Windows maker, Microsoft, balked at the idea that its updates caused the outage. “Windows Update is a routine service Microsoft provides to its users to receive software updates, including last Tuesday’s security updates, which were not unique.” Indeed, an analysis of recent monthly updates showed that there is nothing different in this event as compared to similar incidents in the past.

Aron Rosenberg, chief technology officer of VoIP company SightSpeed, deemed Skype’s clarification as an excuse. He noted that Windows updates are default downloaded and installed at 3 am, arguing that “at the very least, then, systems would have rebooted time zone by time zone, not all at once.” Likewise, the security fixes are normally released on the second Tuesday of each month since October 2003. His question: why now?

Rosenberg, however, conceded that the minority system of Skype’s networks suffer from infrastructure vulnerabilities. When “supernodes” — or computers with surplus bandwidth and processor cycles — go offline, the service could collapse.
Via [computerworld.com]

Language schools in China have also turned to Skype to shore up their business. Beijing-based eChineseLearning, which was founded last year, provides 50-minute daily lessons for a subscription fee of $100 per month. The online sessions are handled by teachers from Beijing Language and Culture University and other schools who are serving eChineseLearning on a part-time basis. In addition to Skype, the tutors use the voice chat features of Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. Michael Zhong, a sales executive for the school, said, at present, eChineseLearning’s students number about a hundred, most of them hailing from the U.S.
Via [pcworld.com]

Mark Osborne, chief information security officer at carrier Interoute, said Skype can be used to spread viruses and be exploited by keyword loggers in malware. Antivirus company F-Secure warned Skype users to be careful of chat messages telling them to click a link, which would cause downloading of the Warezov worm.

Vishing is another risk. The March 2007 Symantec Internet Security Report showed a survey of information stolen through identity theft, including Skype passwords available from “underground economy” servers. Passwords go for $12 each, while the price of stolen credit card details with card verification values ranges from $1 to $6. A full identity information including US bank account, credit card, date of birth and government issued identification number is sold for $14 to $18.
Via [silicon.com]

Huang charges $20 per hour of lesson, which her students pay via Paypal. Her lessons are customized — Huang asks her students what they want to learn next and she sends them her lesson plan a day ahead of the tutorial session. Skype also allows her to examine the spelling of words and draw characters through a digital whiteboard. Following a lesson, Huang “Skypes” an MP3 recording of the material covered during the class.

Because her work relies greatly on technology, Huang said her teaching business was paralyzed following a powerful earthquake in Taiwan last December. That disaster immobilized undersea Internet cables, thus disabling services in Southeast Asia.

Eric Atherton of England’s Oxfordshire county, one of Huang students, cited the difficulty of finding a local private Mandarin tutor and the technology for taking up Chinese lessons online. “Although you don’t have someone in the room with you, face to face, you are actually talking to someone in China right now, that is the compensation.”
Via [taipeitimes.com]

On its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the Panasonic handset boasts up to 55 hours of standby time and 4.5 hours of talk time. Users can also connect the phone to a PC via an optional USB connection.
Via [news.digitaltrends.com]

When switched on, Dualphone 3088 initially asks a series of setup questions to ensure proper configuration with a land line in the country where the user is located. Skype connection is established via registering existing Skype account details, i.e., Skype username and password. The phone allows free calls to Skype “buddies” and calls to any phone so long as the user has SkypeOut credits.
Via [theinquirer.net]

Both parties can call for free if they have instant messaging applications such as MSN Messenger downloaded on their computers, plus a headset with microphone. Jajah.com, meanwhile, allows anyone from North America, Australasia and Europe to make calls using normal phones so long as both parties have subscribed to the hybrid “web-activated” service. One of the users just needs to type both phone numbers onto the web page and this will let the parties talk for free. In addition, by loading £10 into their account every few months, users of VoIP Stunt and VoIP Cheap can make web-to-phone calls to most of Europe, North America, Australasia and southeast Asia for free.
Via [business.timesonline.co.uk]

Although it is possible to use Skype for application-to-application messaging, Sauer said Skype has not yet been used as a way for hackers to remotely control networks of compromised computers or botnets. He believes Skype, with the existing authorization model, has adequate controls to avert autospreading.

For companies fearing Skype could be a security threat by virtue of its ability to bypass corporate firewalls, Sauer said they can refer to the most recent version of the network administrator guide and Skype 3.0, which provide mechanisms for IT administrator to manage their networks as they see fit.
Via [zdnetasia.com]

At present, Skype’s version for mobile phones can work on a Nokia handset that operates on 3′s third generation wireless broadband network. The U.K. wireless operator offers its subscribers unlimited Skype calls, Internet access, Podcasts and Windows Live Messenger for a monthly fee of £5 ($9.69). Compatible Wi-Fi phones can also host Skype but these handsets cannot perform calls through a cellphone network.
Via [redherring.com]