It's official: Microsoft closes Skype deal

[HotelUser]

Putting Skype onto other Microsoft services/products such as Xbox, Windows Live and so on is to do with skype. Improving it's features with IMAP is not and that is down to the Hotmail team. That is why I am saying. But such features for hotmaill would be ideal either way but they wouldn't come because of skype now

I just said it like I did because in terms of functionality GMail or Yahoo IM and Email setup is a lot more robust than the current Hotmail/WLM setup in my opinion, so I'd like to see Microsoft mimic those setups of sorts.

[Lost_Addict]

Off topic but the Xbox is looking more and more like a media based console by the day, moreso than the PS3 (even without Bluray)... would be nice if they bought out a digital TV addon for the 360 like Sony did that would integrate nicely with Kinect etc.

http://www.oxm.co.uk/34532/xbox-live...nel-5-content/

[xxMATTGxx]

IMO they should drop WLM/MSN Messenger and dump everyone on Skype's chat system, it's far far better.

Only if they changed the Skype application and added some of the features of WLM. It would also be nice if you could do video call with more than one person without having to pay but hey ho.

[Recursion]

http://www.oxm.co.uk/34532/xbox-live...nel-5-content/

I meant a USB digital receiver, there's more channels than the standard 5 that I watch!

[GommeInc]

Isn't Skype the main competitor to Windows Live? It's an interesting inquisition, personally I'm not sure what this will entail as Skype has always been a pretty decent service for me. If anything it's Microsoft products which need improving, not the other way around

[xxMATTGxx]

Isn't Skype the main competitor to Windows Live? It's an interesting inquisition, personally I'm not sure what this will entail as Skype has always been a pretty decent service for me. If anything it's Microsoft products which need improving, not the other way around

Well Microsoft now own it and no one else can buy it. It's a great product, good brand name and Microsoft can now integrate it with a number of different services which would then improve Microsoft's products. Don't forget this would also increases Microsoft IM monopoly surely, Windows Live Messenger + Skype = a big number.

[GommeInc]

Hmm, hard to say what will change. I presume Skype will be the adult version of video chatting, like business conferences or meetings. Windows Live has slowly been in decline over the past few years, so any improvements will only be to the service rather than the reputation The only competition to Microsoft now is Yahoo! Messenger and, possibly, Facebook chat assuming Fb Chat cannot be accessed through WLM/Skype.

[xxMATTGxx]

Hmm, hard to say what will change. I presume Skype will be the adult version of video chatting, like business conferences or meetings. Windows Live has slowly been in decline over the past few years, so any improvements will only be to the service rather than the reputation The only competition to Microsoft now is Yahoo! Messenger and, possibly, Facebook chat assuming Fb Chat cannot be accessed through WLM/Skype.

There's a facebook thing on Windows Live Messenger but I'm not sure if it lets you do the chat. But in terms of Skype and facebook, you can instant message, import newsfeed, comment and like all within the Skype application according to their website.

Well Skype can be used by anyone, you can either be a free user or a paid user and I believe there is a bunch of paid users also. It can be used for businesses I suppose but a lot of people use it for non-business purposes too. It can only get better with the integration Microsoft will do in the future. They did ask on their facebook the following:

Friday Question: Now that the Skype deal is closed, what Microsoft products would you like to see integrated with Skype?

Edit: Just thought of something where you mentioned about business conferences or meetings. Microsoft have a product called Lync and on their website it says:

delivers complete presence, instant messaging, conferencing and enterprise voice capabilities through a single, easy-to-use interface that is consistent across PC, browser, and mobile device. Administrators benefit from a single, consistent management infrastructure, new capabilities to increase availability, and interoperability with existing systems.

So if they now have Skype and they can now use some of Skype magic, they come make that service a lot better for its customers? I'm not sure how Lync fully works, how good it is and so on as I'm not the sort of user who would use it but there's a bonus for them as well I suppose.

I also remember seeing this image:

[GommeInc]

Hmm, seems interesting what they propose. Especially if the rumours and suggestions of Xbox users and Skype do come into fruition. Hopefully they do not alter Skype too much, one of the benefits of the service was its simplicity which WLM has never been good at, even when it was MSN. It's always hard to talk about an acquisition when the buying company offers a product in the same industry, it would be easier for them to drop a name and adopt a single aim strategy, but the Skype name is too important and popular, as is the Windows Live name.

[HotelUser]

Something else important Microsoft really should do is create a push messaging service for Windows Phone. It would be ideal if they just designed push messaging integrated into Windows Phone which danced with both Skype and MSN, but I think I'll have to dare to dream here.