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The Microsoft Skype deal: what might happen (warning, humor ahead)

Microsoft stepped in at the last minute and has picked up Skype, and now the world is debating what the folks in Redmond might do with the prize. Here's a list of things we might see with Microsoft Skype.
Written by James Kendrick, Contributor

The tech world is abuzz with the Microsoft/ Skype deal, and rightly so. Skype has been on the market for a while, and given the amount of cash needed to pick it up the players in the running to buy it were all the big names. Microsoft stepped in at the last minute and has picked up the golden ring, and now the world is debating what the folks in Redmond might do with the prize. Here's a satirical list of things we might see with Microsoft Skype (that sounds so wrong).

  • jk-5-10-microsoft-windows-live-logo-001.jpg
    Skype will be renamed Windows Really Live (WRL) to reflect Microsoft's branding.
  • Windows 8 Ultimate Edition buyers will be able to make Skype (WRL) video calls to other Ultimate Edition buyers at no charge. This won't be possible at Windows 8 launch time, but will come Real Soon after launch. Honest.
  • Windows Phone 7 will be the last smartphone platform to get native Skype (WRL) video call support.
  • Microsoft will release a line of Windows Really Live smartphones with a stripped-down version of Windows Phone 7. The ReKin line will just do video calls, and require an expensive data plan to handle all of that video streaming. It will be aimed at teens with no income. Parents and Microsoft will be surprised when the ReKin phones end up being the product of choice for sexting.
  • The Mac version of Skype will still be around, just several versions behind the WRL version. Mac users will end up calling it FacePlant for obvious reasons.

While these outcomes of the Microsoft purchase of Skype are in jest, there aren't very many people who are happy about the deal. Skype has become a standard in the video/audio calling space, and Microsoft doesn't have a good track record for big company acquisitions. Just ask the Danger team about that, if you can find them.

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