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Sep 29, 2010

What Facebook and Skype Integration Would Mean For You

Facebook and Skype integration! That's the rumor. But beyond the intermingling of two major tech companies, the important question is: how's this going to affect you?

Video Chat With Facebook Friends From Skype

Just to be clear: this wouldn't mean that you'd be able to Skype video chat through Facebook. Not yet, anyway. Instead, when this supposedly goes live in a few weeks with Skype 5.0, you'd be able to connect with your Facebook friends list through Skype. Still pretty handy! And in-browser video chat is apparently seen as a "logical progression" to the partnership, meaning it could well happen down the line.

And Text Them, Too!

According to the WSJ, the deal would also include SMS, which definitely wouldn't get annoying after a while.

Facebook Phone's Own FaceTime?

Facebook denies that they've got a phone in the works—much less two—but that's a product that would definitely benefit from deep Skype integration. Skype's currently only available on Verizon phone.

A Google Voice Alternative

Specifically, an alternative to making calls in Gmail. That's not to say that a Facebook/Skype VoIP solution would be better, necessarily. But if you for some reason want to break free of big G, or don't have a Google account to begin with, you'd have a viable alternative. Choice is good!

You'll Actually Use Skype

As wonderful as Skype is, less than a quarter of its 560 million members are active. When they add what's arguably your most comprehensive Rolodex—your list of Facebook friends—you might be tempted to actually use other parts of the service once in a while. And eventually maybe even cut that cellphone voice plan loose.

77 comments:

Gordon said...

Honestly I'm not too hot with Facebook right now. Skype is awesome, and I hope they don't integrate... That would be a bad thing.

Rezden said...

If they integrate, I hope you can still use them exclusively. Thanks for the comment

Touch and Feel said...

Hm...I'm not sure if I would like this.

la comédie said...

nice post

TheCoolIgloo said...

This is exactly what ive been waiting for

Sean Clark said...

It means my people from both places would be able to annoy me.

This Guy: said...

well.. this means that my facebook might get more use out of me.

Janus Kane said...

Well shit... I'm not the only one revolting against Facebook. Glad to see my revolutionaries out there with a pulse and a sense of purpose.

Comeatmebro, you're forgiven, because I hold you as a brother.
-JKane

Light Weight Baby! said...

I like your ideas here :)

Piripi Anxo said...

awsm post!

Piripi Anxo said...

dont reall use skype doh...

Anonymous said...

Not a fan of this... Anything plus facebook is just kind of evil

Koniworld said...

good ideas... it would make world comunication faster.. as like as business

llllollllll said...

I'm so sick of facebook.

C.J. Hyatt said...

Do not know if want. I hate the whole concept of being available in text form 24/7. Webcam/voice too? Ugh.

Mutefox said...

I foresee all traditional forms of communication being superseded by internet voice/text services like Skype. They're so much cheaper, at the very least.

LoneIslander said...

This sounds pretty decent. My father uses Skype right now since the service in the area he's in sucks for ATT

milanoac said...

skype is nice.... however being in information security i'm not a big facebook fan....

supp and followin'

http://twitter.com/milanoac666

neon_shaman said...

Im so over everything being integrated with Facebook. All these "me-too" ideas are stagnating innovation.

Iburnaga said...

Remember that creepy guy or girl you really don't want to talk to but haven't taken them off your Facebook because you forgot they were there? Well they can call you at any time using the new Skybook service!

Earl said...

Thanks for this - interesting post man. Keep in touch... Look forward to more.

Mecha Six VII said...

I am excited about this news

Bruno said...

Skype was a great idea while it was free, but having to pay for another phone line that you use on your computer, not many people are going to buy into it, especially when they have cell phones already, I would only use skype to prank call people and some times it's just worth it :)

Robert said...

Im not really excited by this news it but nice informative post. Im sure alot of people will be happy about it.

Asher said...

This sounds like a good idea for people like my mother... she's not too good with computers, but she knows how to use "the facebooks"

Probably want.

Rubilax said...

I'm honestly surprised that only a fraction of Skype users are active. :< I'm usually in a skype call if I'm awake, so I'm VERY active.

Chris said...

Wow, is this real? That sounds pretty great, as much as I don't like Facebook... It will probably be pretty useful

Drackar said...

Until they make domestic calling free, Google will always have a selling feature over skype.

Still...google makes me a bit leery.

Ishu said...

Hell yeah, I use skype a lot, and now with this! so cool!

Chris said...

I don't even know what i'd do...i'd never leave my computer!

theshmarge said...

There are already links to facebook all over the internet. It doesn't need to merge with anything else.

AnnoNeuvo said...

Seems pretty cool! Updating my Skype as we speak :P

Austin Da Silveira said...

interesting, this might put a pretty big dent in younger people adopting google voice over skype

Naj said...

well, i like the idea.

Johnn said...

Ehhh... Everyone on my skype's on my facebook too. Plus, I barely use facebook anyway. I don't see this affecting me at all.

Mr. Black said...

Wow, I hope this comes to fruition!

Anonymous said...

Pretty cool info. Thanks for the comment.

Rawr said...

nice post

Lewis Chan said...

i dont think this is a good idea

Skimbosh said...

Maybe this will cause Skype to enhance their (practically non-existent) customer service.

Mesty said...

This looks like a good idea!
Mesty =)

killerkun said...

I like them better separated, maybe some interactive stuff between them would be fine i guess...

darkmanx said...

Would be pretty cool since I know more people on facebook and zero on skype.

The Reviever said...

I use Skype very often, FB less.
I wonder what would come off this combination... Both companies are REALLY popular...

Aaron said...

You are seriously the best blogger I know so far - you have such good posts with such frequency - so impressive!

Unknown said...

Actually hope this happens. I love facebook and skype and having them sort of together would make my online life easier.

JeevesTheHitman said...

Rezden brings up a very good point. Will they just mash everything together? I hope not.

Dorsia said...

I hope I can still use them by themselves too

Stargazer said...

Facebook is wearing on me. I wonder what will replace it like it replaced myspace?

Food Man said...

facebook's days seem to be numbered. hopefully... =P

JadedTechie said...

Neither a member of Facebook or Skype...I have thus far avoided getting into the whole of the Web 2.0 hype, except I broke down and finally started a blogger account last weekend...so guess I am no longer immune to the lure of the new social networking phenom. Signed, the well-versed Luddite

DongAlong said...

Skype is, well, is it really up to all the Hype?

West0o3 said...

Very interesting i use skype a lot already so i could see this being useful to me

HENRY said...

this not good for me

BLUERAD said...

Pretty crazy stuff, I wonder exactly what will happen from now on, and if its going to really open up new possibilities

hunter time said...

thats kinda coool

Anonymous said...

Very interesting post. By the way love your blog name its hilarious!

Splash87 said...

Ill make my judgment when I get my hands on it.

Shane said...

Interesting possibilities

Unknown said...

I'm somewhat indifferent about both Facebook and Skype, so I don't have an opinion about the merge. I just hope it doesn't make any of them to clunky.

max said...

I dont use skype so I have no idea how this would/will look like :)

RandomlyRated said...

doesn't have a facebook account, so i could care less ^^

iammyself said...

this is going to be insane if true

Crunky said...

Facebook is just for pranking people, no?

fat daddy said...

interesting. will have to wait and see what happens.

applecider said...

facebook is taking over the world!

Lil Pee said...

Hmm.. am I the only one that gets worried when companies start consolidating/joining up?

I feel like there's no free market competition.

Unknown said...

I dont like facebook, this site looks to me unorganized and everyone send me every 4 hours a silly game, that I play o0
It sucks really ... i like skype ^^

Much Poopies! said...

nobody can call me in mah cave! >=(

iMonei said...

itneresting

Michele said...

Cool bro! :D
Supp

brobrocop said...

I don't like this at all, there are some people I just don't want to know I have skype.

TSFan said...

facebook = don't use it
skype = don't use it
anyone i want to talk to, has a cell phone, i can just call em on that, everyones basically got unlimited minutes now, i haven't heard anyone say to me, "my minutes are running low" in years.
my dad uses skype tho, i set it up for him, so he can webcam chat with his friends in scotland.

ShredGuitar said...

Very nice.

Archivist X0042 said...

dim future

Car Enthusiast said...

pretty sweet

Anonymous College Student said...

Mite be cool.