(oh yeah, and Skype Gets Video too)
In a highly anticipated move, CNet reported this morning that Skype 2.0, the next version, due out early next year, will come with video capabilities.
Logitech and Creative, by far the industry leaders in webcams, have agreed to partner with Skype for distribution.
Video Skype is not anything we haven't anticipated up to this point. AIM, MSN, and others already offer the service and it's about time Skype did. The rumors on this have been deafening.
But, a highly UNanticipated move was also announced. Skype is entering into a partnership with Six Apart, makers of Movable Type (which powers this blog), Typepad, and LiveJournal when Skype 2.0 comes out in a few months. Typepad and LiveJournal blogs will come with embedded links to Skype. I am assuming they mean those little "Skype Me" buttons will come standard on their blogs. For the CNet article:
"This allows you to see a button on a blog and start talking to the person who publishes that blog," Mena Trott, co-founder and president of Six Apart, said in a phone interview. "That is the next step in blogging."
And, Skype 2.0 will come with a toolbar, similar to the freeware version of Skylook (one of my favorite plugins) builit into the software. I don't know if they can match Skylook's usefulness, but it will be interesting to see if they come close. Sidenote: I recently interviewed Jeremy Hague of Skylook and will post the audio here when it's done.With rumors of Skype's falling apart everywhere, it's not surprising they would choose this time to release this info, a little good news to combat the bad. As much as I love Skype and appreciate it's innovation in the past, I hope this isn't too little too late.
On the other hand, let's be optimistic. Maybe this will turn things around for the company? I must admit I really do hope that is the case. I am not a Skype power user by any means, but it's convenient and, though the quality has been downgraded a little, as of late, usually the sound quality has been pretty good.
Good luck Skype, we're rootin' for ya!
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