Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
The New Age of Telecommunications
Friday, May 13, 2011 by Michelle Hartley
In signing an agreement Tuesday to pay $8.5 billion dollars for
acquisition, Microsoft is now the proud owners of Skype, one of first providers of Internet phone
calls. The article "For Microsoft, Skype Opens Vast New Market in
Telecom," from New York Times writer Steve Lohr states that
"By stitching Skype technology into Microsoft products, used by
hundreds of millions of people, the software giant could hasten the
mainstream adoption of video communications, especially in
businesses." Similar to how we look things up by "Googling it," we
talk to people via the internet by "Skyping" them. A giant
influence in the field of technology, Microsoft can propel video
technology from the future of telecommunications to the
present.
In terms of the use in small businesses -- the options are
endless. Startup companies with painfully small budgets can utilize
this technology to get face to face with potential clients, at
little to no cost to them. Skype has already been useful for larger
businesses with offices nationally and even internationally. While
phone conferencing has been the traditional efficient method of
keeping in contact with offices overseas, conducting meetings with
Skype allows for people not present to see presentations and people
face to face -- or the closest thing to it.
For what seems like the first time in a long time, Microsoft
will have the upper hand over Google. While Google currently has a
video conferencing option, Skype comes with a big name - and
following. In an attempt to keep that current base and encourage
more users to join, Microsoft is promising to keep its amount of
free services, but also notes that they intend on expanding their
offerings and increasing investments. For instance, the NY Times
notes that Skype can connect to Kinect, a Microsoft video game
software that senses movement, to set up video conferencing on your
flat screen TV in the comfort of your own home. Furthermore, in a
business sense Skype can be linked to Microsoft Office productivity
programs to help coworkers collaborate easier on projects.
Skype is one of those products that first started in the
consumer market and is finally making its way to the business
environment. The digital world is invading upon almost every facet
of our daily lives, work and home, and the way we communicate via
the telephone is no exception.
Until next time -
Michelle Hartley
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
DC IT Support &
Consulting
Outsourced Marketing Services
Leave comment: