Some recent job openings posted by Microsoft hint that the software giant is working on a new HTML5 version of Skype to run in web browsers. Microsoft has put up several job postings on its website, looking to hire developers and software engineers in London and Prague with “real world experience developing HTML5 UI’s including rich interaction based on JavaScript.”And yes, the post describes a “Skype for Browsers” project. Here is a glimpse of the job post:

“Team Rendezvous at Skype is looking for passionate, team-oriented and self-motivated Developers to help us bring Skype experience on to the Web. You will have a chance to integrate existing Skype solutions on to the web with the support of the back-end services built from the ground up using [the] latest Microsoft technologies. [The] result of your work will be used by hundreds millions of thankful users worldwide.”

The arrival of Skype to Microsoft’s kitty dates back to few months back when Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in October 2011. Last year the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission gave their approval for Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype. Since then, we have been looking for some product updates to come out of this deal.  A recent one was the introduction of a Skype client to Windows Phone, and now we are going to see another update in the form of ‘Skype for Browsers.’

Microsoft is also expanding the personal cloud, having added video chat capabilities for Facebook friends, running either from Facebook or Skype just by linking the two accounts. Skype will also be integrated directly into the new Xbox 360 dashboard, with the ultimate goal of being the primary platform for voice chat within Xbox LIVE and Xbox live interaction.

HTML5 is a growing standard all its own, said to be “the one” to dominate all forms of computer languages from desktops to mobile devices, toppling Flash along the way.  Most web players, including Mozilla, Adobe and Apple are embracing HTML5, and now it’s Microsoft that moving ahead with the open web standard.

With its ability to span mobile devices and PCs, HTML5 has a place in consumer and enterprise applications with a penchant for flexible positioning and use cases. It’s enabling a familiar transition into the world of mobility, helping us all readily adopt a future where varied capabilities are not only expected but accounted for.