Skype, perhaps the world’s most widely used free calling application, has added new features. What was once a sector Skype dominated is now filled with competition, which includes free VoIP and some texting and instant messaging products. As a means to differentiate itself, Skype has added new video features.
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The first version of Skype was introduced in 2003. The company has changed hands several times. It has been owned by its founders, private equity, eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) and now Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Microsoft paid $8.5 billion for Skype in May 2011. Many observers could not understand why the software company would pay such a rich price. Microsoft management argued that, once it was integrated with Windows, Skype would make use of the operating system more attractive. Microsoft has never offered firm evidence this is the case.
Microsoft’s new plan for Skype and the company’s Lync users was announced by one of its executives, B.J. Haberkorn:
In 2013, we enabled Lync users to contact people on Skype using instant messaging, presence, and audio calling right from your contact list. I’m happy to say that we’ve now taken the next step by adding video calling between Lync 2013 and the latest Skype for Windows desktop client. Now Lync users can conduct everyday business and collaboration “face-to-face” with customers, partners and suppliers who use Skype.
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Microsoft’s Lync is an instant messaging service and a part of the company’s Lync Server built to replace Microsoft’s Office Communicator. The new Skype video application is clearly a means to add corporate clients.
Microsoft said as much:
As excited as we are about this, we know we have more work to do. We will extend support to the Skype clients on additional platforms, starting with Android and iOS in the coming months. We will add support for SkypeIDs and make it easier to find and add contacts from the worldwide Skype directory when the next version of Lync becomes Skype for Business in the first half of 2015. These planned improvements to Lync Skype connectivity are just one example of how Skype for Business will keep and improve on all of the capabilities of Lync.
With the number of instant communication apps out there, Microsoft’s move may be lost in the shuffle.
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