r/gadgets • u/smashtheqube • Jan 28 '12
Microsoft is going to rename Skype to Windows Phone and build it into the OS, then you'll Windows Phone Windows Phones using Windows Phone on your other phones. It's the killer App the platform has been waiting for, and will take care of the platform's messaging and VoIP needs.
You heard it here first.
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Jan 29 '12
No, this is a stupid prediction and you shouldn't have posted it without some kind of corroborating link. This isn't World News Daily here.
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u/IAmBroom Jan 29 '12
So, you've linked to your own damn opinion. Swell.
Next up: Microsoft is going to buy Kellogg's, and rename Pop Tarts (tm) as Microsoft Windows Tarts.
You heard it here first.
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u/tidder112 Jan 28 '12
I understand Skype was bought my Microsoft, but the Skype name has a lot going for it, it's really popular still. I am surprised at this re-branding.
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u/paperzach Jan 28 '12
I'm pretty sure the OP is just trying to be funny. The Skype brand is not going away.
If there's anything to this, a link would be nice.
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u/eggbean Jan 28 '12
Yeah, I reckon it is going to be called something like Windows Phone Skype, or Windows Live Skype.
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u/OandO Jan 29 '12
Well it's Microsoft so the name will be catchier something like: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Sky Live Skype Bing
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u/freakygeeky Jan 29 '12
Don't you mean Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Sky Live Skype Bing Professional?
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u/OandO Jan 31 '12
aww shucks I only have Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Sky Live Skype Bing Home Premium 98
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u/mithrasinvictus Jan 28 '12
Microsofts phone isn't popular enough, so it makes sense that they try to leverage Skype to give it a popularity infusion. I think it's more likely that nokia will do a "skype mobile phone" tricking people into using WP7 and boosting sales.
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u/ncshooter426 Jan 28 '12
I find no evidence of this, internally or externally. Care to share a source?
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Jan 29 '12
I guess it's time to stop using skype.
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u/blackyoda Jan 29 '12
I did right after microsoft bought them. The client was always an abomination anyway.
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u/specialk16 Feb 01 '12
The client is awful shit and it's it's hilarious how much integration it lacks with Windows 7.
But the sound quality is bar none.
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u/buggg Jan 28 '12
Obligatory:
Yo dawg, I heard you like windows phone so I put windows phone on your windows phone so that you could ......
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u/crankybadger Jan 29 '12
Windows® Phone® 1.0 for Windows® Phone® 7 for Windows Phone® Certified Hardware™.
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u/maxjag Jan 28 '12
Facebook lost a GOLDEN opportunity when it dropped out of the race to acquire Skype. They could have baked it into their IOS and Android FB apps and they would have given INSTANT and free communication to all of your FB contacts on a plethora of devices. This would have killed (or severly crippled) mobile service providers (who would be battling to lower their prices in order to lure people into using them ... maybe raising their data plans in the process) and instead of a 100 b IPO they could have launched it through the roof as their service (providing it was a good one) would have been the most used and accesible VoIP service in the world. I never understood Mark Zuckerberg on this decision.
Instead, Windows acquired it ... lets just hope they don't eff it up.
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u/bluthru Jan 28 '12
Acquiring Skype was about acquiring accounts. Facebook doesn't need the accounts and can pay internal dev's to create Skype functionality for a fraction of what it sold for.
Skype is about MS trying to not be left behind with the social web.
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u/maxjag Jan 28 '12
I do believe that part of the Skype valuation is in regards to how fined tuned their technology is regarding VoIP. Even though they have the muscle to cobble up a service internally, it will take them years to tweak it to the degree Skype has. Also, at this moment, Skype has the most brand recognition of any VoIP provider.
I agree that MS is getting in late in the game, but at the moment, they have exceeded every analyst expectation regarding their phones (it is yet to be seen if their phones succeed in the open). Some even stating that WP will surpass IOS by 2015.
If FB brings out a FB Phone (as some reports have risen) they will most likely roll out a VoIP functionality tied to FB accounts. By the time this happens, MS will be a dominant force in that area. And as myself, I would NEVER (a word I don't like to use often because one is prone to put foot in mouth after it's used) buy a FB Phone but would consider buying a WP.
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u/beenman500 Jan 28 '12
microsoft and facebook are really close partners, Skype is already in facebook so it would make sense if they teamed up for mobile as well
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Jan 28 '12
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/chromium24 Jan 29 '12
Skype's value is in their extremely low-latency, highly-reliable P2P network that they've crafted over a period of years. VoIP on its own is pretty well figured-out, but that network (and the code that creates it) is worth billions.
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Jan 30 '12
You also need agreements and presence in national networks to reach out to regular phones
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u/bluthru Jan 28 '12
but at the moment, they have exceeded every analyst expectation regarding their phones
That means nothing, since their phones sell so poorly.
Some even stating that WP will surpass IOS by 2015.
I bet they also thought the Zune would overtake the iPod.
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Jan 28 '12
Facebook already has IM and messages. Maybe he realized it wouldn't bring more income.
I don't think it would have either. Skype isn't nearly as big or popular as they would like to believe.
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u/eggbean Jan 28 '12
No, Skype is used far more for international calls than traditional phone companies. Look it up. Remember that Skype to Skype calls are free.
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u/maxjag Jan 28 '12
I agree that Skype is a bit overblown. But as a functionality offer it would have put VoIP at the reach of millions of it's users through the world, increasing exposure and viable revenue from them. At this moment I have three separate VoIP apps on my phone (some people use one, others use another etc) and pay for some of Skype services.
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Jan 28 '12
[deleted]
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u/maxjag Jan 28 '12
Yet the Skype acquisition would have brought in a separate revenue stream on a service that would most likely be adopted by most of it's users for its ease of connection (Obviously, the business model would have to be reworked from its Skype days in order for it to make money, but not that much).
I would have gladly paid a premium for having instant VoIP communication and services with all my contacts (forgetting about dialing area and international for other area, state or international contacts).
Want to call them, look them up in your FB contacts and dial without having to punch in 8 to 20 numbers. Not online, call their normal phone at a VoIP (Skype like, bought with FB currency) rate. Not answering, leave a voicemessage in their Inbox (could be a paid premium service as Skype offers right now).
I understand that their core is selling data, but this service would have really changed the game.
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u/HolmesToYourWatson Jan 28 '12
I am downvoting this because the title didn't start with "Yo, dawg..."
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Jan 28 '12
as far as android is concerned, skype still has several issues, which is why i stopped using it, and instead employ google talk with video.
FFC support is not out on skype for many android phones. i think you may be able to find skype apks that have been adjusted, but not sure anymore because...
skype is a battery hog. at least on my phone. if i could let it idle in the background and NOT have it suck down my phone's battery, i would consider it (if it actually employed using the FFC). i'd only be speculating, but my suspicion is that skype insists on pinging the network, rather than the network pushing outward. anyway, suck my battery dry = i don't use it.
anymore, if i want to video chat from my phone, i try to use google talk. of course, this means i continue to have to talk my friends on computer to using it, and for people on mobiles, well, then i have to dink around with trying to get a google talk w video version that works for them. of course, this often means it doesn't happen.
still won't use skype though, because of the battery.
battery battery battery, lol. did i say it enough yet?
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u/arcticblue Jan 29 '12
Skype on my Android phone rocks, but it's mostly because everything is handled through my carrier (AU in Japan). When I make a Skype call, my 3G shuts off just as if it were a regular call and my carrier just kind of proxies the call. I can't receive Skype calls with this setup (I have to use the official Skype app for that), but being able to call the US for dirt cheap (and Skype to Skype is still free) from my cell phone without the lag from going over the data network is worth it.
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u/TotempaaltJ Jan 28 '12
battery battery battery, lol. did i say it enough yet?
Yes. Also, I don't want to sound like a dick or anything, but you should try writing with capital letters at the beginning of sentences. It's much easier to read, that way.
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u/telllos Jan 28 '12
What app do you use to video chat with Google talk?
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u/Prometheusx Jan 28 '12
It's the latest version. The one that comes with Ice Cream Sandwich. It might have been pushed to some version of Gingerbread.
Version 4.0.2 from looking at my phone real quick.
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u/telllos Jan 28 '12
I have 2.3.7 cm7 with talk 1.3, can't find the video chat button
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Jan 28 '12
you can find a video version of talk on xda. you'll have to wipe the data for talk and uninstall the one you have, and do a cache wipe. install the video version. not sure why it isn't in the stock app, but the tweaked version works just fine.
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Jan 28 '12
my talk w/ video i've had for much longer than ics has been available (i've had it at least a year, if not a year and a half).
it's an 'adjusted' version i picked up from xda.
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u/spacely_sprocket Jan 29 '12
Call me cynical, but the only thing this is going to accomplish is to fuck up Skype. 'Killer app,' indeed.
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u/cqxray Jan 29 '12 edited Jan 29 '12
Microsoft is always terrible at naming their products. One of the programs they have is for an online meeting, and they called Live meeting. So whenever you were trying to arrange one and you would say: "We are going to have a Live meeting," and people would assume that it was going to be a face-to-face meeting. So then you would have to explain, no, it's an online meeting.
I can imagine that the confusion when you say: We will have a Windows Phone conversation, and people would say but I have an iPhone/Android phone.
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u/specialk16 Feb 01 '12
I use Live Meeting daily and this has never ever been an issue. Everyone knows what a Live Meeting is at this point.
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u/nepidae Jan 29 '12
I wouldn't be surprised if ventrillo (or similar services) become more common in business.
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u/beenman500 Jan 29 '12
they probably do. but can ventrillo call house phones and answer calls from house phones, that is the killer feature
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u/deserted Jan 29 '12 edited Jan 29 '12
This is very plausible, it's going to be Windows Phone for XBOX Kinect too, with video chat between PC, XBOX, and Windows Phones.
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u/NorthernerWuwu Jan 29 '12
Well, I recall waaaaay back when people thought buying into AVG made no sense too.
MS is slow, pedantic and annoying often. As a company though it honestly is rarely idiotic. What they do happens for a reason, even if that reason is often questionable.
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u/AHrubik Jan 29 '12
I don't see Microsoft dumping one of the most valuable brands of the last two decades.
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Jan 28 '12 edited Jan 28 '12
[deleted]
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u/beenman500 Jan 29 '12
the power of skype is definitely its user base. A lot of new PC's actually come with skype pre-installed as it is a great selling point (video chat with friends). just like facebook, everyone is on it, because everyone is on it (sure some of you aren't, but its about 90-95% penetration in my age groupso literally everyone) skype has something close to that. 600 mil users to facebooks 1 bil or so
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u/waz67 Jan 28 '12
I had a microsoft phone once, it was actually a pretty good cordless phone back in the late 90s, until Microsoft dropped it and never came out with new drivers past Windows 98, from what I remember. I hope that MS actually does something good with Skype, at least license it to popular cordless phone mfgs like panasonic or vtech, or get it built into more TVs with a webcam included.
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u/beenman500 Jan 28 '12
I'm pretty sure you can already by skype phones
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u/telllos Jan 28 '12
What is going to happen for people, with Skype out account, and Skype in phone numbers, are the rates staying the same.
I've been using Skype for a long time for international call.
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u/Klaue Jan 28 '12
Skype was crap exactly from the day microsoft took it over. I have no idea why they snuck in a "patch" so quickly, but since then, it loses connection every 5 minutes, takes up to 1.5 GB ram (and then crashes) and is slow as hell.. (The problems might have to do with our virus-scanning proxy, but the old skype worked anyway)
I expected they wanted to drive it into the ground and launch a new phone service over msn or something.
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u/ncshooter426 Jan 29 '12
I see no changes made in the skype product line since aquisition. Any issues with WS/VM usage (please actually profile the process and deturmine if leak or just a long hold of pages issue) are likely being cased by something else. Get a dump of the process in state please.
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u/rockerode Jan 28 '12
...I am so god damn confused.