Skype for Windows Phone will feel like "part of the phone", has deeper access to OS

We've been eagerly waiting to hear more about Skype's bright future as a product of Microsoft after being acquired for $8.5 billion earlier this year, but news has been few and far between. However with the Skype buyout to be completed by October, we were bound to start hearing more and that we have. Skype's vice president and general manager of products and marketing, Neil Stevens, had a discussion with Forbes and revealed quite a bit about their plans for Windows Phone.

Stevens confirmed that the forthcoming Skype app for Windows Phone will be a bit more special than other platforms, teasing that they plan "to create an app that doesn’t feel like app but, rather, part of the phone". He also went on to reveal that the app will have "greater access to deeper levels of the OS". It sounds like the Skype app will remain just that and may not even ship as part of the final build of Mango. Some may be disappointed to hear that, but the Skype buyout hasn't been completed yet and Stevens does go on to say "People don’t want to start an app when they’re making a call," so we think he understands the frustration.

How do you feel about Skype most likely remaining separate in Mango? Does it even matter since Skype will have "greater access" to the OS, or do you think a native experience would still be better?

Via: LiveSide.net
Source: Forbes

Microsoft to complete Skype buyout by October

We haven't heard much lately about Microsoft's intentions to buyout popular VoIP service Skype for a massive $8.5 billion. That's now changed, with AFP reporting that Microsoft is close to completing the deal with many expecting its completion by October. That's according to current Skype CEO, Tony Bates, who also mentions that the last remaining obstacle facing the deal's closure are European regulators, who have had a rough history with Microsoft before. He also briefly discussed just how Microsoft plans to approach Skype as its own division and how you can expect the name to stick around:

Bates said Skype would constitute its own division at Microsoft, a move that he called "unprecedented" for an acquisition by the US software giant.

"I'm a peer president to the other five presidents that run the businesses," he said, reporting to Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.

Bates said he does not expect any re-branding of Skype once it is owned by Microsoft.

Microsoft is getting "one of the greatest brands in the consumer Internet space," he said. "It is a verb. People talk about it in that way. They say Skype me.

"So, you can expect no change," he continued. "You can expect strong commitment to the brand."

Those statements should be a sigh of relief to anyone worried Microsoft would tamper with the service so many millions of people use around the world. We're eagerly looking forward to any news about possible Skype integration in Mango, but since the original rumor news has been dead silent and it may be a stretch to think Microsoft could complete it so quickly. Still, thanks to Mango's new socket APIs, we know that a standalone app for Skype is still on its way so something is better than nothing!

Via: WinRumors
Source: AFP

Microsoft's Acquisition of Skype Cleared by FTC, One Step Closer to Calling Your Friend's Gamertag

You probably haven't heard but this little company called Microsoft is seeking to purchase a small VoIP service called Skype for some money. Nothing really monumental or anything, but at least Microsoft's hard working team can relax a bit now. According to Reuters, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cleared the company's purchase of Skype. In case you're unfamiliar with how corporate America works, it was extremely important for a company as big as Microsoft to be cleared by the FTC in order to buy Skype, another big company. It means that the government has looked into situations of buying monopoly and competitive landscape and has determined that Microsoft purchasing Skype would not lead to any kind of unfair advantage in the market. This is great news and hopefully once the remaining steps are finalize Microsoft will absorb Skype and we'll be closer to having ourselves a Skype phone.

Via: ZDNet
Source: Reuters

Qik Video Streaming Service Part of Microsoft-Skype Deal

This news might get some Android fans steamed up: apparently the popular mobile video streaming company Qik was also a part of Microsoft's acquisition of Skype. Qik was actually bought by Skype earlier this year for a cool $100 million, but it was unknown if the company was tagging along with its new owners on their trip to Redmond as it was never mentioned during the press event. Now we now for sure, thanks to GeekWire, that Qik is getting bundled in with Skype when Microsoft finalizes the purchase later this year. This will definitely add fuel to the rumored fires of Skype becoming Windows Phone's real FaceTime and Google Chat competitor. We'd love to see it happen!

Source: GeekWire

More Mango Leaks: Visual Voicemail and Skype Integration

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Word comes via @WindowsPhone8 that we can expect even more features than we've already seen leaked when Mango launches later this year. First up is news about the inevitable Skype integration, suggesting we could see seamless switching between instant messaging and texting with your Windows Phone contacts. The next teased feature was given much less detail but it's definitely one that's highly requested: visual voicemail! Currently Windows Phone users are stuck with their carrier's old and lame automated phone number system but visual voicemail would certainly improve that and be a very cool feature to see included. We think it's safe to say that May 24th can't come soon enough.

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Source: @WindowsPhone8 [Skype] [Visual Voicemail]

More on Skype's Future, Plus: Is Skype Microsoft's 'FaceTime' Slayer?

Since this morning, a few details about Microsoft's plans for the recently-acquired VoIP service Skype have been slowly making the rounds. Earlier today, This Is My Next's Paul Miller managed to corral a few extra nuggets of info from the Q&A session with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Skype CEO Tony Bates after the press conference. Here are the highlights and feel free to read more at the site:

• Product roadmap is pending regulatory approval, so we’ll probably see the synergies ramp up later rather than sooner (end of the calendar year is the planned date for everything to be final).
• Steve [Ballmer]: ”It’s pretty obvious today that not everyone is doing video participation from their phone. That’s an opportunity where lots of things can done, with Microsoft and their phone partners.”
• Steve and Tony were a little vague on the Android support front. Skype is seen as a way “to differentiate the communications experience” for carriers. They plan to continue some of the partnerships that already exist, but whether Windows Phone will have exclusive access to certain Skype functionality remains to be seen.

From all of that info, WMPoweruser has developed an interesting (and very plausible) theory: Microsoft could be planning to launch Skype as its native video call client for Windows Phone. Apple's FaceTime could be getting a nice slap in the, uh, face if Microsoft manages to pull this off considering the platform-independent nature of the service and how much more widely used Skype is here in the United States. Whatever they're planning, the Skype acquisition is sending ripples through the tech industry for a reason and that's because Microsoft has just roared back into relevance.

Via: This is my next..., WMPoweruser

Confirmed: Microsoft Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion (Update: Official)

Earlier today The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft is planning to announce their purchase of Skype, one of the largest VoIP services worldwide. It has since been confirmed by AllThingsDigital's Kara Swisher that the deal is in fact legitimate. What's more, Microsoft is paying an unprecedented $7 billion for the company which is a record high price for an acquisition by the tech giant. The announcement is expected tomorrow morning along with full details about the deal.

We're not going to mince words: this is huge. Bigger than Mango, Windows Phone 7, and maybe even Windows 8. Microsoft is about to buy one of the most widely-used teleconferencing systems in the world. $7 billion is a large sum, but it's hard to imagine that price wasn't negotiated down because Skype is potentially worth more than that. Plus, just imagine what Microsoft could do with Skype--maybe that Skype app we saw at MIX '11 was more than just a tease. Either way, expect things to explode tomorrow morning and we'll try to cover it as it happens.

UPDATE: Official! Microsoft also revealed the total sum of the acquisition was actually $8.5b. The buyout should be completed by the Fall.

Via: Engadget
Source: The Wall Street Journal, AllThingsDigital

Nice Gestures from Skype

Like lots of people with friends and family scattered around the world, video calls via Skype are a really valuable thing to me.  Video calling is the most amazing and useful thing. It's a service that brings near people and events that are far. Age doesn't matter.

I have friends and family that I regularly talk to on Skype that are both young and old alike. United by the discovery of how useful Skype is.  I've had friends show off new babies not yet 24 hours old,  had friends' children show off their drawings / toys / reading skills,  and I've shared all manner of disasters and delights with friends and family.  Skype is responsible for new family vocabulary too: setting up Skype-dates, or Sunday Skype-age as it's become known with my brothers in Australia, are moments in the week I cherish and look forward to, especially now that the latest Skype release permits multi-way calls, and I can voice Skype (at least) where- ever I am via the Android App on my phone.

I love the way that Skype has transformed our expectations of keeping in touch.  I have a South African friend that until recently was living in London, and her 2 year old daughter talked to her grandparents regularly via Skype, and that's what calls meant to her - video, being able to see and talk.  So when one day her Granny was on the (regular) telephone, she clasped the handset to her arm to show her Gran where she'd hurt herself.  In her 2 year old mind calls are visual, it's just those of us with a few more years on the clock that will recall a time when telephones meant calling fixed places, voice to voice only.

Anyway, back to Skype, which suffered a service out-age just before Christmas that had Twitter lit up like a Christmas tree. Personally it didn't affect me at the time, but I understand how frustrating it may have been for others that were.  Full marks therefore to Skype who just sent me an email with a voucher code for Skype-out credit and an apology.   A smart and very nice goodwill gesture that's much appreciated and will no doubt go someway to making those that were miffed feel better, and also encourage trial for those people that have only ever used Skype to Skype calling (which is free), enticing them to use Skype for regular calls.

Good stuff Skype. Nicely done, and nicely timed ahead of the New Year rush to wish friends and family a Happy 2011.