If you are a smartphone fan who prefers to step away from the likes of iOS and Android then this last week will have been an extremely exciting time with Windows Phone 8 hitting the market on some pretty powerful devices, and immediately starting to gain some traction in the smartphone industry. While it's going to take Microsoft a long time in current mobile market to compete on numbers with iOS and Android, the initial reaction to WP8 are generally positive. The Redmond company themselves are now trying to add to the Windows Phone 8 experience with the official preview release of their Skype app for the platform.
With Windows 8 now out and selling in volume, Microsoft has somewhat turned its attentions to other important software implementations. As well as beginning to sell prepaid Skype credit in outlets across Mexico and the United Kingdom, it looks as though Skype will become the Redmond outfit's primary instant messaging service, retiring the long-standing Windows Live Messenger.
Earlier this week, we covered in vague detail, the Skype app for Windows 8, and with Microsoft having promised it would be delivered in time for the October 26th launch of Windows 8, the Redmond-based software maker has delivered it ahead of schedule. As of now, anybody running a preview version of Windows 8 can download Skype from the Windows Store, and those planning to upgrade on Friday will also be able to resume Skyping immediately.
Microsoft caused quite a stir last year when it announced the purchase of Skype for an eye-watering sum total of $8.5 billion. Some touted the sale price as grossly overvaluing of the company - one owned by eBay of course - but when one considers AOL paid 800 million bucks for Bebo, anything looks like a steal in comparison.
In the time period that has elapsed since Microsoft acquired Skype from its previous owners, its fair to say that the Redmond-based company was planning on making some changes to the service and stamping their own seal onto it before going forward. While we are yet to hear of any radical changes for the way in which the service operates, or any new additional user features, Microsoft has developed and released a Windows Phone Skype app, and has today announced that Sony's new portable gaming device - the PS Vita - will also be given the Skype treatment.
For Skype fans, and more specifically those who lean towards the Windows Phone side of the mobile world, it seems as if the official Skype app has been hanging over our heads for quite some time now. Skype for Windows Phone was first released as a public beta at the end of February this year.
Skype, the popular VoIP communications software, has just updated its iPad app, improving visual quality for those using the new Retina display.
Ah Skype, the world wide web’s voice-over-internet protocol of choice and probably the most well known brand name to offer VoIP services. When Niklas Zennström originally created the Skype service, I often wondered if he had any idea that it would become such a popular platform around the world and that the might of Microsoft would ultimately come in and acquire the company like it did last year. For those that may have been living under a rather large rock for the last few years, Skype allows registered users to make worldwide voice calls via the internet as well as offering instant messaging-type services and is available on multiple platforms.
The coming together of both Facebook and Skype began back in July, when the social network rolled Skype calling into its online chat system. All users needed to do was download a small applet, and then they could call each-other using Skype's online telephony system, free of charge.
According to a press release published earlier today, Microsoft has closed and finalized its acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion with approval from both company’s board of directors and regulation committees from around the world.
