ack in 2005, eBay bought Skype from Joltid. The 2.6 billion dollar price tag did not include the "Global Index P2P software" that Skype is based on. Joltid is trying to cancel the license that Skype uses for this technology. If this happens, the Skype service will be shut down permanently.
Skype is the largest internet telephony software worldwide - as well as the worlds largest international voice carrier. The 2.6 billion dollar sale did not include Joltid's core piece of P2P code called "Global Index". Global Index is the P2P protocol that Skype uses as it's core communication technology.
In a recent quarterly report, filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the following was announced:
"Skype licenses peer-to-peer communication technology from Joltid Limited pursuant to a license agreement between the parties. The parties had been discussing a dispute over the license. In March 2009, Skype Technologies S.A. filed a claim in the English High Court of Justice (No. HC09C00756) against Joltid Limited. Following the filing of the claim, Joltid purported to terminate the license agreement between the parties.
In particular, Joltid has alleged that Skype should not possess, use or modify certain software source code and that, by doing so, and by disclosing such code in certain U.S. patent cases pursuant to orders from U.S. courts, Skype has breached the license agreement. Joltid has brought a counterclaim alleging that Skype has repudiated the license agreement, infringed Joltid's copyright and misused confidential information. On the basis of, among other things, the parties' mutual dealings since the execution of the license agreement, Skype asked the English High Court for declaratory relief, including findings that Skype is not in breach of the license agreement, that Joltid's notice of breach and subsequent notice of termination are invalid, and that Joltid has certain indemnity obligations in relation to the U.S. patent proceedings.
Trial is currently scheduled for June 2010. Although Skype is confident of its legal position, as with any litigation, there is the possibility of an adverse result if the matter is not resolved through negotiation. Skype has begun to develop alternative software to that licensed through Joltid. However, such software development may not be successful, may result in loss of functionality or customers even if successful, and will in any event be expensive. If Skype was to lose the right to use the Joltid software as the result of the litigation, and if alternative software was not available, Skype would be severely and adversely affected and the continued operation of Skype's business as currently conducted would likely not be possible. "
As pointed out in the quarterly report, Skype is currently attempting to develop an alternative protocol to replace the Global Index but the fast approaching court battle in June 2010, it does not seem like Skype will have enough time and the service may be shut down entirely.
The shutdown of Skype would affect at least 480 million users, more than that of Facebook.
Aug 1, 2009
Microsoft scraps Windows 7 'E' version for Europe
Microsoft confirmed late on Friday that it plans to kill off the Windows 7 'E' version for Europe.
In a statement a company official confirmed Windows 7 E is no more:
In the wake of last week's developments, as well as continuing feedback on Windows 7 E that we have received from computer manufacturers and other business partners, I'm pleased to report that we will ship the same version of Windows 7 in Europe in October that we will ship in the rest of the world.
One reason we decided not to ship Windows 7 'E' is concerns raised by computer manufacturers and partners. Several worried about the complexity of changing the version of Windows that we ship in Europe if our ballot screen proposal is ultimately accepted by the Commission and we stop selling Windows 7 'E'. Computer manufacturers and our partners also warned that introducing Windows 7 'E', only to later replace it with a version of Windows 7 that includes IE, could confuse consumers about what version of Windows to buy with their PCs.
Microsoft has proposed to the EU, the idea of a ballot screen to showcase different browsers that end users can select. Earlier this week Microsoft officials confirmed this ballot screen will be available for XP and Vista users too.
According to CNET those who pre-ordered Windows 7 'E' through a recent discount offer will get the full version, as Microsoft had promised. Microsoft will now be selling Windows 7 upgrade copies and a higher-priced full version (for those without a previous copy of Windows) similar to the rest of the world.
In a statement a company official confirmed Windows 7 E is no more:
In the wake of last week's developments, as well as continuing feedback on Windows 7 E that we have received from computer manufacturers and other business partners, I'm pleased to report that we will ship the same version of Windows 7 in Europe in October that we will ship in the rest of the world.
One reason we decided not to ship Windows 7 'E' is concerns raised by computer manufacturers and partners. Several worried about the complexity of changing the version of Windows that we ship in Europe if our ballot screen proposal is ultimately accepted by the Commission and we stop selling Windows 7 'E'. Computer manufacturers and our partners also warned that introducing Windows 7 'E', only to later replace it with a version of Windows 7 that includes IE, could confuse consumers about what version of Windows to buy with their PCs.
Microsoft has proposed to the EU, the idea of a ballot screen to showcase different browsers that end users can select. Earlier this week Microsoft officials confirmed this ballot screen will be available for XP and Vista users too.
According to CNET those who pre-ordered Windows 7 'E' through a recent discount offer will get the full version, as Microsoft had promised. Microsoft will now be selling Windows 7 upgrade copies and a higher-priced full version (for those without a previous copy of Windows) similar to the rest of the world.
Ballmer: Apple's Mac growth is a "rounding error"
Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer is a man who's not afraid to talk down his competitors. When Apple initially released the iPhone, he stated that it had no chance of gaining a significant market share. Now, when speaking to a group of market analysts, he has said that the growth that the Cupertino company is seeing with their Mac product range can be attributed to a rounding error.
Whilst he was at the 2009 Financial Analyst Meeting, Ballmer said, "Share versus Apple, you know, we think we may have ticked up a little tick, but when you get right down to it, it's a rounding error. Apple's share change, plus or minus from ours, they took a little share a couple quarters, we took share back a couple quarters." He then added, "Apple's share globally cost us nothing. Now, hopefully, we will take share back from Apple, but you know, Apple still only sells about 10 million PCs, so it is a limited opportunity." Ballmer noticed that, in the crowd of the meeting, there was a large proportion of Apple computers. He noted, "I can see the Apple logos versus the PC logos. So we have more work to do, more work to do. Our share is lower in this audience than the average audience. But don't hide it. I've already counted them. I have been doing that since we started talking."
He did note that Apple is known for their higher quality machines that PCs usually are, saying, "At least when Apple attacks us, the primary attack that comes from Apple is, 'Hey, at the end of the day, we have the coolest hardware.' When you see the hardware, the PC designs that will come out this Christmas with Windows 7, I think that conventional wisdom can begin to really change. There is some really amazing, amazing work. So it is possible to get great hardware innovation, even when hardware and software comes from separate companies."
Ballmer describes Windows as falling in between OS X and Linux to get what consumers want; a product that's not too cheap, and not too expensive. About Apple, in this regard, he said, "We do not, say, like Apple, believe in low volume, very high prices, very -- Apple is a great company, does a fine job. But their model says high margin, high quality, high price. That's kind of how they come to market. We say we want big market share. But with big market share, you take a lower price."
Lastly, AppleInsider added on Ballmer's thoughts about Microsoft's 'Laptop Hunters' advertisement range, saying, "And are the ads working? In an independent survey, we asked 18- to 24-year-olds—or they were asked, 'Who offers the best value, Apple or Microsoft?' You can kind of see Apple was comfortably ahead despite the fact they — well, despite whatever the facts are. Our ads started in April of '09. You can see kind of what the perception changes have been so far."
Whilst he was at the 2009 Financial Analyst Meeting, Ballmer said, "Share versus Apple, you know, we think we may have ticked up a little tick, but when you get right down to it, it's a rounding error. Apple's share change, plus or minus from ours, they took a little share a couple quarters, we took share back a couple quarters." He then added, "Apple's share globally cost us nothing. Now, hopefully, we will take share back from Apple, but you know, Apple still only sells about 10 million PCs, so it is a limited opportunity." Ballmer noticed that, in the crowd of the meeting, there was a large proportion of Apple computers. He noted, "I can see the Apple logos versus the PC logos. So we have more work to do, more work to do. Our share is lower in this audience than the average audience. But don't hide it. I've already counted them. I have been doing that since we started talking."
He did note that Apple is known for their higher quality machines that PCs usually are, saying, "At least when Apple attacks us, the primary attack that comes from Apple is, 'Hey, at the end of the day, we have the coolest hardware.' When you see the hardware, the PC designs that will come out this Christmas with Windows 7, I think that conventional wisdom can begin to really change. There is some really amazing, amazing work. So it is possible to get great hardware innovation, even when hardware and software comes from separate companies."
Ballmer describes Windows as falling in between OS X and Linux to get what consumers want; a product that's not too cheap, and not too expensive. About Apple, in this regard, he said, "We do not, say, like Apple, believe in low volume, very high prices, very -- Apple is a great company, does a fine job. But their model says high margin, high quality, high price. That's kind of how they come to market. We say we want big market share. But with big market share, you take a lower price."
Lastly, AppleInsider added on Ballmer's thoughts about Microsoft's 'Laptop Hunters' advertisement range, saying, "And are the ads working? In an independent survey, we asked 18- to 24-year-olds—or they were asked, 'Who offers the best value, Apple or Microsoft?' You can kind of see Apple was comfortably ahead despite the fact they — well, despite whatever the facts are. Our ads started in April of '09. You can see kind of what the perception changes have been so far."
1 billion Firefox downloads served
Mozilla has celebrated a milestone from its great hit Mozilla Firefox, reaching 1 billion downloads. The open source browser released its first version in 2004 with nearly 3 million people already using it before it was able to achieve version 1.0.
Firefox has been through dozens of official releases and countless number of nightly builds, a compile of the latest builds, sometimes unstable at night. The browser has seen tremendous success over the last 3 years, bringing in over 30% market share, receiving dozens of awards from IT specialists and software review web sites, and even setting a Guinness World Record for the most number of downloads in a 24 hour period of 8,000,000 downloads.
Firefox leads the way in the open source community with its ability to customize the interface, add-ons, supported plug-ins, and many other extensions that improve the users surfing experience. Of course the number of current Firefox users is much smaller than that of Internet Explorer; the browser has continued to show growth over the course of the last year.
Currently Firefox 3.5 is the new release from Mozilla, showing off its powerful speed with better memory management, improved security and reliability over previous builds. The number of downloads reflects that of Mozilla's statistics over the course of the last couple of years and not that of actual users.
Firefox has been through dozens of official releases and countless number of nightly builds, a compile of the latest builds, sometimes unstable at night. The browser has seen tremendous success over the last 3 years, bringing in over 30% market share, receiving dozens of awards from IT specialists and software review web sites, and even setting a Guinness World Record for the most number of downloads in a 24 hour period of 8,000,000 downloads.
Firefox leads the way in the open source community with its ability to customize the interface, add-ons, supported plug-ins, and many other extensions that improve the users surfing experience. Of course the number of current Firefox users is much smaller than that of Internet Explorer; the browser has continued to show growth over the course of the last year.
Currently Firefox 3.5 is the new release from Mozilla, showing off its powerful speed with better memory management, improved security and reliability over previous builds. The number of downloads reflects that of Mozilla's statistics over the course of the last couple of years and not that of actual users.
Apple releases iPhone firmware 3.0.1, fixes SMS flaw
Apple has responded to the security alert reported yesterday about the iPhone being vulnerable by SMS, where a hacker could lock up your iPhone, rending it useless, or even take control over it remotely.
Apple has released a patch for the SMS vulnerability, available immediately on iTunes. The firmware update, labeled as 3.0.1, contains only an update for the SMS attack. In the description of the update on Apple.com describes the update as:
A memory corruption issue exists in the decoding of SMS messages. Receiving a maliciously crafted SMS message may lead to an unexpected service interruption or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved error handling. Credit to Charlie Miller of Independent Security Evaluators, and Collin Mulliner of Fraunhofer SIT for reporting this issue.
The update is available for all iPhone users, including first generation, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.
Apple has released a patch for the SMS vulnerability, available immediately on iTunes. The firmware update, labeled as 3.0.1, contains only an update for the SMS attack. In the description of the update on Apple.com describes the update as:
A memory corruption issue exists in the decoding of SMS messages. Receiving a maliciously crafted SMS message may lead to an unexpected service interruption or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved error handling. Credit to Charlie Miller of Independent Security Evaluators, and Collin Mulliner of Fraunhofer SIT for reporting this issue.
The update is available for all iPhone users, including first generation, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.
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