Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft to acquire Skype

microsoft.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 90 posts

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#41

Post by jokermatt999 »

jarin wrote: post #33
follower wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it still not have cross platform video support?

How many people REALLY use video chat though? I mean more than once a year. Even among techies and businesspeople, video chat rarely seems to have an advantage over regular voice chat.

Ever been in a long distance relationship, missing your kids when you're away from home, or just want to see someone's face? Video chat isn't as convenient as voice chat, but when you want to take some time out to really talk to someone, it's the closest thing to face to face.

Also, I think video chat works better and will pretty much always work better on computer than on smartphones. There's a much better screen, you don't have to hold it just right, and it's easier to sit down and make time for a video chat on a computer. If you're looking at the numerous failed attempts at video chat on phones, I can see how you'd see it as useless, but Skype is different.

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#42

Post by qeorge »

xnerdr wrote: post #18

On a side note, why has no serious competitor to Skype appeared? Given the maturity of the tech involved (its just VOIP) and the size of the pie, i'd have thought there would be more competition for a slice.

I believe the underlying tech, Global Index, is patented and valuable. Global Index is the p2p matchmaking software that runs under Skype (and Kazaa back in the day), which means Skype doesn't have to run centralized servers to route call data. Its also what lets them punch holes in firewalls.

My understanding is that their competitors don't (can't?) do this. For example, SIP runs through a central server (e.g., Google's). This allows Skype to run their service more cheaply, and its cheaper to provide service for each marginal user. Its a pretty strong network effect.

So, in addition to their brand and userbase, they do have some tech MS might want and can't get elsewhere.

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#43

Post by stcredzero »

toddmorey wrote: post #9

Why is it that I like Skype less on the other side of this announcement? It's not that I'm anti-MSFT; I just like communications software like Skype to be vendor neutral, competing on innovation and working to keep as many platforms + devices as possible at parity. I don't want someone to use Skype as leverage to try to get me to switch platforms. I'm more likely to drop Skype and be left looking for an alternative.

Truphone?

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#44

Post by mahrain »

This should put some pressure on Google to allow international customers into Google Voice. They have an opportunity now to take on all customers this deal might alienate, but since I don't live in the US I can't use Google Voice.

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#45

Post by peregrine »

My girlfriend has been traveling abroad and we haven't used Skype once. We just used the built in capabilities of Google Talk. Its a simple plugin for the browser, doesn't sit on my machine bugging for updates and slowing down my startup time.

No dropped calls, good video quality, and simple integration.

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#46

Post by cygwin98 »

qeorge wrote: post #42
xnerdr wrote: post #18

On a side note, why has no serious competitor to Skype appeared? Given the maturity of the tech involved (its just VOIP) and the size of the pie, i'd have thought there would be more competition for a slice.

I believe the underlying tech, Global Index, is patented and valuable. Global Index is the p2p matchmaking software that runs under Skype (and Kazaa back in the day), which means Skype doesn't have to run centralized servers to route call data. Its also what lets them punch holes in firewalls. My understanding is that their competitors don't (can't?) do this. For example, SIP runs through a central server (e.g., Goog…

My understanding is that their competitors don't (can't?) do this. For example, SIP runs through a central server (e.g., Google's). This allows Skype to run their service more cheaply, and its cheaper to provide service for each marginal user. Its a pretty strong network effect.

This maybe the case for those small VoIP startups, but for big Internet Co. such as Google, Microsoft and other portals who already have big datacenters, this should not be an issue.

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#48

Post by dwiel »

jarin wrote: post #33
follower wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it still not have cross platform video support?

How many people REALLY use video chat though? I mean more than once a year. Even among techies and businesspeople, video chat rarely seems to have an advantage over regular voice chat.

I use it for meetings a few times a week since I telecommute and it is way better than voice.

Re: Microsoft to acquire Skype

#49

Post by [deleted] »

jarin wrote: post #33
follower wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it still not have cross platform video support?

How many people REALLY use video chat though? I mean more than once a year. Even among techies and businesspeople, video chat rarely seems to have an advantage over regular voice chat.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN