MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

[Ely Levy]

On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Nadav Har'El <nyh at math.technion.ac.il> wrote:
> On Wed, May 11, 2011, Amos Shapira wrote about "MS buys Skype - will it support Linux":
>> In case this haven't hit your newspad yet:
>> http://blogs.skype.com/en/2011/05/microsoft_will_acquire_skype.html
>>
>> Any ideas on what it implies for none-Windows platform support?
>
> I am not aware of *any* Microsoft product that is officially supported on
> Linux. So I don't think there's any chance that a Linux version of Skype
> will continue to exist.
>
> That being said, three questions remain to be answered:
>
> 1. How hard is it to create a free front-end to the Skype servers? For
>   example, ICQ never had (as far as I know) a Linux version, but I've been
>   using it for years through free clients like (today) Pidgin.
>
very hard, it's encrypted on development protocol.

> 2. With all the world moving to VOIP and video chats, is Skype still unique?
>   I know that Google Voice is available (but not in Israel...), and probably
>   others (I didn't look too hard).
>
Yes, but the unique features are not available on linux anyhow (such
as multi person video chatting).
Skype is also very easy and comfortable to configure. I've been trying
to find a good opensource replacement
on linux for years now:(

> 3. Will Microsoft also drop support for Skype on non-Microsoft smartphone OSs
>   (iOS, android, etc.)?
>
Probably, it seems that they are aiming for xbox/new windows mobile phones.


Ely
> --
> Nadav Har'El                        |     Wednesday, May 11 2011, 7 Iyyar 5771
> nyh at math.technion.ac.il             |-----------------------------------------
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