Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Are Microsoft and Skype on their way to world domination?

Mark Bridge writes:

The TV in the bedroom switches on. “It’s 6.45am. Good morning, Mark. Here are your news headlines for Tuesday 14th June 2016.”

The announcer sounds remarkably like Holly Aird, which is hardly surprising because the actor has licensed her voice to the Skype software in my television.

“Holly, video call, please. James”.

It’s not a particularly new TV, so I make sure I’m in front of the Kinect bar when I speak. The main television downstairs has the familiar three-sensor Microsoft layout built in, but the bedroom TV is plugged into a Kinect 2. My avatar appears on-screen; its torso is mirroring my movements and my appearance, except that it’s clean-shaven and wearing a suit.

“Morning, James"!”

James is apparently not in the office. The blurred background I see on my TV suggests his iPhone X is concentrating on James’s face rather than the whole picture. He’s clearly not yet upgraded to the premium bandwidth service offered by the recently merged Apple/Orange partnership...


Okay, okay. Entirely fictional. I’m no Cory Doctorow. And I’m no futurist. But the merger of Microsoft and Skype has got me thinking. This isn’t - as Tomi Ahonen recently pointed out - about the merged company taking on mobile network operators by incorporating a voice-over-IP service with Windows Phone 7. Anyway, before too long everything’ll be VoIP on 4G. I’d say it’s more about the merged company taking on all communications. World domination.

After all, the Microsoft that many of us grew up with appeared to be ubiquitous. Adding Skype to the Microsoft family isn’t simply a commercial decision - it’s a marketing decision. It may even be Microsoft’s new loss-leader.

Incorporating Skype with Microsoft Outlook might be an internal political battle - but it’s possible. Skype’s already created an Outlook toolbar. Putting Skype technology in Lync is even more likely. How about Skype on Xbox?  Then there’s Skype on Mac, Skype on Linux, Skype on Android, Skype on iPhone, Skype on Symbian, Skype on TV...

Yes, the deal could still go wrong. Yes, the current focus on Skype could help a competitor gain traction. But if I were Google, I’d be a bit worried. And that’s probably a good indicator this wasn’t the poor deal many people think.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Operating systems, Applications, OpinionNumber of views: 11955

Tags: microsoft voip skype

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Last week at The Fonecast: 12th August 2013

Welcome to the not-so-silly season

Mark Bridge writes:

August is traditionally known as the ‘silly season’… but last week’s mobile industry news was all very serious. Apple started with a move designed to reassure customers about unsafe iPhone chargers by arranging a discounted exchange scheme – and it ended the week with a patent victory in the USA.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Dual Core Smartphones only £7.70pm... whatever that means

Mark Bridge writes:

Don't sell the steak – sell the sizzle!  That's the mantra of many salespeople. It's all about emphasising the benefits of a product rather than its features. You don't tell people about the 13 megapixel camera when they ask about the new LG smartphone, you tell them it'll capture the first steps of their precious young nephew in pin-sharp accuracy. Or something like that.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile retailers waste over £21.6 million a year on unnecessarily sending mobile phones for repair

David Heled of Cellebrite writes:

Smartphones are now by far and away the communication, payment and information device of choice for consumers and enterprises. Sales are set to overtake those of traditional feature phones this year for the first time. However, the increasing complexity of the devices’ technology means that there’s a lot more that can go wrong, and make it harder for mobile retailers to identify potential problems – and it’s costing them millions per every year.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Last week at The Fonecast: 29th July 2013

Surprises and statistics

Mark Bridge writes:

Google’s big announcement last week involved the company introducing Android v4.3 (as expected), launching a new Nexus 7 tablet (as expected) and also revealing a ‘Chromecast’ HDMI adaptor that’ll stream from most portable devices. That was more of a surprise.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Top Ofcom tips when taking your smartphone or tablet abroad

Mark Bridge writes:

With the school term over and August just a few days away, UK telecom regulator Ofcom has published a new guide to help travellers avoid ‘bill shock’ after using their mobile phones, tablets and laptops abroad.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First1213141517192021Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«December 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2526272829301
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
303112345

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement