Skype wants to be an Internet for unified communications

Recently we reported that Cisco may acquire Skype. However, judging by the recent announcements, this won't happen, and Skype has more ambitious plans than becoming Cisco's satellite. Today, Skype announced partnership with Cisco's main competitor - Avaya. We expected this a year ago, when Skype was sold to a group of investors led by Silver Lake - co-owners of Avaya. As a result of the partnership Skype Connect (formerly Skype for SIP), the service that allows PBX systems use the Skype's network, is already integrated in the Avaya solutions. I.e. Avaya will push it to its clients (perhaps for a certain fee). The next year the company plans to fully integrate Skype tools (video, conference, messenger, status) with its Unified Communications. However, this does not mean that Skype will turn against Cisco. Last year Skype and Cisco also implemented the same integration.

Because the new Skype's strategy is to be everywhere. And the enterprise communication giants (Cisco and Avaya) - are only a part of the puzzle.



Today Skype has announced one more integration - with Facebook. Now Facebook users will be able to access their Facebook-friends in Skype's contact list, send them SMS, chat with them, make voip and video calls. This may follow by Skype buttons directly on Facebook profiles. So Skype may become the primary communication tool for the 500-millionth network, that intends to become an alternative to the Web. Earlier, the similar agreement was signed with another social network - MySpace.

In addition, Skype wants to get inside TVs, all mobile devices, enterprise applications (like Salesforce), and SIP PBX systems. So perhaps soon, most of instant messages, phone and video calls in the world will be made via Skype's network.

See also: Top 10 VoIP services