Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Finalizes Skype Acquisition

Posted by Soulskill on from the assimilation-complete dept.

suraj.sun sends word that Microsoft's acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion has officially completed. Quoting: "Skype CEO Tony Bates will be named president of the new Skype Division of Microsoft, and will have to report directly to Steve Ballmer. In a post on the Official Microsoft Blog today, Bates seemed unsurprisingly enthusiastic about the acquisition, describing it as a marriage of two 'disruptive, innovative, software-oriented companies. Microsoft is committed to the ubiquity of the Skype experience – communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus,' Bates wrote. 'And we've only scratched the surface.'"

111 comments

  1. Honestly, guys.... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 1

    As long as you've paid for a shiny new Skype Endpoint CAL, we don't care what you are skyping from!

    1. Re:Honestly, guys.... by binarylarry · · Score: 1

      As long as it isn't Linux!

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  2. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Skype's interface just keeps getting more horrible and cluttered. Maybe MS will fix it ;)

    1. Re:Good by besalope · · Score: 1

      Skype's interface just keeps getting more horrible and cluttered. Maybe MS will fix it ;)

      With what, a ribbon?

    2. Re:Good by Penguinisto · · Score: 1

      Metro Interface.

      (*snort*)

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  3. Guess what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just got a Microsoft phone for free and didn't even pay for it. Damn you prepaying Skype for a year.

    1. Re:Guess what? by mswhippingboy · · Score: 2

      I just got a Microsoft phone for free and didn't even pay for it.

      You have been referred to the redundant redundancy department.

      --
      Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train.
  4. Goodbye Skype by 1s44c · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Embrace.. Extend.. Extinguish..

    1. Re:Goodbye Skype by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 1

      Nah; Skype will just become the next Visio.

    2. Re:Goodbye Skype by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      Since when was Skype a standard?

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    3. Re:Goodbye Skype by Eirenarch · · Score: 1

      I think you have no idea what Embrace Extend Extinguish means. Contrary to your expectations the terms are not applied to everything MS touches. There are alternative strategies to EEE that MS can use. One of them is Buy.

    4. Re:Goodbye Skype by 1s44c · · Score: 1

      I think you have no idea what Embrace Extend Extinguish means. Contrary to your expectations the terms are not applied to everything MS touches. There are alternative strategies to EEE that MS can use. One of them is Buy.

      Ok then: Buy.. Reduce compatability and stability.. Watch all the customers leave.. Kill..

      'Embrace.. Extend.. Extinguish..' sounds better though.

    5. Re:Goodbye Skype by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      Skype isn't a competitor. If they did what you're describing they'd just be throwing $8bn into a huge fire for no advantage to themselves.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    6. Re:Goodbye Skype by 1s44c · · Score: 1

      Skype isn't a competitor. If they did what you're describing they'd just be throwing $8bn into a huge fire for no advantage to themselves.

      At what point did I saw Microsoft isn't delusional?

      As you say they will buy skype for a fat pile of cash and watch their purchase stagnate and its customers leave.

      Microsoft has done all this before.

    7. Re:Goodbye Skype by Sockatume · · Score: 1

      They don't do it deliberately, as some way of gaining an unfair competitive advantage, which is what you were implying by analogy with EEE.

      Unless you think that EEE was an accident, or incompetence?

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    8. Re:Goodbye Skype by artor3 · · Score: 1

      Neither you nor the people modding you up have any idea what that phrase means. You might as well post "Quid. Pro. Quo."

    9. Re:Goodbye Skype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      everyone is stupid except you. thanks for explaining the phrase to us.

    10. Re:Goodbye Skype by LongearedBat · · Score: 1

      Skype uses its own standard. ;)

    11. Re:Goodbye Skype by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      Yes Squid Pro Roe indeed.

    12. Re:Goodbye Skype by Tolkien · · Score: 1

      Microsoft's Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) provides audio, video and messaging, all of which are provided by Skype. Skype was definitely a direct competitor in this respect. The advantage to Microsoft using "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" approach here is that they could use skype's tech for audio and video in Live Messenger, thus improving it massively, then kill off Skype because "who needs Skype? Live Messenger uses the same tech now!" regardless of Skype's previous support for Linux, which will disappear.

      --
      how is babby formed?
    13. Re:Goodbye Skype by slightofhand12 · · Score: 1

      Centives has something to say about this http://www.centives.net/S/2011/skype%E2%80%99s-future-under-microsoft/

  5. It can only get better... by Manip · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Skype is such a poor company which such a poor product that this can only be good news. I struggle to see how Microsoft could make Skype any worse than it already is.

    The Windows software just barely works, and frankly the mobile software (e.g. Android, iPhone, etc) is just an absolute joke. It is great software when it works, but that is a rare occasion indeed.

    Skype's "support" is actually worse than Google, and Google doesn't really offer any support (except Adwords). Even if you have a Skype subscription and a Skype number, you're shit out of luck if anything goes wrong or you need help. Worse still they just introduced a new techsupport package which costs you an addition $5/month(!) just for the "pleasure" of having them not be able to help you.

    If you ask me the ONLY reason why Skype still even exists as a serious competitor is simply because that entire sector is full of broken terrible software made very poorly (e.g. Live Messenger, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Voice). Worse still nobody is really rolling out links into the existing telephone infrastructure (Google seems to have quit).

    Honestly, this is an industry that needs a serious kick in the nads. So poor in so many ways....

    1. Re:It can only get better... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd rather people be charged for tech support, then they'd at least try to fix their own problem using the SEARCH button in their web browser instead of asking technicians the same damned question thousands of times per day.
      PS. I used to work for eBAY when they owned Skype. I wasn't a Skype support agent, but goddamn it so, people are scared of using the search button.

    2. Re:It can only get better... by brainzach · · Score: 1

      There isn't a serious competitor to Skype because everyone uses Skype. Services like Skype gain more value the more people use it. You can develop a competing software that is better than every way, but if your friends aren't using it, then it serves no use.

      Microsoft is buying Skype for its network of users. They can integrate Skype into Window's Live and increase the amount of people who will use its own Live services.

    3. Re:It can only get better... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Instead of citing my experiences, I will say this.

      There is a place on their website to contact them. I have had them reply back to me. I do pay roughly $60/year, so maybe that has something to do with it.

    4. Re:It can only get better... by Cowmonaut · · Score: 1

      I'm curious, do you really have problems with their software?

      Perhaps I'm strange since I only use it as an alternative to Ventrilo, but aside from it wanting to "always run" the sound quality is fantastic and it allows free conference calls. I've only been using it for a few days but I can see why my friends started using it while my computer was down for a few months.

      My complaints are, if anything, very minor. Nothing functionally, just "I wouldn't do it that way" sort of things.

    5. Re:It can only get better... by Tolkien · · Score: 1

      Have you ever actually used Skype? I've used Skype, Gmail's audio/video chat, Microsoft's Live Messenger (audio/video), and Yahoo Messenger (again, audio/video). Ignoring the actual software, In my experience, from recollection, Skype's video and audio protocols (thus, image and audio quality) are vastly superior to most if not all others out there.

      --
      how is babby formed?
    6. Re:It can only get better... by geezer+nerd · · Score: 1

      I have to agree. I have used Skype for years, mainly because of its what other people use. I find it actually works very poorly, dropping calls at random in every session. Oops, start again!

      I know there are millions and millions of Skype users who use it for video calling all the time. My experience, however, is that video calling with Skype just never works. I have been through several different cameras on several different computers over the years, and I always use Skype with the camera turned off. If I turn it on, within seconds the call will be dropped, dead. For me, it just does not work.

      6 years ago I was working on a project where I had to use the Skype Windows API to build an interface to Skype from another app. I found that Skype had the lousiest developer support mechanisms of any company I had ever experienced. Microsoft should be able to do something about that, I hope.

    7. Re:It can only get better... by rastoboy29 · · Score: 1

      mod parent up

      --
      expandfairuse.org
    8. Re:It can only get better... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it must be your computer main, i do international calls every day no problem. i use on linux and windows no problem.

      i've had skype on my nokia e71 phone for 3 years and works fine, except the call quality is low so mostly just type. not bad for free seeing as internet is free on my phone.

    9. Re:It can only get better... by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      I'm curious, do you really have problems with their software?

      Perhaps I'm strange since I only use it as an alternative to Ventrilo, but aside from it wanting to "always run" the sound quality is fantastic and it allows free* conference calls. I've only been using it for a few days but I can see why my friends started using it while my computer was down for a few months.

      My complaints are, if anything, very minor. Nothing functionally, just "I wouldn't do it that way" sort of things.

      * For definitions of free that don't involve video. Bonus points for wanting to share your screen with multiple people, since that's only possible with a Mac. And a "premium" subscription.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
    10. Re:It can only get better... by Nyder · · Score: 1

      lol, you must be new to the world.

      --
      Be seeing you...
  6. Re:BSOD now added by ozmanjusri · · Score: 1
    Close.

    This is what see reading the blog on Linux. It doesn't bode well for the future of Skype...

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  7. Skype... Or Fring... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Hello Tony Bates

    Just to tell you, I use Skype under Ubuntu... The very second you start dropping Linux support I'll move to Fring on the iphone. Or something else that simply does Voip.

    Regards,
    One of the 50% of your user base that can do without you but stays just because of the convenience...

  8. Re:BSOD now added by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That feature already exists, in several different completely random ways.

    In fact, hopefully now that Skype has been bought, they can get actual decent god damn developers on the team.
    It takes actual EFFORT to crash a graphics card these days. And by these days, I mean from the 2k branch upwards.
    God knows what the Skype developers are doing, but it is the reason I do not use Skype anymore.
    Never have I used such a crashy piece of crap in my entire life.
    Ever since they released Skype 5 with that super cool new video-frame on every chat window, it eventually crashes, without fail.
    I can usually end the program before it gets to that point, but that is a 5 second timeframe I have before it crashes. To hell with that nonsense.
    And this is only one of the several stupid annoying bugs with the program.

    To hell with them and Skype. Not even open to listening about adding a "NOVIDEO" option somewhere, VIDEO IS THE FUTURE, DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT? ...
    At least the WLM guys can write decent code. (even if WLM is a complete mess now, I use Miranda anyway)

  9. dpkg -P skype by jrbrtsn · · Score: 1

    and thanks for all the fish!

    1. Re:dpkg -P skype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wish I hadn't commented so I could throw a "funny" your way. Thanks for the LOL!

  10. Again, What is it Microsoft Does Now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does Microsoft actually make anything anymore, or are they too busy acquiring other companies and charging for patent rights?

    1. Re:Again, What is it Microsoft Does Now? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1

      That is what Microsoft has always done (OK, once upon a time, they wrote some compilers).

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
    2. Re:Again, What is it Microsoft Does Now? by malevolentjelly · · Score: 1

      Believe it or not, there are actually many people who work at Microsoft. Some people are "Business" people. They're the people that pay you to do whatever it is you do and make decisions regarding your company's direction. These people can work to make such decisions as acquiring other companies. Other people are "Engineers". At a software company, they create and maintain software. Because there are MANY people at a big company (more kinds of people than you have fingers!), a company can both create software and purchase other companies at the same time. So, instead of thinking of a company like one person-- you should look at it as a _group_ of people (almost like a small town) who can do many things at once. Working in groups is how people accomplish big things! Think about how in your hometown there are people who sell groceries, people who deliver mail, AND people who fight fires-- but they're not necessarily the same people.

      I hope this helps!

  11. I have finalized M$'s Skype deal. by kurt555gs · · Score: 1

    By removing it from all my computers.

    --
    * Carthago Delenda Est *
    1. Re:I have finalized M$'s Skype deal. by artor3 · · Score: 1

      Clearly you weren't using it then. Only a slack-jawed moron would delete useful software simply because it's owned by a company that's hip to hate.

    2. Re:I have finalized M$'s Skype deal. by PReDiToR · · Score: 1

      I'm really trying to find something to replace it before I dump it.

      I got the iOS updated Skype client last week and looked up how to downgrade it to 3.5.
      I'm annoyed at the ads, I'm annoyed at the Windows client being so crowded and full of crap and I'll stick with the Linux client as much as possible.

      If I find something that works through NAT and on my Android/iOS devices I'll be dumping Skype rather smartly, because my definition of "useful software" is not ad-riddled bloated crap, which is what Skype has become on Windows, and is going to be on all platforms soon (IMO).

      --

      Do not meddle in the affairs of geeks for they are subtle and quick to anger
    3. Re:I have finalized M$'s Skype deal. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reward yourself with a cookie. Moron.

    4. Re:I have finalized M$'s Skype deal. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, you're so fucking cool!

  12. Holding my breath.. by bucky0 · · Score: 1

    Maybe they'll fix the piss-poor OSX version. I reverted back to 2.x, and try the 5.x revisions occasionally, but they just have the worst interface ever.

    On a side note, it would be nice if someone could crack the skype protocol and, say, add it to something like libpurple, then we wouldn't have to worry about things like that.

    --

    -Bucky
    1. Re:Holding my breath.. by 1s44c · · Score: 1

      Maybe they'll fix the piss-poor OSX version. I reverted back to 2.x, and try the 5.x revisions occasionally, but they just have the worst interface ever.

      On a side note, it would be nice if someone could crack the skype protocol and, say, add it to something like libpurple, then we wouldn't have to worry about things like that.

      There is already something in asterix although I think skype tried to kill it.

      I use SIP with poivy.com and get calls cheaper than skype rates. If SIP was a little easier to setup and use skype would be dead very quickly.

    2. Re:Holding my breath.. by jonwil · · Score: 2

      The Skype protocol was recently reverse engineered although I believe Skype has made changes since then to avoid the reverse engineering.

      Will Microsoft continue to take steps to thwart reverse engineering now that it owns Skype? Hard to say given that they have not stopped reverse engineering of other Microsoft products (office document formats, Kinect, MSN Messenger).

    3. Re:Holding my breath.. by haltline · · Score: 1

      I bet 5 quatloos human passes out holding their breath while waiting for Microsoft to improve their product on a competing operating system.

    4. Re:Holding my breath.. by e9th · · Score: 1

      There is already something in asterix although I think skype tried to kill it.

      Skype for Asterisk is dead. Skype killed it, purely by coincidence of course, right around the time things got serious with Microsoft.

    5. Re:Holding my breath.. by scdeimos · · Score: 1

      Maybe instead of the piece of shit that 2.2 beta is they'll release a new version for Linux. Something that allows you to choose specific PulseAudio/ALSA devices like its Windows brethren would be nice. I'm not holding my breath, though, as I expect pigs will fly backwards first.

    6. Re:Holding my breath.. by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      Oh for fucks sake, it was nothing to do with Microsoft, and more to do with Skype wanting everyone to switch to Skype Connect (which may or may not be a shittier solution. I make no comment as to the superiority of either choice).

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  13. What now? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    Seriously, if Microsoft destroys Skype, what will we use? Someone below mentioned Fring.

    1. Re:What now? by 1s44c · · Score: 1

      SIP.

      It already works on fritz!box DSL modems, softphones, and some mobiles and I swear you get better voice quality at lower call costs than skype.

    2. Re:What now? by tolan-b · · Score: 1

      I love (and hate) SIP but it's rare you'll get as good call quality as Skype. Both ends need a wideband codec which is rare.

    3. Re:What now? by 1s44c · · Score: 1

      I love (and hate) SIP but it's rare you'll get as good call quality as Skype. Both ends need a wideband codec which is rare.

      Actually I never make SIP to SIP calls but SIP to normal phones via poivy.com sounds way better than skype on every number I've tried both on.

      I use a normal phone on my end connected to a fritz!box and normal domestic ADSL. Nothing fancy or expensive.

    4. Re:What now? by binarylarry · · Score: 1

      SIP is a nightmare when it comes to the ubiquitous NAT'd firewalls everyone has.

      Whoever designed the SIP codec didn't learn from FTP.

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    5. Re:What now? by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      SIP is a nightmare when it comes to the ubiquitous NAT'd firewalls everyone has.

      Seems fine to me. I entered the STUN server address when I set up the account, and my SIP phone has no problems making calls.

      Whoever designed the SIP codec didn't learn from FTP. /quote. The SIP codec? Ah, you don't know what you're talking about. You could have put that at they start of your post and saved us some time...

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    6. Re:What now? by binarylarry · · Score: 1

      Sorry you picky fucking retard, the SIP protocol.

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    7. Re:What now? by binarylarry · · Score: 1

      And before you bitch further, yes I know it's RTP that causes all the issues with NAT. But SIP relies on RTP, so it's still an issue with SIP.

      STUN is a horrible bandaid for a bad committee driven design.

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    8. Re:What now? by GNious · · Score: 1

      I love (and hate) SIP but it's rare you'll get as good call quality as Skype. Both ends need a wideband codec which is rare.

      I have never experienced anything but piss-poor audio-quality with Skype. Both when going Skype-to-Skype on LAN (tested from my computer to wife's), on VPN, via inet or when people call using Skype-out.
      Meanwhile, with SIP, we generally have good quality, unless Internal IT or Management again F'd up networking.

  14. And still Linux is badly supported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And still Linux version is ancient. 2.something beta that is badly outdated compared to Windows version. Sad... :(
    I must find something else that I could use instead.

    1. Re:And still Linux is badly supported by jperl · · Score: 2

      And still Linux version is ancient. 2.something beta that is badly outdated compared to Windows version. Sad... :( I must find something else that I could use instead.

      To be honest I like the current skype version of linux more than the newest windows version. I can video chat, call and write messages. My webcam is supported an works well.
      Who needs all that facebook connect crap, games, ...

      Skype on windows for me definitely crashed more often than on linux.

    2. Re:And still Linux is badly supported by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Skype on windows for me definitely crashed more often than on linux.

      On my laptop the Linux version starts eating memory (and uses 100% CPU time) occasionally when I open it. I wonder why, because that doesn't happen on my desktop. Ubuntu and Skype are same versions. I'd like to have something open instead (any good OSS skype replacement recommendations?).

    3. Re:And still Linux is badly supported by Shikaku · · Score: 1

      Remove Pulseaudio.

      Next question.

  15. communication across every device and every plat.. by cpscotti · · Score: 1

    "communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus"
    In a video that uses Silverlight...
    FAIL!

  16. Re:communication across every device and every pla by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus,

    Waiting for open source version of skype.

  17. New edict by NotAGoodNickname · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I heard the first edict that Tony Bates issued to his employees was that they are now supposed to call him "Master" now instead of "Tony". Get it?

  18. Ubiquity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "...communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus".

    Notice this is "a primary focus" not "the primary focus". Expanding a little.

    "Accumulating a great deal of power and money is our primary focus. We therefore aim for maximum ubiquity while keeping full control of the software/protocol."

    If ubiquity were the main goal then they would release their hold on any intellectual property involved. The most powerful and ubiquitous technological solutions which exist today (c, e-mail, html, ...) succeeded largely because they weren't tied down by claims of intellectual property.

  19. Lync by decipher_saint · · Score: 1

    Where I work Lync has supplanted Skype for the most part, I fully expect one to absorb the features of the other (can you guess which?)

    --
    crazy dynamite monkey
    1. Re:Lync by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

      Both are owned by Microsoft, Skype being the more popular. So I expect Lync to rebrand itself as Skype for business or something and you will soon be using Skype.

    2. Re:Lync by Kalriath · · Score: 1

      There's no way in hell they'll touch the Lync branding (it's an Office product. "Microsoft Office Skype Server" would just sound shit, y'know?) If anything, Skype for Business (which exists already btw) will disappear and Lync will become the "recommended" option. I can't see either happening though.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
  20. Re:BSOD now added by Penguinisto · · Score: 1

    c'mon man... even from my POV that meme is dying.

    That aside, I can certainly see Skype soon becoming crippled in some way or other on anything that's not Windows 7+

    The reason Mr. Bates is so damned happy has less to do with working under Ballmer, and more to do with the contents of his freshly filled bank accounts. As CEO, he likely got one hell of a healthy chunk out of that $8bn. I look for him to pull the D-Ring the moment that the contracts say he can.

    (OTOH, maybe he thinks he can take over after Ballmer leaves?)

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  21. And.... by MrSmith0011000100110 · · Score: 1, Troll

    I just uninstalled skype from my laptop and Droid X. It was fun while it lasted Skype. Sorry to see you go.

  22. Anyone by ledow · · Score: 1

    Is anyone else like me and thinking:

    "Just FOR ONCE, Microsoft, just ONCE, prove us all wrong with our predictions of doom for a platform you take over / decision you make."

    If it happened, JUST ONCE, I'd see Microsoft in a different light.

    1. Re:Anyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is anyone else like me and thinking:

      "Just FOR ONCE, Microsoft, just ONCE, prove us all wrong with our predictions of doom for a platform you take over / decision you make."

      If it happened, JUST ONCE, I'd see Microsoft in a different light.

      Well, most on Slashdot predicted doom for Kinect (/Natal), and I believe it is fair to say they proved us wrong on that.

    2. Re:Anyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SQL Server. That is all.

  23. Maybe it's me by MonsterTrimble · · Score: 0

    but I'm totally 'meh' on this. A few reasons:
    1) I have the Skype 2.x on my linux boxen and the 5.x version on my windows partion. Frankly, beyond a couple "well that's nice" items there's nothing I really am missing and the 2.x works just fine with everything.
    2) As I recall Chrome (as I assume by extension Chromium) can do video chat in browser, as can Facebook.
    3) The reason the Skype protocol hasn't been cracked is because there hasn't been a reason for it to be cracked. It has a working client on the big three OS plus a number of mobile OSes as well. Remember what happened when Sony locked down the PS3 and removed the other OS option? That is exactly what will happen if the OSX & Linux clients stop working - piss of the coders and watch your product get hacked to bits.

    --
    I call it 'The Aristocrats'
    1. Re:Maybe it's me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but I'm totally 'meh' on this. A few reasons: 1) I have the Skype 2.x on my linux boxen and the 5.x version on my windows partion. Frankly, beyond a couple "well that's nice" items there's nothing I really am missing and the 2.x works just fine with everything. 2) As I recall Chrome (as I assume by extension Chromium) can do video chat in browser, as can Facebook. 3) The reason the Skype protocol hasn't been cracked is because there hasn't been a reason for it to be cracked. It has a working client on the big three OS plus a number of mobile OSes as well. Remember what happened when Sony locked down the PS3 and removed the other OS option? That is exactly what will happen if the OSX & Linux clients stop working - piss of the coders and watch your product get hacked to bits.

      Skype is good at 2 things, which are rather key: The perceived/experienced video call quality relative to bandwith and lag (perceived quality on user not always the same as theoretical codec compression or other technical measurements). And the uncanny ability for NAT/firewall traversal (uncanny just because no-one else seem able to match it).

      As for multiplatform clients, only time will tell, but their online division have seemed more open about platform support lately -- fx they just launched an Android app for Hotmail that seems to be getting good reviews in the Android marketplace and Bing team is producing a rather nice iPad app.

    2. Re:Maybe it's me by impaledsunset · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, it's not just you. I won't call you out on the rest of your points, but your "The reason .... is" is quite naïve. You're assuming there's one and simple reason, when this is certainly not the case. There are many:

      1. As you said, lack of demand. Unfortunately there are users who find that the software "just works" and don't care further, so there's less incentive for a free alternative.
      2. It's difficult. The Skype protocol has been made on purpose to be difficult to reverse engineer.
      3. A part of the free software community prefers to support an open protocol like SIP or XMPP instead of helping spread Skype even further.
      4. It took years for free messengers to support an open protocol (Jingle), some like Kopete don't even have preliminary support for it (it got removed in KDE 4, and it doesn't seem to be koming back)
      5. Patent FUD

    3. Re:Maybe it's me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Facebook (which Microsoft owns a small stake in, btw) partnered with Skype for video calling.

  24. Re:Moncler contribute to you handsomeness and love by Pope · · Score: 1

    Wait a sec: how do I get into Sienna Miller's pants again?

    --
    It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
  25. Re:Moncler contribute to you handsomeness and love by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    man i thought that the rampant pro-moncler coat bias would have left slashdot with cmdrtaco

  26. Source code? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did they get the actual code too?

  27. What's Microsoft paying for? by abelb · · Score: 1

    $8.5 billion for the technology? I don't think Microsoft would have a hard time throwing together a video conferencing app of their own. The user base? Does MS seriously think that users are that loyal to Skype? MS has used it's market share to ram new products up consumers before. I wonder what Skype's patent portfolio looks like.

  28. Any good alternatives? by bryan1945 · · Score: 1

    I run a monthly hobby meeting with people from the US, Canada, and Britain. So when MS screws this up, does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can use then?

    --
    Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
    1. Re:Any good alternatives? by impaledsunset · · Score: 1

      SIP and XMPP/Jingle are the alternatives. It's difficult to find a good client for either, though.

      Jitsi seems to be very promising for SIP - so give it a try, and I have my hopes for XMPP/Jingle in Psi-Plus, but so far I haven't got the chance to try it with another Psi-Plus user and it fails when I'm trying to reach other Jingle clients, so with Jingle YMMV.

    2. Re:Any good alternatives? by mdm-adph · · Score: 1

      If it's under 10 people (or over, as long as only 10 members need to speak out of the group, and the rest just listen) you can use Google Hangouts. Recently started using them for everything, and it's amazing just how well they work. You can broadcast the hangout so more than just the 10 initial members can listen in.

      --
      It is by my will alone my thoughts acquire motion; it is by the juice of the coffee bean that the thoughts acquire speed
    3. Re:Any good alternatives? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, Ekiga almost works...

      At least, it works for some millions of people, but it doesn't work for probably more millions of people. So YMMV.

    4. Re:Any good alternatives? by para_droid · · Score: 1

      Not if any of those 10 people are Mac users. The Google video plugin only works on the new Intel macs, not the older PPC kind.

    5. Re:Any good alternatives? by bryan1945 · · Score: 1

      That should be OK, I think I'm the only Mac user.

      Now let's hope MS does NOT mess up Skype, because these people are not tech savvy (well, one guy is). It took a while for them to get a hang of Skype.

      --
      Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
    6. Re:Any good alternatives? by mdm-adph · · Score: 1

      I think you'll find most mac users today are Intel ones, if Apple's numbers are trustworthy.

      --
      It is by my will alone my thoughts acquire motion; it is by the juice of the coffee bean that the thoughts acquire speed
  29. You anti-MS goofs make us laugh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Which Operating System has the MOST USERS-Market Share out there? Hmmm?? Let me refresh your dull & puny brain: http://www.netmarketshare.com/ So, I suppose the rest of the planet is not as "smart" as you "open sores" wannabes are? Don't make me laugh, and do not overestimate yourselves.

    Now, after that, and the rest of you anti-microsoft losers on this page are finished with your stupid unjustified and untruthful rants, have you ever wondered why it is slashdot is losing readers???

    I'll tell you why - People are sick of the fud, lies, and bullshit that was spread around here for years by the likes of yourself.

    That is why - Nobody respects or likes misinformation being put on unsuspecting readers here is why.

    For example, the entire "linux is more secure" bullshit fell apart when ANDROID gained widespread usage on phones and is being torn to shreds on the security front (and yes, it is a Linux, but one that's finally really widely used and thus widely attacked), along with kernel.org being hacked into, numerous MySQL & PHP hacks + vulnerabilities, on top of Apache showing the same. The "lamp freebie game" is "game over", and you all know it.

    1. Re:You anti-MS goofs make us laugh by ledow · · Score: 0

      (*COUGH* My entire professional income comes via supporting MS-based customers.)

      The Top 10 has the highest current market share of the music market. Doesn't mean it isn't shit, it just means it's popular. If you don't understand the difference, you probably don't budget for hundreds/thousands of machines on a regular basis. McDonald's has a HUGE market share. Doesn't mean their food wins awards for cuisine, though.

      And Slashdot is losing readers because the editorial quality is SHITE lately and there's plenty of non-MS stuff news that passes this site by all the time, not to mention the slashvertisements for absolute shite. Go have a look how many comments the "Kernel.org hacked" etc. stories get - it's nothing to do with the OS / culture, and everything to do with the editorial quality. Check my profile number and see how long I've been here. I guarantee you the decline of Slashdot readership is nothing to do with the Linux or any other free software you can name, but the site turning to unedited, uninteresting (i.e. NOT nerdy enough!), unchecked crap. But well done for turning it into an anti-anti-MS rant.

      Misinformation only comes about if people don't tell the truth. My truth? Every service / product I ever used that was taken over by MS turned to shite or was bundled into the OS in a shite form. From NTBACKUP to DesktopStandard to Sysinternals, hell even Hotmail (of which I was a paying customer for almost a decade). Every time I am using something that MS has taken over, it turns to shite that I don't want to use even if, days before, it was vital networking utilities that had no equal.

      Rely on NTBACKUP for backups? Better remember what hotfixes you have installed because you can't always restore without the EXACT same underlying version of Windows (literally, down to the hotfix). And you better check EVERY line of the backup log because it's easy to get errors that will slip by. They bought that from another company and you're supposed to rely on that half-assed cut-down util to backup your Windows servers.

      And the Linux vs Windows security thing is an instant way to make yourself look a fool. It assumes, in ALL cases, that an admin of an equal knowledge set up both systems. And in that case, it is more generally true. If you're a dickhead on a Linux system, Linux won't make your administration procedures smart or secure. Which is a shame for yourself.

      The kernel.org hack is a MUCH better example but, again, almost all human-error on the part of users (which is equally possible on both systems - no OS in the world can stop you from being a dickhead if you're the admin). MySQL, PHP and Apache are applications (one of which is also sold commercially). You shoot yourself in the foot there by not distinguishing. There are plenty of WAMP stacks out there too but they're just not as popular (Netcraft will confirm this for you if you really want to play the random-statistics-without-context game).

      Your problem is in taking piecemeal parts of what "everyone" says, aggregating them, and thinking they are the opinion of everyone in all associated groups. Even edging close to "Linux on desktop" is putting you smack into that category. If someone tells you they think something is "more secure" or "has a better security design", you just hear the "secure" part and when something happens you think coming out and trolling about how Linux isn't "secure" is some marvellous insight that only you have.

      When, actually, it just makes you look like a dick.

    2. Re:You anti-MS goofs make us laugh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Yes, the truth of marketshare doesn't mean shit" (please, stop making us laugh). "Sure, sure" as I keep laughing at you, along with the b.s. of "linux is more secure" (lol) which ANDROID shows is pure b.s. fud. There's a reason you're in last place servers and pc desktop share wise: You know what that reason is, don't you? Your shit, sucks, and especially by comparison to both Windows and MacOS X.

    3. Re:You anti-MS goofs make us laugh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I assume you're ranting about Linux here. How deluded are you to think it's last place in Server market share?

  30. You anti-anti-MS tards make us anti-MS group laugh by lister+king+of+smeg · · Score: 2

    firstly Linux is more secure than m$. the kernal.org attack was not a linux problem it was someones stolen/broken password, a attack that will work on any system. as for Linux on android that is another story entirely. it is left wide open by the phone manufacturers because they are stupid and afraid it might make people be intimidated of there phones if they made them secure and required root permission to install software, besides it is the Java and JavaScript that is where all the user level stuff that gets hacked is anyway, by they way that is the most insecure part of any computer especially on ms is the Java/JavaScript. besides no matter how secure you make a phone or computer it can still be effed up by a moron happy clicking install on any random app that says free on the Internet. lets compare windows to Linux for security purposes shall we, permissions windows; laughable your average highschooler can circumvent them within 10 minutes god knows i did in highschool. Linux; very customizable lockable permissions. RWE, if you have a 0 on r you can't even know a file exists period. UNIX permissions are a far as system security the last word out side of sandboxed vertualized unix os's on another unix. Linux malaware; total major viruses worms and trogens 43 listed on wikipedia, and all of them are dead because the exploits they used have been patched windows malware; total major viruses worms and trogens to many to count, semantic said in 2008 that there were over a million+ and growing exponentially even if you account for the number of users it is still vastly out of proportion against windows. also while there are less Linux computers they a generally more valuable, beacuse they are used in places like banking stock exchanges, governments secure servers, etc. thus making them higher value targets. pardon my french but why don't you pull your head out of your Ballmer and gets some fresh air.

    --
    ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
  31. Re:BSOD now added by GNious · · Score: 1

    That aside, I can certainly see Skype soon becoming crippled in some way or other on anything that's not Windows 7+

    I have it on Mac OSX - I can tell you it is already crippled. Features missing, whole releases missing, insane resource-requirements (firefox'ishly poor resource-requirements)

    I have actually had to tell people to not participate in Conference Calls using Skype-out (or whatever) due to severely poor audio-quality.

  32. Why are there 4x more unpatched by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Known security bugs in Linux's kernel alone (3 remote ones no less) in Linux's kernel alone than there is in nearly all of what MS offers companies, users, and developers to do business with, which is a lot more than an OS kernel (I am talking Windows Server 2008, IIS7, SQLServer 2008, Office 2010, & more, which have less unpatched bugs in them than the Linux kernel alone (which if you put on Apache, MySQL, PHP, plus the rest of what's in a Linux distro alone which has security bugs unpatched too. making it even worse than 4 times the bugs already the kernel alone has versus all of what MS gives you)?

    Tell us about the FINE "security" in ANDROID (a Linux itself), won't you?? Truckloads of malware seems to operate there (in an area linux finally was shown it gets used a bit more than most other competitors showing Linux was just getting security by obscurity).

    You obviously know zero about security in Windows, because one can do the same types of things in NTFS, registry, or other permissions as you noted in Linux (which bit off of the ACL model via SeLinux MAC copy of it, you dumb ass).

    A little newsflash since you mentioned goverments and stock exchanges: NASDAQ has for example been using Windows Server 2003 + SQLServer 2005 for nonstop clustered solid uptime into nearly a decade solid now as their "official trade data dissemination system". While literally only the other day, NYSE running Linux iirc, got floored http://www.californiality.com/2011/10/anonymous-nyse-attack-shocker.html

    Now, let's also look at Linux at LSE (London Stock Exchange), which as you know (lol), LINUX FELL FLAT ON ITS FACE 2x the FIRST 2 DAYS IT RAN THERE, and this:

    London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

    http://www.securityweek.com/london-stock-exchange-web-site-serving-malware

    (Please, do tell us another one like this from you "firstly Linux is more secure than m$" to make us LAUGH @ YOU SOME MORE please, along with the fact that you're full of it. You can't pay for this kind of humor.)

    This data's ALL from a respected source (secunia.com) for known security vulnerabilities unpatched:

    ---

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft SQL Server 2008: (10/11/2011)

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/21744/

    Unpatched 0% (0 of 1 Secunia advisories)

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.x: (10/11/2011)

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/17543/

    Unpatched 0% (0 of 6 Secunia advisories)

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010: (10/11/2011)

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/28234/

    Unpatched 0% (0 of 0 Secunia advisories)

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010: (10/11/2011)

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/29809/

    Unpatched 0% (0 of 3 Secunia advisories)

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010: (10/11/2011)

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/34343/

    Unpatched 0% (0 of 1 Secunia advisories)

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.x: (10/11/2011):

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/6436/

    Unpatched 0% (0 of 0 Secunia advisories)

    Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Office 2010: (10/11/2011)

    http://secunia.com/advisories/product/30529/?task=advisories

    Unpatched 0

  33. As long as it stays free by Neurotrace · · Score: 2

    I've never used the paid Skype service and I really don't see the reason to (why else do I have a cellphone?). As long as I can still setup video calls with my friends for free, I really couldn't care less.

  34. Didn't they know? by ArmchairGeneral · · Score: 1

    Crazy Microsoft, you can download Skype for free...

  35. P2P communication by gringer · · Score: 1

    So, Skype is that program that uses a P2P network (like KaZaA) as a fall-back if one of the two computers chatting don't have world-accessible skype ports, right? This would be a bit like what happens when two people have an argument and tell each other, "I'm not talking to you." -- the people in the middle get to hear all the (encrypted) communications.

    --
    Ask me about repetitive DNA
  36. Re:Moncler contribute to you handsomeness and love by smelch · · Score: 1

    Why did you leave in the first place?

    --
    If I can just reach out with my words and touch a butthole, just one, it will all be worth it.
  37. Learn to read by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It IS last place in terms of PC & Server combined (desktop + server). That was what was stated. Learn to read.

  38. So close by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Too bad that guy's name isn't 'Gill'.

  39. Proprietary protocols by Dwonis · · Score: 1

    communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus

    Every platform? Really? Since when does a proprietary protocol implemented by proprietary software constitute a commitment to interoperability across every platform?

  40. Oh! RIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Goodbye Skype.... I'll miss you.

  41. Microsoft is a disruptive company? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Skype are disruptive. Microsoft is to disruption what Maria Carey is to gritty and edgy music.

  42. Skype's Future under MIcrosoft? by slightofhand12 · · Score: 1

    do you guys think skype will be the same under Microsoft? Centives summarized it pretty well and has a link http://www.centives.net/S/2011/skype%E2%80%99s-future-under-microsoft/