Facebook has announced a partnership with Skype to add video chat to the social networking site. The move is likely to be seen as a shot across the bow of Google, which recently launched a Facebook rival, Google+, also featuring video calling. This is not the first time Facebook and Skype have teamed up - they already share some instant messaging tools. Skype is in the process of being bought by Microsoft, which is a major shareholder in Facebook. The new video-call service was launched by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who also revealed that the site now had more than 750 million users. However, he said that the total number of active users was no longer a useful measure of the site's success. Instead, the amount of sharing - of photographs, videos and web links - was a better indication of how people engaged with the site, explained Mr Zuckerberg. One to one At launch, Facebook's video chat service will only be able to connect two users face-to-face, whereas Google's+ system allows group video calls, known as Huddles. Mr Zuckerberg said that it was likely that other "premium" Skype functions would be added in future. He also appeared to offer a back-handed compliment to Google+, saying that its creation was a vindication of Facebook's vision for the social web. Skype chief executive Tony Bates welcomed the partnership, calling it a "long-term relationship" that could benefit both companies. At one point he had to correct Mr Zuckerberg on the subject of Skype's ownership, reminding him that the Microsoft deal was not yet complete and still had to be cleared by regulators Source:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14054860
The Skype CEO made it clear that they were looking into future "monetary" options through Facebook. In other words they will not be offering a free group video chat system like the Google+ huddles. However, the proof is in the pudding. Skype does video chat far better than Yahoo Messenger and a number of others. Can Google+ offer better or as good as sound and video quality on video calls to Skype? But then the free group huddles will take some beating! So far the Google+ project looks amazing, I will be joining it as soon as I can. I will also be encouraging Joy to join it too, but it will be the service that provides the best video chat facilities with fewer cut offs that for me will win my support. Let the competition begin
And despite the hoo haa of the "It's out now" with the roll out of the video calling.. No it ain't Perhaps tomorrow I can test it out...
