Judging by the way Microsoft plans to swallow Skype, namely as a new division with former Skype CEO Tony Bates as President, the Skype technologies will not be folded into Windows Live Messenger and Lync, but instead continue to survive in a standalone offer. Windows Live Messenger and Lync users will undoubtedly recognize similarities with the instant messaging and communications offerings they’re currently leveraging from Microsoft. While I’ll be the first to admit that Windows Live Messenger, Lync and Microsoft Skype are tailored to specific scenarios, their core functionality and features still overlap.Īt this point in time, Skype offers conference calls, voicemail, caller ID, file sharing, Facebook News Feed, Skype To Go numbers, call forwarding, screen sharing, SMS, online numbers, call transfer, Instant messaging, free video calling, Skype calls, group video calling, just to name the client’s main features. Provided that antitrust authorities give green light to the acquisition of Skype, the Redmond company’s communications offerings will involve the good old Windows Live Messenger and Lync for end users and business customers respectively, as well as Microsoft Skype, which is already leveraged by both audiences. Microsoft is certainly no stranger to overlapping services and products, and its latest $8.5 billion move all but guarantees that the company will compete against itself while fostering confusion among customers.

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