paris, and is being worked on by team members whose previous credits include Prince of Persia, Far Cry Instincts and Ghost Recon.