Skpye In Your Hand(held)

I'll have to admit I am a sucker for VOIP. Having an always-on personality, many things that would seem bizarre to most excite me. This also creates lots of opportunities for the creative application of technology.

For anyone that doesn't use Skype, it is an Internet-enabled phone service much like Vonage, Packet 8, and the like. The main difference is that out of the box, Skype does not route through traditional phone lines. Instead, both parties install the software and then talk to their heart's content - FOR FREE.

That alone would not be very impressive. Skype also adds in a simple contact manager / IM client that lets you see who's online, place calls, and conference people in as you desire. That's a nice trick. Another great trick is the Skype Out feature. With Skype Out, you can use your Internet-enabled computer to make calls to regular phone numbers, for a relatively small per minute charge.

Skype has now released their newest feature, a Pocket PC version of their application. The marvel of this is that now, with a handheld and WiFi, your PDA has become your cell phone, at least in part.

Truth be told, this is a different form of convergence. We've grown accustomed to the talk of the consolidation of devices and roles. In general, most of that talk focuses on how our cameras will eat our MP3 players will eat our cell phones. Products like Skype, and VOIP technology as a whole, are really demonstrating how software will contribute to that unification.