Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5 billion, will support Xbox and Kinect

Didn’t Valve just buy the VoIP technology from Skype for Steam?
Wonder if that’s gonna have any effect.

Guess Skpe will be removed from the psp then

Holy crap.

Welp… There goes all hope of Skype going to the Ps3, and the NGP as well…

I didn’t see this coming.

This is massive.

“on “non-Microsoft platforms.””

Maybe the PSP/NGP is safe…

Jesus.

Thats HUGE.

Microsoft says it’ll continue to invest Skype on “non-Microsoft platforms” so I guess that means Skype’s staying on PSP for now anyway.

I can’t imagine they’d remove it from the PSP. The license money’s just going somewhere else now, surely – Microsoft wouldn’t want to lose cash and Sony wouldn’t want to lose features. Same goes for Steam, you don’t buy something and then decide to pick and choose your customers.

I’ve never actually used Skype. So there you go.

@6 I think they mean for past devices like PSP. For the future, like NGP, it’s not going to happen now anyway

Oh wow. Icq is truly no more now I suppose. Just don’t ruin my skype, MS.

That is actually super huge.
I bet Sony now: Holy mother and what we are going to do with NGP?

Nintendo i think is in the same boat, but they don’t have internet services at all.

Thats just GIGANTIC for Xbox future platforms. I always use skype when i play with my friends and it’s THE BEST service available out there. Hands down. Hands fucking down.

Of course you know what this means right?

We’re gonna have Felicia Day at the MS conference telling us how ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ it is that she can use Skype to talk to her Guild buddies whilst she is playing Dragon Age 2.

:/

@10 Good point. With any luck though NGP will have some kind of app store thing at somepoint, opening it up to many similar apps to Skype.

Sony – Fixing outage and losing money

Microsoft – buying the best Services out there that makes it’s Xbox Live even better.

@12 could you say what the benefits are of this service? i keep hearing about it for podcasts, calls and such. how would it work whilst playing games?

Guys i know skype is a free software to make calls over the internet ( i did google it), but what i dont know how is this great for gaming purposes?, i mean we already have chat on games, why is this any better?

@12, It wouldn’t be too difficult to create their own video chat service.
Not entirely impossible for the NGP to receive Skype services either, Sony’s VAIO computers use Microsoft’s OS & MS don’t have a competitor in the handheld market-unless they finally get their fingers out of their arses & make use of Windows Phone. As of right now, Windows Phone seems half arsed with a path leading to nowhere. My point is, competitors can cooperate with each other assuming both parties benefit from it.
Doesn’t matter either way what officially happens with the NGP, it’ll quickly receive a hack to use Android & we can do everything through there.

Isn’t this a little unnecessary? Sure buy all the skype stuff for what ever but why put it on the 360? We already have a online multi-chat feature, why add another. I guess now people can talk across platforms.

I never really used Skype to talk in games myself.

Windows Mobile is no more, WP7 has replaced it.

@all the “why?” people. Skype tech is almost certainly better than whatever MS came up with or are currently licensing. More efficient codecs = better quality for the same bandwidth, or potentially more people in party chat for the same bandwidth and quality.

Maybe MS is thinking two things:

Sony/nintendo can’t use/have it in the future.

And

Skype will work great with a streaming cloud based service like OnLive/Gakai on its Next Xbox system.

@16, The best sound quality EVER on this freakin planet. (The best video streaming also)
Even if your microphone works not correctly, that sucker can show whats wrong with it and if you need to change your microphone or not.
It’s simple, intuitive and smart in every aspect.

There are no services that is even close to Skype. It’s fantastic. Even STEAM started to use Skype, just for the sake of better quality.

8.5 billion of dollars spent in the right direction.

That service is perfect.

@18, “It wouldn’t be too difficult to create their own video chat service.”

Yeah right. Even Microsoft tried it and failed. No one even close to that service.

Even Steam started to use it for the sake of better quality. Sony will never make such a quality service, they can’t even Update APACHE and protect their customers.

Wow!! That’s really some news.
I was dreaming that PS3 has Skype in it, and this happened..
I really hope they continue supporting other platforms specially Linux, but I really doubt it..

Now what’s next to buy?

Blimey!

Maybe I am being totally stupid but $8.5 billion sounds like a crazy amount of money for a free service.

Skype doesn’t even advertise anything other than their own services so what would give it that kind of price tag? I don’t think it will be a bad thing, I love Skype and I love MS and I love Live.

@24, Sony!

In the near future, I’d like to see a merger between Sony & Google. Sony’s got the right hardware & Google has excellent software, how great would it be to see Android on future Bravias?

@ freedoms_stain
Yeah I guess your right. Skype is souly there for chat so obviously its going to be better. I’m not saying its bad thing just a bit surprised, came pretty much out of the blue for no apparent reason. Although if MS though it could make money out of something that would be their reason.
@all the “why” people? there’s only one that I can see and that’s me.

@27, that would be ultra shocking, but i guess they need x8 times more then 8.5 billion

@23, Prove that Sony didn’t update Apache. As far as I’m aware, that’s just a rumour with no true source.

Hey MS, cans I borrow a dolla?

@31, http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/psn-servers-were-unpatched-and-had-no-firewall-installed-secu/ Case closed.

also, their services from a get go sucks. They always failed with a software and always will.
Apple kicked their ass with the app store, now microsoft kicked it in the face.

Sony? Trying to catch up.

thanks for the rundown erth

I need a dolla, dolla, dolla is what I need, hey hey.

Holy Smokes that’s alot of dough!

@33, Read your own link.
“It’s important to note that his account of the situation and information is second-hand”

Of course it’s from a second hand. You though Sony will say it so everybody could just SELL their PS3′s?

It’s confidential information. But we all know Sony… Yeah…

Well then, for the first time i’m jealous of you Xbox owners (going to buy one soon this year)

You said case closed, & you were also acting as if all of what you said was fact without any proof, I really don’t understand your idea of logic.
Maybe you’re just being a smartarse for the hell of it.

Now careful Christopher, your getting defensive. Not letting guys knock Sony with their rumour & gossip could get you banned!!

*Lol, don’t hurt me Pat!!*

Erz are you forgetting the rule about not derailing a thread by needlessly trolling another platform? Tut tut

Assuming that will enable in game chat, with ‘non XBL Skype’ users then that’s pretty cool also.

@33 (@39,@40) That particular piece of FUD has already since been proven to be a total fabrication and conjecture. Caches of the servers showed that they were fully up to date.

Check the facts, not the FUD.

21:
skype has the most efficient codec?
wut?
skype is by far the most bandwith consuming voice chat service out there.
dont get me wrong, it has good quality, but needs alot of bandwith.

33:
the problem with sony and its service is that it gets done in japan.
They should FINALY face it and outsource Firmware, PSN and services to western teritories..

Don’t worry Kerplunk i’m well aware of the fud

Now about that Skype…. Basically Live is gonna have a free phone service right? I’d be able to turn on my 360 & chat to my dad on his pc for free? Or am i mistaken?

#42 would you please send the link to this?

@45 Sure

^
http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/219294/sonys-servers-were-up-to-date/

@42, if it’s true you should gve us a link. Because i it was protected to date no of tis bullshit would not happen.
It’s not just PSN, but their servers and Sony’s sites. You think it’s just a coincidence?

Anyway, Sony didn’t protected their own customers which is a shame. If you can’t then don’t try creating an audience.

@48: “@42, if it’s true you should gve us a link. Because i it was protected to date no of tis bullshit would not happen.
It’s not just PSN, but their servers and Sony’s sites. You think it’s just a coincidence?

Anyway, Sony didn’t protected their own customers which is a shame. If you can’t then don’t try creating an audience.”

Hush.

Would be nice if we could keep from derailing this thing into another mega thread about Sony and its downed PSN.