Analysis for 'Communications'

• Facebook-Skype Integration Could Be Next Big Inflection Point for Video Use

  Wednesday, July 6, 2011, 3:52 PM ET

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  Posted by Will Richmond
  Facebook and Skype introduced an elegant integration earlier today which allows Facebook members to easily video chat with each other. The demo looks slick; you simply go to a friend's profile page or find them in the chat window, click on the video camera icon and are connected. One big benefit of the integration vs. the way Skype ordinarily works is that you can instantly communicate with your friend on Facebook that you want to have a video call and if the friend doesn't have the Skype plug-in they can download it in 20-30 seconds and get started.
  
  By taking a lot of the friction out of video chatting, and by exposing this feature to Facebook's 750 million users, this new feature could become the next big inflection point for online and mobile video usage. Over the last 5 years online and mobile video usage has exploded, and arguably YouTube, Hulu, Netflix and Apple have been the main drivers. YouTube's user-generated and sharing roots exposed tens of millions of people to watching video online in the first place. Then Hulu and Netflix capitalized on this awareness by making household-name premium quality video available. Apple has played its part introducing mobile devices (iPhone, iPod, iPad) that enable more convenient, flexible viewing.
  

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  Categories: Communications, Social Media

  Topics: Facebook, Skype

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• Comcast and Skype Partner for TV-Based HD Video Calling

  Monday, June 13, 2011, 6:01 PM ET

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  Posted by Will Richmond
  On the eve of the Cable Show, Comcast and Skype are announcing a partnership that will enable TV-based HD video calling. Comcast subscribers using the new service will be able to make Skype video and audio calls while at the same time watching TV. On-screen caller ID will pop-up when a Skype call is received. A Comcast spokesman told me last week that customer trials are set to begin soon (word actually began leaking out last week).
  
  For Skype, the partnership is another route into the living room as it seeks to become a ubiquitous communications platform. Early last year Skype announced it was working with Samsung and Panasonic to embed the Skype app in certain connected TV models, and it also offers a variety of HD web cams for sale on its site. For Comcast, Skype is an enhancement to its Xfinity TV service and mobile app that creates some interesting new integrated communications and social media experiences.
  

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  Categories: Cable TV Operators, Communications

  Topics: Comcast, Skype

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• Skype 5.0 for Mac Launches With Slick Group Video Calling

  Friday, January 28, 2011, 10:40 AM ET

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  Posted by Will Richmond
  Yesterday Skype took the beta label off its 5.0 version for Mac users, which it originally began testing last Nov. 5.0 sports the ultra-cool group video calling feature that Skype unveiled at CES a few weeks ago. Group video calling allows up to 10 Skype users (though Skype itself recommends no more than 5) to watch each other while talking. Skype had earlier released a neat video (below) of various ways group calling can be used. The only bad news is that group video calling requires subscribing to the "Premium" package for $9/mo, or buying a day pass for $5.
  
  

  Categories: Communications

  Topics: Skype

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