Riff Moonraker said:
I have heard of skype, but never used it, so I am quite unfamiliar with it. Is this a big deal that Microsoft bought it?
Think of Skype as the essential free to use VOIP protocol and program for international calling. It was a great substitute for a younger generation and business over the use of a phone line(with the exception of local use).
Compared to Ventrillo, Mumble, and Teamspeak, Skype was the only one that did not require any consumer investment or maintenance of a server to support the other listed VOIP programs. That was a huge difference why Skype was adopted by the masses over the others. Skype was inclusive while Vent and others were exclusive.
It was a pretty big deal when Ebay bought Skype but Ebay didn't do anything with it at all. However microsoft being a software company is more likely to do something with it. Skype already offered subscription services for multiple video calling. Also Skype has already had a business model by essentially having consumers buy time or subscribe for a minute rate plan to make normal phone calls which is quite viable.
The only problem however with this model is that the infrastructure of making an dynamic IP address system into a static line like phone lines is that people aren't their IP addresses. Nevermind the lack of versatility or potential cost that ISP companies would like to charge for the extra amount of bandwidth(which is why they want bandwidth caps) consumption.
I can see microsoft essentially making this inclusive service an exclusive premium service because much like how telecom companies are trying to become television companies and television companies are trying to become telecom companies you have software companies trying to become telecom companies and television companies through the computer early. In the long term and younger generation it is a very viable model but the problem is that the software companies have to go through either a telecom company or television company to provide the service.
