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Yugma is latest addition to Skype Extras

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Yugma is the latest addition to Skype Extras. Extras are plug-ins written by independent third-party developers that let users expand Skype functionality and enrich their Skype conversations. To date, more than 185 different Extras are available and there have been more than 24 million downloads of Extras since the Skype Extras Manager was launched in late 2006.

With easy access to Extras from within Skype software or on the Skype Web site, users are now able to use Yugma within Skype.

Originally posted on February 10, 2008 @ 7:26 pm

Microsoft to deliver PlayReady Technology for Telefonica mobile entertainment services

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Microsoft Corp. and Telefonica Espana is collaborating on the use of Microsoft PlayReady technology to power Telefonica’s next-generation mobile entertainment services. Telefonica Espana plans to deploy PlayReady for its mobile music service in the second half of 2008. The collaboration also includes working on video and games services.

PlayReady is a content access technology from Microsoft that enables content owners and service providers to deliver virtually any type of digital content, using a wide range of business models. PlayReady also provides significant improvements in ease of use for consumers looking to access, manage and back up protected content.

Microsoft PlayReady is designed for digital entertainment services, devices and applications, with a specific focus on meeting the needs of mobile operators, service providers and device manufacturers. The technology supports a range of business models that can be applied to almost any type of digital content (music, video, games, ringtones, images and more) and a wide range of audio and video formats (including AAC, AAC+, Enhanced AAC+, H.264, Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV)). PlayReady also provides features such as service domains and embedded licenses, specifically designed to make it easy for consumers to enjoy content on all their registered devices, and back up their content just as easily as they would any other type of file.

Originally posted on February 11, 2008 @ 7:11 pm

JumpIn mobile social network launches on Millicom in El Salvador

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JumpIn has officially launched in El Salvador in cooperation with the country’s largest carrier, Millicom. Millicom subscribers can now interact with JumpIn members throughout the region and in the U.S. JumpIn’s easy and elegant mobile interface provides members the ability to create and customize personal pages, exchange private and public messages with other members, and share photos and videos. El Salvador is one of the cellular operations of Millicom International Cellular S.A., a leading provider of wireless services best known in the region by the “Tigo” brand.

Originally posted on February 10, 2008 @ 7:18 pm

Cyloop.com unveils online music contest sponsored by Ford Sync

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Cyloop.com unveiled its online competition sponsored exclusively by Ford SYNC which allows music fans to win a Ford SYNC customized Epiphone guitar from Gibson, by putting to the test their knowledge about music tastes of Cyloop’s top artists.

To participate in the contest, users need to visit Ford SYNC’s community, located exclusively in Cyloop, which includes a series of “Loops”, or interactive playlists, that have been created utilizing the favorite music from Cyloop artists. Users can then visit the Ford SYNC’s contest page and answer the daily trivia questions related to those songs.

Registered users will accumulate points based on the correct answers. On March 11th, one winner will be drawn among those participants that reach the highest score to receive an original Epiphone DR-100 guitar from Gibson.

Originally posted on February 11, 2008 @ 10:39 am

Random House to offer individual chapters for sale online

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madetostick.pngThe Random House Publishing Group is launching a pilot project to sell individual chapters of a book online. This is believed to be the first time a major trade publisher has offered readers the opportunity to buy digitized sections of a book.

The title chosen for this digital download format is Chip Heath and Dan Heath’s successful Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. A creative guide to communicating ideas effectively, it was originally published as a Random House hardcover in January 2007. It appeared on the New York Times Advice, How To bestseller list and continues to sell well, with 220,000 copies in print.

Its six chapters and Epilogue is available for $2.99 each. The introduction and index will be available at no charge to those who buy at least one chapter. Consumers who buy a chapter will receive an email with a link for downloading the purchased file, which cannot be shared electronically.

Originally posted on February 11, 2008 @ 10:28 am