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Topic: Browser

Google Chrome going after Skype next?

Summary: Google is gearing up to add real-time video and audio chat functionality right into the Chrome browser.

Matt Weinberger

By Matt Weinberger for Googling Google |

A post to the Google Chromium-dev discussion group indicates that the search giant is gearing up to add real-time video and audio chat functionality right into the Chrome browser. At the core of that initiative is Google's own WebRTC project, and if it's successful, Google could extend it to competing browsers like Opera and Firefox.

The WebRTC project is a joint effort by Google, Mozilla, and Opera, designed to enable real-time communication (RTC) with simple JavaScript APIs in a manner best described as "Skype-like." When WebRTC is implemented in the Chrome browser, developers - or even Google itself - should be able to build HTML5 web apps that let users make and receive video calls.

Now, Gmail and Google Talk users can already make video and audio calls from the browser. But by building it into the Google Chrome browser, it opens the door for all kinds of new chat services and apps. If it works, Opera and Mozilla Firefox will very likely follow suit in their own software.

Skype is the market leader in teleconferencing - it's why Microsoft bought them, after all. But with the backing of three major browsers, can WebRTC end Skype's reign?

Topics: Browser, Collaboration, Google, Social Enterprise

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49 comments
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  • If it works

    Skype works, What Google "has" doesn't.
    I can see MS integrating Skype right into Windows/IE

    Plus you glossed over the fact that Firefox and Opera may want to go with the market leader in teleconferencing - Skype.
    Will Pharaoh
    Reply Vote

    • That would be illegal

      @Will Pharaoh
      I hope Micro$ucks integrates Skype into the kernel right along with IE and WiMP. That way, Winblowz users can be exposed to even more viruses and M$ can get fined billions of dollars for being illegally anti-competitive!
      woulddie4apple
      Reply Vote

      • I don't think you know how anti-competitive works

        With IE being, according to some sources, below 50%, there is no anti-competitive thing here. They have no monopoly on Web Browsing.

        The rest of your post is as ignorant as the start.
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        @woulddie4apple

        Moron unless IE and Skype plan to use .Sys files then there is no kernel level components so therefore no there they are not at the kernel integrated and i just checked my sys32 folder and yep no IE .sys files...
        Viper589
        Reply Vote

      • I'm pretty sure IE is integrated into the Windows kernel

        @woulddie4apple
        What other reason could there possibly be for why IE is so regularly exploited?
        woulddie4apple
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        @woulddie4apple

        The consent decree has expired, so unless another lawsuit comes up they can do what they want. And another lawsuit would be hard to prove in today's world given that the competition integrates even more into the kernel (and the OS in total) than MS even comes close to doing.
        Michael Kelly
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        @woulddie4apple

        I think you need to spell check your blub. Sorry, you loose.
        The one and only, Cylon Centurion
        Reply Vote

      • you're such an obvious troll would die 4 apple

        @woulddie4apple

        Or should that 'would die ' be pronouced "Woody" ?
        Will Pharaoh
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        You still don't get it.

        If they integrated Skype into IE, they wouldn't have to integrate it into the kernel level. Obviously you don't know how browsers work, or how much of anything works.
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

      • But IE is integrated into the kernel

        Duh.
        woulddie4apple
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        And what does that have to do with an anti-trust suit concerning Skype?
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

      • and...

        @woulddie4apple : Grow up dimwit. You don't think Safari is exploiuted? What planet do you live on. Reminder that IE controls about 65% of the browser users on the Internet. Safari? Maybe 5% and those are generally novice users who don't know enough to switch to something of a modern browser like Firefox or at worse Opera.
        Gis Bun
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        @woulddie4apple

        There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see.
        jinxbob
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

        @woulddie4apple
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        upinson
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    • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

      @Will Pharaoh : A few years back it was "Microsoft has a mobile OS, Google *doesn't*".

      With the usage of Chrome and Firefox growing faster than IE9 (they will have to get rid of IE7 SOMEDAY), I am not very sure if the picture is that rosy.
      Lord_of_the_Singhs
      Reply Vote

      • Chrome and Firefox run on XP, IE9 doesn't

        @Lord_of_the_Singhs
        so all MS has to do is integrate Skype into IE8 and IE9, and as people upgrade to Win 7, IE9 will grow alongside it.

        It's not like XP users have a choice to go with IE9, but they do have a choice of the others. Maybe not want they wanted, but it's all they have.
        Will Pharaoh
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

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    • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

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  • RE: Google Chrome going after Skype next?

    Anyone know what Skype's browser plugins actually do? I know that they make it so any phone number on the web can be instantly Skypecalled with a click, but I never delved into what else the plugin could do.
    Aerowind
    Reply Vote

  • I won't use Google or M$ products

    I only use FaceTime and if someone doesn't have FaceTime, I don't talk to them.
    woulddie4apple
    Reply Vote
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