After Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion three months back, both Microsoft and Skype have been planning deep integration of Skype with Microsoft products.  As a part of the integration plan, Skype will be tightly integrated with Windows Phone, Xbox console and a creation of a Windows Mobile Version of Skype.

Neil Stevens, Skype vice president and general manager of products and marketing, said “One of the first orders of business will be the creation of a mobile version of Skype for Microsoft Windows Phones. The company wants to create an app that doesn’t feel like app but, rather, part of the phone.”

Since Skype will be a future Microsoft division, after European regulators to approve its pending acquisition, it will get deeper level access of the Windows Phone operating system.  Stevens commented, “a Windows Phone app, if done well, can show people what a really great Skype experience is like when there are no hardware or vendor limitations.”

Skype already offers a number of mobile applications, including versions for the iPhone, iPad and Android phones. Skype’s iPad application is already a big hit, gaining faster traction than its its iPhone counterpart, only being on the market for about a week. Stevens confirmed, “It’s an even bigger success than the iPhone app. The video-enabled version of Skype’s iPhone app has been downloaded more than 50 million times since its late December 2010 release.” Skype’s iPad app is currently the most downloaded iPad app in Apple’s App Store in the U.S., according to Stevens.

Microsoft plans to integrate Skype’s free and low-cost Internet-based video and telephony services into everything, from its Bing search engine to Windows smartphones and its Xbox videogame system.  Skype currently has 170 million users who accumulated 207 billion minutes of chat time last year.  Microsoft could bring Skype in to fill the role as the primary video chat provider on the mobile Windows Phone operating system.  Stevens emphasizes the integration of Skype for Windows phones, providin better experience and performance that will surpass that of current Skype experiences on iOS and Android.

Cross-Device Integration

Skype’s future applications will be apps for Windows phones, as well as a set of communication-related offerings via Facebook. Stevens plans to connect Skype with the device or mobile browser, in much the same way as Skype now appears on Facebook, thus providing cross device integration.

“People don’t want to start an app when they’re making a call,” Stevens said. “This is the way the world’s moving; it’s hard to do on phones but we have to move there.”

Skype is continuing its close collaboration with Facebook, and recently offered a Skype-based video chat service on the social network.  It is also working on a feature to allow users to make outbound calls to landlines and cell phones within Facebook, and to call from Skype into the social network.

Expansion Path

After being acquired by Microsoft, Skype has been energetic in improving and expanding its services. Skype today announced a partnership with Mobile and digital technology business Mobile Interactive Group (MIG). As per the agreement, MIG will run the new Skype global mobile website using MIG’s mobile platform, mVoy Publish.

MIG’s mobile platform, mVoy Publish, is an easy to use rich mobile platform and its integration with Skype will provide a greater user experience to Skype’s 170 million users.

Linda Summers, director of product marketing for Skype said “For many Skype users, their first experience of Skype will be on their mobile phone, so it was important that we give them a mobile browsing experience that helps them make the download process smooth and easy, and ultimately enhances their overall Skype experience.  We choose to partner with MIG because of their experience in working with leading brands on delivering high impact mobile experiences.”

“We understand Skype’s objectives, to grow their mobile base significantly over the next few years and their need to capitalize on the number of consumers wishing to access Skype via their mobile device.  As those customers come in it is up to us to ensure they get the best user experience and convert into a new or become a more loyal existing user. In conjunction with MIG’s platform technology, we will be drawing on our vast knowledge in mobile centric user experience (UX) and design to deliver the ultimate mobile experience to Skype’s global customer base.” said Matt Cockett, commercial director, MIG.

Strengthening their mobile presence is an important goal for Microsoft.  Skype, with its huge user base, rich experience in video chat, popular mobile apps, and its integration with Windows Mobile would provide Microsoft the greater mobile space where they’ve lost ground in the past few years.