Skype For Microsoft Edge Will Work From the Browser, No Plug-Ins Required

We mentioned a few months back Microsoft's beta of a browser-based intrerface to Skype. Now, reports Engadget, Skype will be able to work without a plug-in (as was required for the beta). However, it will work -- at least at first -- only with Microsoft's Edge browser. The latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build comes with Object RTC API. That's the element that allows real-time audio and video communication without the need for any installation not just for Skype for Web and Outlook.com, but also for other WebRTC-compatible services. To note, Chrome, Firefox and Safari all support WebRTC standards, but it's unclear if and when Skype will enable a plug-in-less experience for those browsers, as well.

Comments

Separate code from data

[Anonymous Coward]

Please don't run executable code inside my document viewer.

kthxbye

Re:Separate code from data

[ChunderDownunder]

Why does anyone believe that the Skype codebase won't be subject to the same sort of attacks and vulnerabilities once it becomes part of the browser?

Because with plugins you're relying on a separate sandbox model from the rest of the browser.

I'd sleep more soundly at night knowing that the executable code used to make video calls through webRTC was running through exactly the same sandbox as other executable code such as asm.js. or that the inbuilt pdf viewer in Firefox (dog slow that it may be) was running with the same javascript security execution model rather than relying on an external engine (and yes Mozilla do have a flash implementation that works in a similar way to PDF.js)

There will be security holes in any implementation but there's one attack surface for the entire web platform rather than one for each browser plugin. And at the end of the day I'd rather trust Mozilla or Google to release timelier fixes for their web-browsers than rely on Microsoft's skype plugin to be updated.

So broadly I'm in favour of cross platform technologies such as video chat 'bloating' the HTML5 spec rather than relying on proprietary browser plugins.

mmm surveillance.

[Last Warrior]

I suspect well be getting the always on, talk to your web browser functionality so you dont have to click anything when you want ot make a call. You can just say "skype, call my mom" and and bing, skype will inform microsoft, the nsa, and your mom that you want to talk. And when you dont want ot talk to mom, skype will make sure any naughty keywords you use while sitting at your computer are also promptly forwarded to the NSA as well.

Re:mmm surveillance.

[Kjella]

And when you dont want ot talk to mom, skype will make sure any naughty keywords you use while sitting at your computer are also promptly forwarded to the NSA as well.

As long as the NSA isn't forwarding the naughty keywords to my mom....

Not gonna help Edge get market share

[ITRambo]

With Windows 10 at ~9% market share of desktop OS's, Edge is currently at ~2%. Incorporating Skype isn't going to help Edge attract many more users, if any, since it still is not compatible with many websites and crashes more than other browsers. I use Edge solely to open my Outlook.com mail since the Mail app in Windows 10 won't do the job. The whole Windows 10 situation is quite fubar, it seems to me.

Re:Too late

[Anonymous Coward]

Unfortunately, Microsoft has completely ruined Skype, and they will probably never be able to recover the users they lost. My grandparents got locked out when Microsoft started requiring a Microsoft ID, so I switched them to gchat. Plugins are easy enough to install and unless Microsoft fixes the ridiculous Microsoft ID requirement, I can't see many people using Skype ever again. Let's face it, Microsoft is just not competive with the new generation of tech companies and the only reason they lasted as long as they did is because they had a near monopoly, maintained by compatibility issues, for decades.

I've multiple Skype accounts since ages. Never been forced to require a Microsoft ID. Stop spouting bullshit.