MS buys Skype - will it support Linux

[Oleg Goldshmidt]

2011/5/11 Amos Shapira <amos.shapira at gmail.com>:
> 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 guess they aren't daft enough to just drop it but would they shuffle their
> feet even more when working on none-Windows platforms (as if they aren't far
> enough behind already)?

I usually avoid speculating on what might happen because someone makes
this or that business decision. I realize that my information on
reasons/underlyings/etc. is limited.

However, I am a Skype user - a paying one - on Linux and since
recently on Android, so I got very interested over the last couple of
days when first the rumours started and then the official announcement
went out. So I'll offer a couple of thoughts.

Skype for me is a very useful tool to be in touch with family and
friends when we are in different countries. I have a Skype-out account
and I use it to call friends abroad or to call Israel when I travel. I
may start looking for alternatives, but so far nothing comes to mind
when I consider the requirements:

- my friends and family having an account on the service to stay in
touch for free
- seamless integration into Linux+Android
- cheap (compared to any "special" offer I have ever received from
long-distance providers) international calls to phones, especially
mobile phones, from any country (OK, Europe+N.America+Israel as
primary targets) to any other country.

If anyone has suggestions, I am curious.

Linux Skype versions are far behind than Windows even today, but since
I don't use video or anything fancy, just regular voice and chat,
that's OK as long as it works. I don't much care if the latest bells
and whistles get to my platforms later or not at all.

If memory serves, the only product MS have ever seriously supported on
another platform is Office on Mac (and MS were major stakeholders of
Apple at thwe time, weren't they?), so the possibility that they'll
drop Skype development/support is a concern. Especially since Skype
cannot be forked. Having said that, I suspect that rumours of Skype's
imminent death have been a bit exaggerated. I paid attention that
Ballmer specifically said they would continue support, and that Skype
is going to remain, at least initially, a separate business with a
separate road map. This is, mind you, a money-losing company with
something like 320 employees. I read it as an attempt to protect Skype
from being swallowed by some MS division with its own objectives and
priorities. This may change in the future but I doubt we are at much
risk in the short term.

I doubt MS will discontinue Android/iOS support quickly - that user
base, as opposed to Linux desktop user base, is of primary importance.
It is also important from the following point of view: I am sure they
have Skype on Windows phones in mind (I don't think it is there at
present), and this may stir up trouble with telcos. Having all the
Android and iOS mass on their side may be important in that fight.

If you don't want to pay a single penny to MS for - respected -
ideological reasons that's a consideration, of course.

I suspect that one major reason to own Skype is advertising potential
of the user base, in whatever shape of form it may come (pay a few
bucks to get rid of the ads is one route). This *is* a concern,
especially if they start analysing my personal data, whom I call,
etc., for "targeted ads".

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | pub at goldshmidt.org