Skype Announces Partners

HANOVER, Germany -- At CeBIT 2004, Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile) launches the Gigaset M34 USB PC Adapter – the world’s first consumer Internet telephony and messaging solution for cordless phone products. Developed in partnership with Skype Technologies S.A., the global peer-to-peer telephony company, this product merges data and voice communications technology in a simple and intuitive platform, expanding the frontier for consumer choice and flexibility in communications.

This new telephony product allows consumers to easily utilize and manage all of their traditional Internet applications such as instant messaging, chat, buddy lists, Internet radio and emails, conveniently from their Gigaset handset, wherever they are in the home.

Gigaset M34 USB PC Adapter offers an open interface to enable third party solution providers to integrate cordless phones into their applications for VoIP, messaging and home control. To encourage developers Siemens provides a free Software Development Kit (SDK), Internet-based support, as well as 24 hours hotline via the Siemens mobile developer portal: http://communication-market.siemens.de.The portal contains detailed information about the interface, the SDK and the hardware and tool environment.

“Siemens strengthens its global competitiveness with an innovative VoIP solution that is focussed on its existing competencies as a market leader in cordless voice,” said Clemens Joos, President of the Cordless Products Divison of Siemens mobile. “We launch the Siemens Gigaset Internet telephony solution, so that consumers benefit from cheaper or even free-of-charge Internet telephony and messaging services. Both, dial-up and broadband Internet users now have this opportunity. We are delighted to have succeeded on this challenge together with Skype. I believe this pioneering product demonstrates our commitment to innovation and our leadership in this field.”

In a separate release:

Plantronics, Inc., the world leader in communications headsets, and Skype Technologies S.A., the global P2P (peer-to-peer) telephony company, today announced a worldwide strategic partnership to provide voice communications solutions for users of Skype’s online telephony services. The companies signed a strategic agreement detailing their shared vision for the advancement of modern telephony solutions. As part of the agreement, Plantronics will be the globally preferred headset provider for Skype, and in the future, a range of Plantronics headsets will be made available bundled with a free trial of Skype's premium services.

“Plantronics’ global presence and extensive suite of headsets for every market make them a strong partner,” said Niklas Zennström, Skype’s CEO and Co-Founder. “Our software expertise and Plantronics’ audio communications heritage are a powerful combination, enabling users to have superior audio quality while using Skype services. Together we are well-positioned to take advantage of broadband proliferation to deliver free, high-quality Internet telephony to a rapidly expanding worldwide market.”

Skype