Microsoft owned Skype Corporation is designing a new version of their
Internet telephony cum video-calling software specifically for Indian 2G
and 3G networks. Microsoft recently had a team of specialists study the
current state of Skype adoption in India and found out that the rival
messengers like Viber were providing much better services that work on
relatively slower 2G / 3G networks in India. The company decided to
develop a special version of Skype app for India that will address
issues that exist because of slower networks.
While no information was provided on the ETA for the app, it's expected that Skype will launch the app in the next 2-4 months. The app is likely to be very lightweight and consume very limited resources on the client devices viz. budget phones powered by Windows operating system. Microsoft is likely to target wider adoption of the app through their Nokia Asha and Lumia cellphone models. We do not have information whether Microsoft will target Android and iOS platforms as well for the new app.
With number of Internet users likely to be world's second largest by 2016, second to China, it's no wonder that India is an important target group for Microsoft's Skype. The competition among the internet telephony services providers in India is huge with established players like Skype and the market disruptors like WhatsApp that recently launched voice calling services.
Microsoft officials informed IndianExpress that in future majority of CPU / GPU processing is likely to happen in the cloud and not on the client's device. This will allow for the lower-end devices to run complex applications and even play graphics intensive games. Microsoft is reportedly working on integrating their latest technology called HoloLens with Skype which will allow the users to actually see people they are calling in real time.
Skype is also working with the Government of India to solve the issues related to cyber security. There is an ongoing debate over the net neutrality which is going to affect the way Skype and other services are provided in India. Do let us know your thoughts about the new lightweight Skype for India.
While no information was provided on the ETA for the app, it's expected that Skype will launch the app in the next 2-4 months. The app is likely to be very lightweight and consume very limited resources on the client devices viz. budget phones powered by Windows operating system. Microsoft is likely to target wider adoption of the app through their Nokia Asha and Lumia cellphone models. We do not have information whether Microsoft will target Android and iOS platforms as well for the new app.
With number of Internet users likely to be world's second largest by 2016, second to China, it's no wonder that India is an important target group for Microsoft's Skype. The competition among the internet telephony services providers in India is huge with established players like Skype and the market disruptors like WhatsApp that recently launched voice calling services.
Microsoft officials informed IndianExpress that in future majority of CPU / GPU processing is likely to happen in the cloud and not on the client's device. This will allow for the lower-end devices to run complex applications and even play graphics intensive games. Microsoft is reportedly working on integrating their latest technology called HoloLens with Skype which will allow the users to actually see people they are calling in real time.
Skype is also working with the Government of India to solve the issues related to cyber security. There is an ongoing debate over the net neutrality which is going to affect the way Skype and other services are provided in India. Do let us know your thoughts about the new lightweight Skype for India.
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