Microsoft rolls out always-on Skype for Windows Phone 8
Yet another way to let people contact you ALL THE TIME
Cloud storage: Lower cost and increase uptime
Microsoft has dropped Skype for Windows Phone 8 into its app store, the pocket-sized version of its desktop counterpart.
Once you've sorted out your account, you'll be able to see which of your friends have Skype and then make a Skype call, regular call, text, email or Facebook from the "People Hub". The People Hub in Windows Phone integrates all the info you might have about a friend - including phone number, email addy, Facebook, Twitter account - into one place, and periodically searches for new info.
The previous version - Skype for Windows Phone 7.5 - does not integrate the app as deeply, and so it's not hooked up into the People hub or the phone's notification system.
The new integrated app is now "always on", allowing Skype messages and calls to be received even if the app is not running in the foreground. If the power of Skype Names and Microsoft accounts are combined, Skype will let Messenger buddies video call each other, to and from phones and other devices.
Skype also runs in the background of the phone so folks can keep getting calls and messages without the app open and sucking up the power. Windows Phone owners can put Skype on their start screen in a live tile and have Skype notifications on the lock screen along with missed calls and unread emails and texts. ®
COMMENTS
...always-on Skype...
If I'm one of the carriers, why should I sell Windows phones?
"I don't see people complaining that their phone is 'always on' for phone calls and text messages. Being always on for Skype is fine, ON A PHONE."
Well, here's one. Orange made me see that one, sending me spam texts in the middle of the night with great regularity. Not only did I take to muting it at night, but changed providers.
Also, the way that I (and a number of other people) use Skype *is* different. I don't know if you have actually ever used it, or are just arguing from ignorance, but a major feature of the software is "presence" indication, a la IM services. Thus people use their status to indicate their willingness to talk, often just going online with it when they're willing to receive calls from Skype contacts. These contacts might not be the exact same people who have their mobile numbers, and might not be people that need to have the capacity to phone them at any time.
There is more than one use case. To make a lazy assertion like "Being always on for Skype is fine, ON A PHONE" just seems ignorant.
Re: And what about....
Has your Windows Phone 7.5 device stopped working? Does it suddenly not do what it did yesterday? Did you also get grumpy when you found out your DVD player wasn't going to play Blu-Rays?
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
What you need to know about cloud backup
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything
Data control in the cloud
