Skype vs Facetime

Nine months (!) after Microsoft announced the acquisition of Skype, this messenger finally comes to Windows Phone (in beta version so far). Interestingly, already after the deal with Microsoft, Skype appeared on the competing platform Android and before that it worked on the iPhone. The things got so bad that in November 2011 Microsoft began to preinstall the alternative video chat app Tango on Windows Phones. But now this circus is over - Skype for Windows Phone is already available for free download from the marketplace. However, it doesn't work in the background, so for now you have to launch it every time to make a call or send a message (or launch it to receive a call). Also  the beta version doesn't allow to add/edit contacts. And if the absence of Skype was the only thing that stopped you from buying Windows Phone, do not forget about the main thing - check that the Windows Phone has a front camera when you buy it.

The new version of Skype for Windows 5.8 is already available. And it adds support of high-quality video calls in Full HD (1080p). However, to use this feature you'll need an internet channel not less than 2 Mbps and a special HD web-camera that can perform hardware video compression (e.g. Logitech C920). In addition, now it's possible to share your screen (or a separate application) to a group of people. Earlier, screen-sharing in Skype worked only in one-to-one calls. However, this feature is only available in the paid version. But the free version of Skype now allows to make video calls to your contacts from Facebook. Even if these contacts don't have installed Skype. They just have to open a browser window with Facebook.

Today in London, Nokia unveiled its first smartphones on Windows Phone (Mango) platform - Lumia 710 and Lumia 800. In general, they haven't disappointed anyone. Stylish, high quality, fast and reliable smartphones with pre-installed Mobile Office and Outlook, integrated to Exchange, SkyDrive, SharePoint, Office 365 - will surely attract business users. Of course, the price $580 (Lumia 800) - is not much different from the iPhone, but otherwise it has all chances to compete with iPhone and Android-devices. The only big cons - is that Nokia Lumia has no front camera, which means it doesn't support video chat, so important for business users. Why wasn't it installed? Nokia representative said that they simply had not enough time. But this is not the most shocking news about the video chat on Windows Phone.

Skype is making the second attempt to create the developer ecosystem around its service. The first attempt - Skype Extras - left an unpleasant aftertaste for developers. In 2009, after Skype was sold, the company unexpectedly announced that the Skype Extras catalog will be closed. Nevertheless the Extras where accessible in the Skype client until now, but users couldn't buy them using Skype credits. The new app directory is called Skype Apps and it replaces Extras in the Skype's Tools menu. But you also can't buy the applications in Skype Apps using Skype-credits. You have to go to the third-party site and order each application separately. The Skype Apps includes the special section for business apps. Basically there are apps for Call-Centers, call recording, screen-sharing, faxing and integration with other systems.

Mobile group-messaging services hit the social Web this year. Basically they are designed for communication and interaction with friends and family, but (as we know) such social technologies are rapidly find their way into Enterprise. One of such services GroupMe was yesterday bought by Skype for as much as $80 million. GroupMe allows to create a group and send text messages, photos to its members, start conference calls and share your location. For example, you send a message and all group members instantly receive it. Or you can call all them at once. Such a service could be useful for mobile work-groups, which need real-time communications. For example, equipment service companies.

Last March, before Skype was acquired by Microsoft, it announced that the GoToMeating web-conferencing tools will be integrated into Skype's client. It could be a logical partnership because GoToMeeting and Skype are often used together to organize online meetings. But then Microsoft bought Skype, and apparently the plan was changed. After all, Microsoft and Citrix (the owner of GoToMeeting) - are more rivals than friends. Anyway, yesterday GoToMeeting launched the new version with its own video tool called HDFaces. Moreover, HDFaces can not just replace Skype for GoToMeeting users, but also compete with Skype in the global enterprise video meating market.

After Microsoft's Skype acquisition we started looking for its replacement as of public communication service. And, apparently, not only we, but also the investors who want to raise money on this project. From now one of the main contenders for the Skype's place - is Tango. It has just closed $42 million in its Series B round of funding led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, notably the first outside investors in Skype. Tango launched 18 months ago and already has 18 million users. Every 2 weeks it adds a million. Until now, Tango was a mobile service. It allowed to make video calls on iPhone, iPad and Android (smartphones and tablets). But now it introduced the Windows app, and soon plans to create the Mac-client. So how is Tango different from Skype?

Sold out to Microsoft, Skype on the one hand secured itself the bright future in the stable Microsoft empire, and on the other hand - killed its bright future as a global public communications service. No one ever will look at Skype, as at the independent service that suits everyone and works everywhere. This niche is now empty and someone has to take it. Besides, we expect that in the near future the communication services, owned by Microsoft rivals, will also make the considerable steps forward in order to keep the balance of power. Here are 5 products that (we think) will compete with Microsoft Skype:

Fring was the first video chat application on the iPhone. However, without frontal camera, it was not very helpful. But together with the front camera on iPhone, Apple introduced  it's own video chat program Facetime, that supported two-way video calls and immediately replaced Fring. Now Fring strikes back. Today, the strartup has launched the new iPhone app, which also supports two-way video calls, and in addition, has two major advantages over Facetime. First, it works via 3G (and Facetime - only via Wi-Fi), and second, it allows iPhone users to communicate with those who use Android and Nokia S40 smartphones, that run Fring (and Facetime supports video calls only between iPhones). However, the benefits of Facetime - are simplicity and iPhone native integration (to start a video call - you don't need to launch third-party program), and higher video quality.

A couple of weeks ago we suggested that Google is going to shift the video communications market (and win Skype), betting on mobile video calls. Today we can accurately say that very soon mobile video chat will become a huge market and the IT giants will fight for it. It's enough to watch the Facetime (iPhone 4 video chat) presentation to understand this. Since June 24 Apple will start selling iPhone 4 with the front camera and video over Wi-Fi in US, and it's obvious that to the and of this year millions of users will make video calls via the iPhone, and Apple will become the world's largest mobile video chat provider. But it will be only the short term win. Then Skype, Google and other players will join the fight.