The Short Names

This week Skype released two updates, one for Windows Mobile and another for the iPhone. With the new Windows version, the application comes out of beta and includes two new features: SMS and file transfer. But it was Skype’s iPhone app that got all the attention on the company’s blog today for not adding push notifications, which would allow users to know when they are receiving an SMS or call when not in the application.

The omission was not overlooked by consumers, who were quick to show their frustration. “Caught the news about the new release, my first thought? ‘Yay, push notifications for Skype!’ How could you guys not have anticipated that people would want and expect this feature more than anything else?,” one customer wrote. Another said: “Where are the Push Notifications? 3.0 is here. I’m frustrated that you guys aren’t ready for it.” A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on future plans because eBay (NSDQ: EBAY), which owns Skype, is currently in its quiet period.

In April, when Skype launched the iPhone app, it became the No. 1 most downloaded application and instantly garnered criticism from the carriers. They worried that the service would eat into their already declining voice revenues. In the U.S., AT&T (NYSE: T) restricted its use over Wi-Fi while in Germany, the gadget’s exclusive carrier partner banned it out right.

Instead of push notifications, the new version will support more than a dozen new languages, voicemail and SMS. It’s possible Skype didn’t have the time to thoroughly test push and wanted to get the applications into more hands before rolling it out. But there’s also a small chance that Skype may be trying to play nice with the carriers. A partnership may be uncharacteristic of Skype, but would be crucial it wanted to move beyond offering services over Wi-Fi (or not at all in some countries). Since debuting at No. 1, the app has fallen to the 39th most popular download on the App Store.

Rupert Murdoch has already said News Corp (NYSE: NWS) intends to charge “handsomely” for its WSJ iPhone and Blackberry apps eventually. How much and when? Still unclear but WSJ.com is surveying iPhone users about their willingness to pay for what is now a completely free product. The idea seems to be similar to the one I raised when the iPhone version launched in April: a free “lite” app for all plus a premium full-access app.

The quick survey asks flat out: “If full access to Mobile Reader required a paid subscription, how likely would you be to subscribe?” Answers ranger from “definitely yes” to “definitely no” with some middle ground. The survey also looks at habits such as how often do you read the print edition, but it doesn’t ask if including the iPhone app with my print subscription would make me more likely to keep the print edition. Nothing about price points, either, at least in the version I saw. (Respondents can qualify for a $250 Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) raffle, which I didn’t enter.)

Gordon McLeod, president of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, told me there is no timing for any mobile changes and declined to share survey results: “To be honest, we solicit feedback from users all the time but have a policy of never sharing [results] publicly.”

Murdoch said during the May 6 earnings call that the app had been downloaded 360,000 times in the first three weeks; the number hasn’t been updated since then.

Tricia adds: With the latest iPhone software update, Apple started offering a couple new billing options that likely appeal to especially to publishers. Previously, companies only had the option to charge once for an application, but now they can require subscriptions. They can also offer the app for a flat-rate, such as 99 cents, and then charge more for additional content within the app. In that scenario, the app can’t be free to start out with. To be sure, increasingly, mobile is being looked at as a way to monetize content that’s given away on the web since the platform has had a heritage of charging for content in the past.

Julius Genachowski started work as the head of the Federal Communications Commission this week and quickly named his key staff. Appointments include litigator and former prosecutor Ed Lazarus as chief of staff, and, from the digital side, Sherrese Smith, most recently VP and general counsel of Washington Post (NYSE: WPO) Digital, as legal advisor and CBS Mobile’s Daniel Ornstein as special assistant.

Lazarus joins the FCC from Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, where he was co-head of the global litigation practice. He was an assistant U.S.prosecutor and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun.

—Colin Crowell, senior counselor: The veteran staffer for U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, has a broad role that includes particular responsibility for communications, legislative, intergovernmental affairs, and public liaison. Markey chaired the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet and also was ranking minority member when Crowell worked for him.

—Bruce Liang Gottlieb, chief counsel and senior legal advisor:  Gottleib was legal advisor for Commisioner Michael Copps, who was acting FCC chairman between the departure of Kevin Martin on Inauguration Day and now.(His listed credentials include writing for Slate.)

—Priya Aiyar, legal advisor: Aiyar, who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, will focus on wireline competition and international issues. 

—Sherrese Smith, legal advisor: Smith, formerly with Washington Post Digital has a strong background in intellectual property law and will focus on media, consumer and enforcement issues. 

—Daniel Ornstein, special assistant to the chairman: Before Ornstein was at CBS (NYSE: CBS), he was at start-up Click.TV, bought by Cisco (NSDQ: CSCO) in 2007. What he’ll be doing at the FCC is unclear.

—Mary Beth Richards, special counsel for FCC Reform: FCC vet Richards will head a comprehensive program to provide openness and transparency at the agency. 

It will now be cheaper to make cellphone calls, send a text message or surf the web when traveling in Europe. The new rates, which the European Parliament formally adopted in March after months of debate, will go into effect tomorrow, July 1.

Reuters said it will now be up to 60 percent cheaper to send mobile text messages, or to surf the Web via a laptop. Before it cost about 28 euros cents ($0.37) on average to send a text message. Now operators will be capped at 11 euro cents ($0.15). “The roaming rip-off is now coming to an end,” EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said in a statement.

Roaming calls: A call will be capped at 43 euro cents per minute vs. 46 cents previously, and at 19 cents, down from 22 cents, when receiving calls abroad. Another round of price cuts will come in July 2010 and 2011.

Downloading data: It will now cost a maximum of 1 euro per megabyte “at the wholesale level” compared with about 1.68 euros today.

»  The rise of both smartphones and social networking could give mobile advertising a much needed boost. [Reuters]

»  In an ironic twist, an iPhone magazine may be coming to a newsstand near you. [MIN Online]

»  While it is still apparently putting the finishing touches on its mobile Firefox browser, Mozilla has released a new iteration of its Fennec browser for Nokia Maemo and Windows Mobile devices. [InformationWeek]

»  Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is getting the BlackBerry Tour in stores July 12. [Mobile Crunch]

»  A new app is being rolled out onto Nokia (NYSE: NOK) E75 phones that will allow that handset to sync with Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) Messenger and Ovi.  [Engadget Mobile]