Microsoft’s $8.5bn purchase of Skype has raised a few eyebrows, but we don’t care about most peoples, what we care about is how this purchase will affect Primary Schools. In this post I am going to try to summarize the real life impacts of such a purchase and how you should consider using Skype in the classroom.
Things we can expect:
- Skype will come bundled with Windows 8.
- Open source & tech folks will stop using Skype and begin looking at alternatives.
- Google will be panicking.
- Windows Mobile 8 will have a big emphasis on VOIP connectivity
- Microsoft will attempt to play a bigger part in mobile data connectivity
- Skype and the VOIP stuff used for Xbox Live will be integrated
- You will be able to Sign into Skype using your XBLA or Microsoft.com/Live.com account
Microsoft will use Skypes deep telco contracts to leverage cheaper mobile communications. With all these new connections and contracts it is conceivable Microsoft will partner with a manufacturer to provide a data connected laptop/netbook using the Amazon Kindle model of data. The kindle model of data is basically a pay once, use forever but it has recently been announced this is likely to be subsidized by adverts appearing on your device. You should seriously think about where you stand on Ads in the Primary School Classroom. I think the potential use of these “light internet use netbook devices” could be perfect but basic net browsing however they won’t be suitable for 5+ pupils in the same classroom browsing “rich-content”, whatever that is in 3-10 years time.
If you are interested in e-Safety then I would say that now is a great time to have a really good think about the e-safety risks that Skype poses, especially if it is going to be installed natively on Microsoft Windows devices. Skype has the same e-safety challenges of Facebook, it just gets less attention because it currently isn’t as widely adopted.
You may be wondering if you should sign up for the Skype in the Classroom and I would say go ahead, it’s unlikely Microsoft will lose this battle in the same way they lost[/committed suicide] the MSN battle. Skype was running at a loss and Microsoft has basically “bailed it out” and given it a long future. At Primary Technology we use Skype as our main source of voice communication and we have no plan to leave it as it provides great value. We will leave Skype is a good, open source source, distributed telco connected solution appears, I doubt that though.
So to summarize.. We are one step closer to getting 4G connected Windows devices, we have an elevated e-safety issue to address, Microsoft own yet another part of your life.
