Sunday, December 5, 2010

Skype’s Move To The Web

Skype long has been a client-based service, but Skype now is planning on adding browser plug-in access as well, which should make the service available to many more people.

Skype is hoping to launch its web-based service in the first quarter of next year. Skype is reported to be talking to sites such as LinkedIn for integration.

Most proponents of IP-based voice have assumed such integration would happen, for some years. So it isn't so much the move to a "no client" access, but rather than the access will be happening on a major scale.

On the Internet, there might typically be few significant barriers to entry. But there are lots of barriers to gaining scale. Skype is about to become more dangerous for firms that compete against it directly, and some that compete indirectly.

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