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Tag: Skype

  • Skype to shut down after two decades in operation

    Skype to shut down after two decades in operation

    Microsoft is shutting down Skype, the internet-based phone and video service that was once the dominant way of staying connected in the mid 2000s.

    Skype will “no longer be available” to use starting in May, the company confirmed on X, telling users that their log-in information can be used on Microsoft Teams’ free tier in the “coming days.”

    Skype’s shutdown comes 14 years after Microsoft bought the service for $8.5 billion in cash, marking the company’s largest ever acquisition at the time. Microsoft integrated the service into its other products, such as Office and its ill-fated mobile operating service Windows Phone.

    “Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey,” Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, said in a blog post. “We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways.”

    Read Also: Google organises AI workshop for journalists in Lagos

    Skype’s popularity has faded in recent years, despite a pandemic bounce that lifted other competing products, including Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex. Skype has also faced increased competition over the last decade and a half from apps like Apple’s FaceTime and Meta’s WhatsApp. Plus, Microsoft has been investing heavily in Teams, which offers many of the same services.

    Skype launched in 2003 in Estonia and quickly caught on as a way to make free calls worldwide, a notable perk considering international calling on traditional phones used to be expensive. The service quickly became popular, leading eBay to buy it in 2005 for $2.6 billion. However, the partnership did not work out, and eBay sold its 65% stake in Skype to an investor group for $1.9 billion in 2009 before Microsoft bought it in 2011.

    CNN

  • WorldRemit hires Skype ex-staff to drive mobile money

    WorldRemit announces the appointment of Gabriella Poczo as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to revolutionalise its mobile money services.

    One of Silicon Valley’s most respected engineering leads, she oversaw Skype’s move from desktop to mobile.

    She also served as CTO at messaging service textPlus, Senior Director of Handset Software Development at T-Mobile, USA and as Engineering Director and CTO for Sun Microsystems’ OEM Platforms Group.

    Poczo’s appointment underlines WorldRemit’s status as the leading player in mobile money transfers – with a mobile-first strategy for senders and the world’s largest selection of Mobile Money wallets for recipients.

    “This company is so far ahead of the game in terms of mobile money transfers. While others are still talking about the opportunity, WorldRemit is sending hundreds of thousands transactions to mobile devices across Africa and Asia,” said Poczo. “They know this space better than anyone. Now it’s time to take our service to the next level – integrating more Mobile Money partners, and providing enhanced apps for our senders.”

    Her key role in taking Skype mobile is especially relevant given the frequent comparisons between the two services. “There are a handful of companies that are seen as providing essential services to migrants – Skype is one.  There’s also messaging services like WhatsApp and Viber and now WorldRemit,” she added.

    WorldRemit founder and CEO Ismail Ahmed welcomed Poczo’s appointment saying: “Everyone talks about building mobile services, but Gabriella is one of the few people who actually has experience of creating a mobile communications service for a global user-base.

    “Getting this right isn’t just about creating a slick app for senders. Mobile Money is driving financial inclusion in the developing world and our position as the leading sender of money to these services is transforming lives.”

  • Western Union signs pact with Skype

    Western Union, a global money transfer company,has announced an agreement that allows Skype customers to replenish their accounts at more than 50,000 Western Union Agent locations throughout the United States.

    A report by payments.com said Skype Credit, the payment service that enables calls to mobile and landlines worldwide — as well as text messages to mobile — on the Microsoft-owned video, voice chat and messaging service, is now able to be topped up through the Western Union Quick Collect service.

    The service facilitates consumer-to-business payments. While Skype-to-Skype calls are free, Skype Credit is required to call landline or mobile numbers.

    Western Union President for the Americas and European Union, Odilon Almeida, said, “The relationship is a logical one, as both Western Union and Skype have a mission to connect people when they are apart. Western Union is optimising its money transfer system to link cash and digital for money movement and payments across the globe. We are driving our innovation on the back of what our customers want. Skype is a classic example; where customers can enjoy full digital access with a walk-in payment option.”

    Director of Business Development at Microsoft, Enrico Noseda, said: “Through Skype, Western Union customers can stay in touch with loved ones to let them know about money transfers and share everyday experiences,” said.

    Western Union’s Skype partnership comes just a few weeks after it announced a new partnership with Hyperwallet, and a few months after Western Union announced it would accept Apple Pay at several flagship locations.

  • What does Christmas mean to you?

    What does Christmas mean to you?

    Kindly share your view of ‘what Christmas means to you’ on Skype: Skype ID is thenationnewspaper

    Christmas obviously means different thing to different people for many various reasons ranging from mere celebration of Christ’s birth to identifying the season as one of sharing and giving.

    However, there are some others who do not celebrate the season, not for any strange reason, but just because to them it is just like any other day.

  • Disney and Skype ‘used Luxembourg tax breaks’

    Companies including Disney and Skype have allegedly used Luxembourg tax breaks, according to fresh leaks published by investigative journalists.

    The group of firms funnelled hundreds of millions of dollars in profits through Luxembourg subsidiaries, according to leaked documents.

    Disney said the arrangement had “not meaningfully affected the taxes we pay”.

    Microsoft, which owns Skype, said it “adheres carefully” to laws.

    The European Commission is already conducting an inquiry into a number of companies’ tax arrangements.

    Commission chief and Luxembourg ex-prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker “remains committed to the fight against tax evasion and to his presidency,” a Commission spokesperson said.

    Mr Juncker has previously denied allegations he encouraged tax avoidance when he was Luxembourg’s prime minister.

    Fresh additions to the thousands of so-called Luxleaks documents were published on Wednesday in a report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

    Lower rates

    Documents relating to 35 new companies including Disney, Koch Industries, Skype and Hutchison Whampoa were added to data on hundreds of firms.

    In some cases, companies enjoyed tax rates of less than 1 per cent on profits moved into the country.

    Disney established an inter-company bank in Luxembourg which then extended high-interest loans to operating affiliates in countries such as France, reducing their taxable income, the ICIJ said.

    Disney said: “The report is deliberately misleading, Disney’s global tax rate has averaged 34% over the last five years. The ruling has not meaningfully affected the taxes we pay in any jurisdiction globally.”

    Microsoft said: “Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype was finalised in October 2011, so we can only speak to activities after that date. Post-acquisition, we reviewed and modified Skype’s business model as part of the integration process.

    “As a global business, Microsoft adheres carefully to the laws and regulations of every country in which we operate.”

    Koch said: “Koch companies conduct their business lawfully and they pay taxes in accordance with applicable laws.”

    Luxleaks has now included documents prepared by all of the Big Four accountancy firms: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), EY, Deloitte and KPMG.

    EY said that it “safeguards confidential client information” and provides “tax advice to clients in accordance with national and international law”.

    “Professional standards, as well as privacy laws, require that EY safeguards confidential client information.

    “We take these obligations very seriously and fully investigate any breach of confidentiality.

    “Client confidentiality means that we are unable to comment on individual cases.”

  • LASAA to introduce Skype Video

    After four-week trials involving its Human Resources, Client Services and Business Development Departments, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) will introduce Skype video-conferencing to promote customer relations and service delivery.

    Skype was founded in 2003 by Janus Friis from Denmark and Niklas Zennström from Sweden, but was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in 2011. Registered users of Skype are identified by a unique Skype name, and may be listed in the Skype directory. Skype allows registered users to communicate through both instant messaging and voice chat. Voice chat allows telephone calls between pairs of users and conference callers, and uses a proprietary audio codec. Skype’s text chat client allows group chats, emoticons, storing chat history and editing of previous messages. Video conferencing between two users was introduced in January 2006 for the Windows and Mac OS X platform clients.

    LASAA said the application would, among others, ensure that response time to enquiries from stakeholders is quicker thereby making, service delivery more effective and efficient. The deployment of the Skype application will begin next Tuesday. It is the first time, in the words of the agency, that such an interactive platform is deployed by any regulator in the industry in Africa.

    Skype allows users to communicate with individuals by voice, video, and instant messaging on the Internet. The service has almost 700 million registered users in the world.

    In a statement, the agency said over one million people use the service mainly for personal communication in country. It said it would adopt Skype as part of efforts to improve its publics.

    LASAA’s Managing Director Mr George Noah said the video application demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the provision of value-added services.

    “We are most delighted at the launch of this service because it aligns with our commitment to continuously offer our stakeholders opportunity to connect with us freely. We are convinced that with Skype, engagement at both ends will be quicker and faster,” he said.