Skype On iOS Has A Big Open Door, Opens Your Address Book To The Net!

Skype On iOS Has A Big Open Door http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Security firm Superevr has revealed that Skype for iOS, like Skype for iPhone has a big hole that lets scrupulous people access one's data, like Address book. The Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability exists in the "Chat Message" window in Skype 3.0.1 and earlier versions for iPhone and iPod Touch devices.
The cuprit of the open door seems to be Skype's lack of encoding of in coming messages user name and the URI scheme set to "file://" instead of "about:blank" or similar. Even with Apple's protective measures in place, it is harder to tap into other files on the system but common and open files (to applications) like address book are vulnerable.

File system access is partially mitigated by the iOS Application sandbox that Apple has implemented, preventing an attacker from accessing certain sensitive files. However, every iOS application has access to the users AddressBook, and Skype is no exception. I created a proof of concept injection and attack that shows that a users AddressBook can indeed be stolen from an iPhone or iPod touch with this vulnerability.

Superevr

Skype For iPhone Update Brings Video Over 3G To iPhone

#Skype brings 3G #videocalling to the iPhone http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
If you were happy with Apple's facetime on the iPhone but wished it was there over the 3G network, you are in for a treat with the newly updated Skype for iPhone client.
The free iPhone app from skype allows you to make video calls even when you are away from a WIFi network, which Apple's facetime app can't do. Among other things the Skype for iPhone 3.0 brings in;

• Make Skype to Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G
• Call Skype desktop users (Mac OS X or Windows, video phones like Asus) and other iPhone users.
• Two-way video calls supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen.
• Receive only video supported on iPad and iPod touch 3rd gen, with no camera.
• Make video calls in portrait and landscape.
• Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.

The real problem seem to be the bandwidth consumption. According to Washington Post's Pegoraro who tested the app on an iPhone 4, the app consumes about 3.2 MB a minute. This will eat up you 200MB (AT&T entry level data plan cap) in about an hour. The video quality seem to be at question too. So before jumping into video calling and showing you and your surroundings to your friends, take all these fact in to consideration.
But the audio seem to be of pretty good quality and so is the connection to desktops and other devices from Apple.
Perhaps Skype is riding on the net neutrality in releasing the Skype for iPhone with 3G video calling. The video calling feature for skype for Android is in the works.
Happy video calling during the holidays and beyond, just watch your bandwidth. Looks like it is infectious, watch the video!
 
Skype via Voices (Washington Post)

Skype 3.0 for WinMo Phones

Skype 3.0 for Windows® Phones
I have been a reluctant Skype user various reasons before. Even uninstalling Skype became one of the most sought after post(s) on this blog. That was until the mobile versions of the applications arrived. I installed Skype for iPhone and I am very satisfied with the application. (I have not tried the Skype for Blackberry yet, as my Blackberry is still a real business phone which is steadly getting competition from my iPhone 3G). If not for occasional drop of calls, which I have not traced down to what, I may even would have said that I fell in love with Skype. For the first time, I even purchased Skype Credit and have made very clear and successful calls from Japan to USA, both free Skyp to Skype and paid Skype to Landlines.
So I am going to try the Skype 3.0 for Windows® Phones without any hesitation and I have been looking to write an article Skype on iPhone but I think now I can include Skype for Windows mobile as well.

The new beta of Skype 3.0 for Windows mobile brings in;
Send Files via Skype (Free to send spreadsheets, photos, music and other files Skype-to-Skype.)
Send SMS (TXT) messages (Great value texts to mobiles abroad, and a great way to avoid roaming charges abroad if you text on Skype from a WiFi zone.)
In addition to regular Skype features;

• Free Skype-to-Skype calls.
• Free instant messaging.
• Call phones and mobiles with Skype Credit or a subscription.

Skype press release

Tags: skype, Mobile Skype, skype for iPhone, Skype for windows mobile, Skype 3.0 for WinMo Phones, Skype 3.0 for Windows® Phones

Free Press advocacy group asks FCC To Open 3G Networks For Applications Like Skype For iPhone.

wireless terms of service
Sighting AT&T's senior executives suggestion that device manufactures (read Apple) not allowing Skype -- a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application that competes with AT&T, over it's 3G network, Free Press Advocacy Group has requested FCC to look into the practices of Apple and AT&T. Net Neutrality should be applied to every medium of internet connectivity, not what carriers and vendors choose.

The new Skype for iPhone, which has been downloaded more than a million times, works only on Wi-Fi, not the cellular or 3G network.
AT&T spokesperson Jim Cicconi, has stated that, "We absolutely expect our vendors" — Apple, in this case — "not to facilitate the services of our competitors, Skype is a competitor, just like Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile," "Skype has no obligation to market AT&T services. Why should the reverse be true?"
But it is not skype, but consumers that hand over heafty fees for th services and phones. I think they have rights and that is what the free press advocacy group is questioning about.
The group also suggests that AT&T's recent change to its wireless terms of service to prohibit "customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device" which AT&T hastily changed again, is a pre-emptive strike against innovative mobile video technologies.
"Wireless broadband networks cannot become a safe haven for discrimination," said Chris Riley, policy counsel of Free Press. "The Internet in your pocket should be just as free and open as the Internet in your home. The FCC must make it crystal clear that a closed Internet will not be tolerated on any platform."
You can find the letter to FCC here: http://www.freepress.net/files/Wireless_IPS_letter.pdf
The Free press press release is here.
Yes Open up AT&T!

Tags: ATT, skype for iPhone, Apple, Free Press

Skype on the iPhone Tested In Real Life.

Skype For iPhone review
J & K of JKontherun have tested the Skype for iPhone and the results are wonderful and it is great that James recorded the conversation on video which he posted. Follow the link below and you will be awed like I did when I used Skype for iPhone for the first time. May be I should do the same when Skype for Blackberry comes out!
Skype on the iPhone tested on video

Tags: Mobile Skype, skype for Blackberry, skype for iPhone, jkontherun

Skype For Blackberry Beta, In May!

Skype For Blackberry
Skype is enjoying the success of Skype for iPhone and pitfalls of "not all the carriers are the same" or even the same carrier in different countries, phenomenon with countries like Germany and Canada.
I like the skype for iPhone and the performance. Within a good WIFi signal areas, the product performs well. I need to get my AT&T wireless access sorted out at AT&T hotspots.
The Skype for Blackberry should not be much different and I will be trying it out with my office Blackberry device(s) (BlackBerry® Bold™ and BlackBerry® Curve™ )as I keep a bunch of them as I upgraded devices.
The Skype for Blackberry beta also known as thin or lite version of Skype for Smartphones will have core Skype capabilities like;

• Make Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
• Send/receive instant messages to/from individuals or groups
• Make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones
• Receive calls to your online number on Skype
• See when your Skype contacts are online/available to chat

"With Skype on BlackBerry smartphones, we are making Skype available in the briefcases and purses of BlackBerry users around the world," said Scott Durchslag, COO of Skype. "We have heard loud and clear that our users want Skype on whichever smartphone they choose to use. This fulfills our promise of making Skype available on the major smartphones so consumers and mobile professionals can connect to Skype whenever, wherever and however they choose."

The lite version of Skype will be available to BlackBerry users worldwide. The ability to make calls will be available in 10 countries: Australia, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the United States and the UK. English will be supported first, with additional languages to follow.

The beta of the lite version of Skype will be available as a free download to BlackBerry smartphone users beginning in May from www.skype.com/m using their BlackBerry® Browser.
Source, Skype

Tags: BlackBerry® Bold™, BlackBerry® Curve™, skype for iPhone, skype for Blackberry, mobile skype

Skype For iPhone Coming March 31 2009

Skype on iPhone
Macworld is reporting that Skype for iPhone App will be available to download from iTunes App Store from Tomorrow (March 31 2009). The iPhone Skype App will be free to download.
Many websites earlier reported that the app was already released.
The Skype for iPhone will allow users of iPhone and iPod make calls to other iPhone users for free and for users with paid accounts, to make calls to landlines.
Scott Durchslag, Skype’s Chief Operating Officer, mentioned that the iPhone app is not different from the desktop version as far as the capabilities and functions go. In addition to making calls to land lines and mobile phones worldwide, users will be able to send IM, receive calls to a personal online number on Skype; and see when your Skype contacts are online.
Skype stand to gain a few million users now, I like to see the subscription spike. It is also possible that most users will already be Skype Users.
Macworld

Tags: skype for iPhone