Microsoft and Skype
You may recall that just a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the planned purchase of Skype by Microsoft for a huge monetary deal. You also know that, while I hold no particular favor for Microsoft that I also hold no particular unmerited grudge against them either and fully recognize what the computing world landscape would like today without their efforts back in 80′s and early 90′s. It, however, very unfortunate that with in two weeks of the announcement that Skype had major problems leaving many users wondering what was up and how things are going to shake out moving forward.
First, lets mention that the Skype is already moving to stop supporting some devices. At this point it is unclear if this from Skype itself or part of the move to start consolidation of Skype into the Microsoft fold. Personally, I believe that it is the former and really is a lot of effort to support when there are much greener areas to pursue with what has to be somewhat limited resources. I have heard it said by some that this a move for Microsoft that hints to the goal of Skype becoming Windows only in the not far off future. Surely Microsoft would not be so dumb as to try to go that route would they? Think about it, one of the things that makes Skype so wonderful is the cross-platform ability. I personally use it on my Linux machines in multiple flavors, my Windows desktop, a couple of Mac OS-X machines when doing support, and of course over the i-Pad as well. Killing it on those multiple platforms would be like throwing away over half of what Microsoft paid for Skype.
On to the problems that began occurring early Thursday morning. I was in the middle of this one, as we needed to do a video conference during the day at the office. After much trying to move that way, we were going to do this on Skype. I went in early to finish setting things up and started seeing some issues early. I was wondering if it were on our end given there was nothing on Tweet or anywhere else about such issues with Skype at the time. I hopped out of network and still had issues. After trying some other things it was clear to me the problem was with Skype. About that time (twenty minutes had passed) problems were showing up on Tweet about Skype and indeed there were a few news type links beginning to report the same.
Speculation ran wild that it was in someway a problem caused by Microsoft, probably beginning the transition of things. Perhaps it was, but that does not appear to have been the case. Regardless, a few hours later there were unconfirmed fixes for Windows and even Mac based machines beginning to circulate. Nothing for Linux and indeed at least my attempts for the Windows machine on the first go through did not work.
The one thing that is interesting, in seemingly borrowing a page from Microsoft and indeed just about every other major internet player these days, the reports that were officially made by Skype and hence what was in the news Friday and Saturday says that it only effected a few users across their systems. I am going to have to call bull-crap on that one. I had four machines with previous installs that would not work and only one, that after a new download was finally completed a few hours later that actually could log in and make a connection. Additionally, at the time, I was on the phone with folks in Florida (should have been Skype) trying to help them get onto Skype as well, where they were also having issues. A third person I talked to later in a third state also could not get into Skype on two different machines/platforms. Reality is they have clearly under-reported the severity and impact of the outage.
Ironic though, that the one place I was never impacted was the i-Pad. Even at this hour, I still can not get on using my Linux-based systems – though I have seen specific instructions for a ‘manual’ fix – I just have not had time to pursue it at this point. Come on Skype and Microsoft, get your act together!
Seriously? Stop hating on Microsoft. Now im not saying it was a smart idea for them to buy Skype. But they CLEARLY, keyword: clearly stated they will continue supporting ALL, again, keyword: all devices for Skype. They haven't even got Skype handed over. Pelople are blaming them for last weeks downtime yet it wasn't Microsoft's fault lol. However, stop being a idiot and do your research first before you blab about a company when you have nothing backing your statement. Don't believe me? There is a new invention out there...few months old. It's called Google, now this is the cool part, you can actually search on it..yeah cool eh?
I think you need to re-read what was said above. No one was hating on Microsoft from here. My comment was specifically that it is probably not Microsoft involved in the problem but with the timing that there would be plenty of people who would blame them regardless. I do however stand by statement that historically when there have been several things supported when Microsoft has taken over a lot of those supported outside of the mainstream are dropped. Further, I will state Steven that if you took a moment to read some of my posts in the past I have also stated I would hate to see a computer world of today that had not been united by Microsoft over the last thirty or so years on more then one occasion. I have a preference for a few things from some operating systems, but unlike a LOT of the world I use Microsoft, various Linux distros, and lately even OS X from Mac about equally. I think there is only one person being an idiot and not doing his research in this thread.
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