Microsoft Buys Skype...

KingIsaacLinksr · May 10, 2011, 08:10:12 AM

Well, Microsoft buys Skype, just great...

http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html?cm_mmc=PXFB%7C0700_B6-_-acquisition-20110510

I am not looking forward to this, but at this point, Skype was already on a downward turn in terms of Quality so maybe Microsoft can save it. But they have just as much power to really make it bad.

King

P.S.

I've already had people leave Skype. Thanks a lot Microsoft, just when I had everyone on Skype, you just had to buy them because your unwilling to do the job yourself.

ElfManDan · May 10, 2011, 08:31:11 AM

Long as it still works and works on my Mac I'm don't really care. I'm just not gonna worry about it unless they start screwing something up or forcing us to pay. I don't think now is time to jump ship.

Rico · May 10, 2011, 08:32:48 AM

Tim, I'm not sure where or how you use Skype, but I've used it a long time and the quality has improved for me and most people I talk to (actually the quality has a TON to do with your internet connection). I also think you are jumping to conclusions about what MS might do or not do with them.

billybob476 · May 10, 2011, 08:36:05 AM

Most likely they will replace Windows Live Messenger with Skype. It does everything messenger does but better. Also there will be integration with XBox Live, Windows Phone 7, Outlook and their Office Live products.

Personally I think this is a good thing for Skype. eBay hasn't done a damn thing with Skype since they purchased it a few years back. Microsoft has been on the ball of late, I'm interested to see where they go. I'd be very amazed if they converted it to pay only. That's not something Microsoft has historically done.

billybob476 · May 10, 2011, 08:36:54 AM

Quote from: Rico on May 10, 2011, 08:32:48 AM
Tim, I'm not sure where or how you use Skype, but I've used it a long time and the quality has improved for me and most people I talk to (actually the quality has a TON to do with your internet connection). I also think you are jumping to conclusions about what MS might do or not do with them.

I've been hearing reports that the current version of Skype is quite buggy, though I imagine a maintenance release would fix most of those issues. I haven't had any issues recently myself.

QuadShot · May 10, 2011, 08:37:20 AM

Tim, I've never really had issues with quality either. In fact, the only two times I've experienced any issue at all, the other party had a bad internet connection and it dropped the call. We use Skype all the time to do interviews and stuff for our podcasts, and to date, it's been highly reliable. The only thing I'm concerned about with MS purchasing them is the possibility that it won't be free any more, but like Rico said, no sense in jumping to conclusions just yet. Who knows? Maybe MS will make it even better? No more goofy audio drops when people talk over one another! :)

KingIsaacLinksr · May 10, 2011, 08:41:11 AM

Quote from: Rico on May 10, 2011, 08:32:48 AM
Tim, I'm not sure where or how you use Skype, but I've used it a long time and the quality has improved for me and most people I talk to (actually the quality has a TON to do with your internet connection). I also think you are jumping to conclusions about what MS might do or not do with them.

It's hard not to. Every time these big companies come into a product, it more often than not gets worse and/or more expensive. Name one product that has been the exception to the rule.

I am not jumping ship yet, but friends of mine hate Microsoft with a passion and it's hard to blame them. I don't need to relist their history here...but it hasn't been pretty.

For me though, the UI has been going downhill, and i have to restart Skype fairly often in order to get all my friends online as sometimes they won't show up, even if they've been online for a while. And they do too. And calls will often deteriorate to pretty bad quality too. This has been on going for a while now.

King

X · May 10, 2011, 08:43:06 AM

I agree with Billybob. Anyone jumping ship because MS bought is pretty much being over dramatic. They have successfully own the Sidekick and the company that makes it for a while.

I think it's yet another time where people are trying to paint MS as so sort of bad thing when they aren't. Microsoft has done right by me for a while and they are trying their best to protect their products.

Skype can only win from this.

Dangelus · May 10, 2011, 08:44:38 AM

Not a huge Skype user but never had any major issues with it. It is an essential tool for a lot of people worldwide (especially podcasters!) so I'm hoping they have big plans for it.

The interesting thing is that Skype has still failed to make a profit so it will be interesting to see what Microsoft's intentions are in purchasing.

Microsoft does have a history of buying things to shut them down to give their native products dominance so I wouldn't rule that out.

ElfManDan · May 10, 2011, 08:46:23 AM

Skype on X-Box Live. I didn't even think of that. Now I'm actually thinking this could be a good thing all the stuff they can do with that. And I'm thinking I'm gonna have an X-Box to play when I move.

QuadShot · May 10, 2011, 08:46:38 AM

Quote from: Kingisaaclinksr on May 10, 2011, 08:41:11 AM
Quote from: Rico on May 10, 2011, 08:32:48 AM
Tim, I'm not sure where or how you use Skype, but I've used it a long time and the quality has improved for me and most people I talk to (actually the quality has a TON to do with your internet connection). I also think you are jumping to conclusions about what MS might do or not do with them.

It's hard not to. Every time these big companies come into a product, it more often than not gets worse and/or more expensive. Name one product that has been the exception to the rule.

I am not jumping ship yet, but friends of mine hate Microsoft with a passion and it's hard to blame them. I don't need to relist their history here...but it hasn't been pretty.

For me though, the UI has been going downhill, and i have to restart Skype fairly often in order to get all my friends online as sometimes they won't show up, even if they've been online for a while. And they do too. And calls will often deteriorate to pretty bad quality too. This has been on going for a while now.

King

But Tim, you've mentioned a lot on the forums here about your horrible internet service. Are you certain it isn't that that's causing issues with Skype?

X · May 10, 2011, 08:48:30 AM

Quote from: QuadShot on May 10, 2011, 08:46:38 AM

But Tim, you've mentioned a lot on the forums here about your horrible internet service. Are you certain it isn't that that's causing issues with Skype?

That's a good point. It's pretty easy to blame the software company for your issues when it could be your system and/or connection.

KingIsaacLinksr · May 10, 2011, 08:49:02 AM

It is possible. (which is why I haven't jumped ship). But the friends who have left have also had the same problem getting people they know online in their friends list and they have way better Internet connections.

The two points that are relevant: buggy interface and bugs period. These haven't improved as of late.

King

Dangelus · May 10, 2011, 08:51:36 AM

Quote from: Sheppard on May 10, 2011, 08:46:23 AM
Skype on X-Box Live. I didn't even think of that. Now I'm actually thinking this could be a good thing all the stuff they can do with that. And I'm thinking I'm gonna have an X-Box to play when I move.

Good call. They may have purchased it for the infrastructure. as long a free calls don't go then all is good.

Rico · May 10, 2011, 08:52:32 AM

Tim - I use Skype quite a bit. Hardly ever have an issue with it and if I ever do, it's the rare person that gets dropped during a chat call. And they typically are having a "bad connection" day. I'm really sorry you and your friends have such problems with MS. My experiences over the years with them have not been like that. Are they perfect - certainly not. But I like many of the products they produce. The simple answer if you don't like them is to not use them. Pretty easy.