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Microsoft May Replace Xbox Live Chat With Skype

Posted by Soulskill on from the enjoy-your-hate-speech-at-a-higher-bitrate dept.

CVG is reporting that Microsoft is working on "consolidating all their communications technology" around Skype, which they acquired in 2011 for $8.5 billion. Citing a source within the company, they say Skype will "become the default chat service on the next generation Xbox console as well as on PC and tablets." This would fit in with Microsoft's recent announcement that it is closing Messenger in March and replacing it with Skype. The article also cites a Microsoft job posting from last August which sought a UI designer for "Skype in the living room," with a focus on the next-gen Xbox system.

14 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Uh oh... by Bobfrankly1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just what I need. Join an Xbox live party to see everyone's sitting around, naked on their couch like me...*facepalm*

    1. Re:Uh oh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just what I need. Join an Xbox live party to see everyone's sitting around, naked on their couch like me...*facepalm*

      Did Microsoft buy Chatroulette too?

    2. Re:Uh oh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      not girlfriend! ayumi-tan is my waifu!

    3. Re:Uh oh... by Kalriath · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, Chatroulette banned nudity. As a result, noone uses it.

      --
      For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
    4. Re:Uh oh... by hairyfeet · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Are you kidding? They'll probably just take teabagging to a whole new and even more disgusting level.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  2. Ingame chat too? by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The article was fuzzy on details. Is the source suggesting in-game chat will go through the skype network as well? How does skype work with 36 people in a server? Also I never have echo or other problems with Xbox Live I have terrible problems with Skype. Could easily be because everybody has headsets in Xbox Live.

  3. Sounds like a winning combination by Sydin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Skype constantly drops calls. The average Xbox Live voice chat user really needs to shut the fuck up. Win win.

    1. Re:Sounds like a winning combination by infinitelink · · Score: 2

      : D

      Anyway, most here probably know that Skype is a modified peer-to-peer client, leveraging the computers and bandwidth of the installed base to function, rather than requiring a large amount of dedicated hardware: it's the sort of decentralization the web's designers and the earlier dreamers meant to be common, but which isn't, and perhaps the only example of such software that is not only decentralized (thus "eggheadedly" designed)--though it can rely on centralized machines--but in common use among ordinary people (because, you know, it just works; not always perfectly, but most idiots can use it). Perhaps this move has more to do with the dropping-calls part: due to the design, by installing Skype everywhere, there will be far less call drops? Suddenly having millions of extra nodes (the XBoxes) could be a great boon for relaying information on the Skype network, not to mention lightening burdens on the bandwidth and machines that Microsoft has been using for its other communications services.

      --
      Intelligent idiots are we. | Evil men do not understand justice.
  4. Better than Skype on iPhone by alen · · Score: 2

    I Skype with family on my iPhone and iPad and would rather do it on my Xbox

    The larger camera will show everyone and no need to hold anything

  5. start filing the lawsuits now by slashmydots · · Score: 3

    Skype has video and you know it's only a matter of time before realtime video chat is mainstream on a console. So call your lawyer and start filing your lawsuit now because there's about to be a hurricane, chat roulette style. This time for more minors so I'm sure we can add the US senate into things. They tend to jump on stuff like that.

  6. Better with Microsoft than eBay by Anubis_Ascended · · Score: 2

    I personally believe that Skype has a better fit as a Microsoft-owned entity than it did as an eBay-owned entity. eBay had no [profitable] means to integrate it into their current business (e-commerce and online payments), and no experience in managing an instant messaging application. Microsoft, on the other hand, would be able to integrate Skype into their current business, and already has years of experience in managing an instant messaging application, due to their Messenger service.

    1. Re:Better with Microsoft than eBay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      eBay bought Skype for 2.5 billion and sold it for 8.5 to MS. Do I need to explain to you why it was a good move for eBay to buy (and sell) skype?

  7. Re:Hopeful by Belial6 · · Score: 2

    Unfortunately, it will likely require an Xbox Gold account, so you will have to start paying the monthly fees just like you do to use Netflix on an Xbox.

  8. Can't wait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    till an incoming Skype call knocks my wife off Netflix in the living room AND knocks me off whatever shitty games for windows live port I'm playing in the office simultaneously.