Microsoft's Plans For Skype: Boosting Windows Phone, Messaging, and Facebook

So now that Microsoft's $8.5 billion (in cold hard cash) purchase of Skype is official, what exactly does it mean for Skype's 170 million active users and Microsoft at large? Even if Microsoft overpaid -- this is the company's biggest purchase ever -- many are noting that the purchase may be a solid strategic movie to keep Skype away from competitors like Google and Cisco.

Heavy Microsoft Integration
Skype's blog post this morning suggests that Microsoft will be taking full advantage of the purchase. Expect to see Skype support for the full range of Microsoft products, ranging from Xbox, Xbox Live and Kinect to Windows Phone, Lync and Outlook. As Skype CEO Tony Bates said earlier, Microsoft gives Skype the ability to "reach everybody."

Continued Support For Current Apps
Using Skype on your Mac, Android device or webcam? Hopefully you'll be able to continue without any worry or service interruptions, as Microsoft's new Microsoft Skype Division will continue supporting non-Microsoft clients.

New Growth
While Skype has partnered with TV and webcam manufacturers to grow its service beyond desktop and mobile apps, Microsoft's hardware, software and industry connections offer the potential for growth on mobile, desktop, gaming systems and more. The auto space wouldn't be a surprise either; Microsoft has been pushing its Ford SYNC media system for years.

Coming To Facebook?
TechCrunch and GigaOm argue that it's a big win for Facebook. With Microsoft already an investor, Facebook may be able to use Skype's technology to improve Facebook Chat without the prohibitive costs of building the peer-to-peer infrastructure. Plus, Om Malik notes, Facebook could use its Credits virtual currency to drive the SkypeOut service, which lets users call cell phones and landline phones.

Help Windows Phone
Microsoft's Windows Phone platform has been struggling in the crowded smartphone operating system marketplace, and Skype gives the company a viable video and voice chat competitor to Google's cross-platform Voice app and Apple's FaceTime.

Comments

[DealByEthan]

10:48 AM on 05/13/2011

Very interesting... wonder if this means Skype will be available on Nokia phones as standard in the near future :)

[theveggiedude]

12:59 PM on 05/11/2011

I dunno what they will do, but I can tell you what they need to do beyond incorporating it into MS products. Get rid of the Skype number charge and monthly subscription. Google Voice (GV) gives you a number for free! Implement some toll-free 800 numbers (for small businesses) and you'll be ahead of the game against GV.

[RunnerBird]

08:37 AM on 05/11/2011

this is what's going to happen to skype. ms will continue to support non-windows platforms for a couple of years and then we'll start to see that dwindling to very little to none at all. Skype is dead.

[Dana Eden]

05:04 AM on 05/11/2011

Interesting times that we live in.

[bankrupcyus]

02:31 AM on 05/11/2011

After reading this this nice blog I would like to know more about using skype. Is it simple to use?

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[taylor alan]

03:18 AM on 05/11/2011

Yes,its very easy to use.I am using it since last two year and it provides many facilities like video calling,group calling,paid internet calling and many more.With this collaboration,it will be more advance and will available in all window phones.
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[navalvet]

08:55 PM on 05/10/2011

Am I going to have to learn how to use iChat? Is there a Linux application for video conversations?

[EricBishop]

11:31 PM on 05/10/2011

Yes. Google Talk and...well...Skype.

[knightoftheroundtable]

08:45 PM on 05/10/2011

Another one bites the dust, thanks to MS.

[sculptor]

01:43 PM on 05/11/2011

At least they paid for this company instead of simply driving it out of business with unfair practices (such as tweaking their interfaces to interfere with needed features) as they've done in the past to countless competitors both real and perceived.

[Phlan]

08:09 PM on 05/10/2011

I tried the MS Skype Beta already. Gave Microsoft feedback.
I told them that the annoying telephone that pops up every time I start Skype is annoying.
It kept butting in my phone conversation several minutes into our conversation saying:
"It looks like you're trying to make a phone call, would you like some help?"

[fairwayhill]

06:42 PM on 05/10/2011

I've beem using skype for a long time. I do not trust M$, so I will change to another alternative.

[Phlan]

08:12 PM on 05/10/2011

Considering Xbox Kinect, Office Communicator, Windows Phone.... This is going to be cool. IT was the smartest thing they did in a long time. Rather than start from scratch, Microsoft will be able to tie together their most successful products using Skype. Gonna be cool actually.

[x4r1]

09:15 AM on 05/11/2011

And you trust the mom and pop shop that built your laptop and the OS it runs out of straws and glue? Give me a break.

[DRaymond]

04:12 PM on 05/10/2011

I think if you were to try to put it into a nutshell if they don't screw it up it could be:

A global cloud-based PBX in which any computing device (console, tablet, computer, phone) you are using can be your phone.

http://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/05/how-to-make-skype-worth-8-5-billion-dollars/

[theveggiedude]

01:01 PM on 05/11/2011

If MS wanted a global cloud-based PBX, they would have bought RingCentral.

[DRaymond]

04:19 PM on 05/11/2011

Except they did not need to buy the technology, they already have the technology.  They needed to buy the brand and the subscriber base.

[molomolo]

04:02 PM on 05/10/2011

Well, there goes Skype.

[sfsoma]

03:43 PM on 05/10/2011

Mess it up real bad, that's what

[markhas2]

03:29 PM on 05/10/2011

you'll need to relearn CTRL+ALT+DELETE all over again.

[x4r1]

09:16 AM on 05/11/2011

hahah a 90's joke. Very good.

[Rubyfoo]

03:28 PM on 05/10/2011

Aside from Windows and Office, Microsoft is best known as the graveyard of once-promising technologies. Two-trick pony?

[markhas2]

03:23 PM on 05/10/2011

raise the costs and therefore the price.