5 ms·

The simple reason is that the Linux version of Skype might be axed as a result of the acquisition. This has happened before.

fname 15y ago
Except that they refuted that very statement in their press release Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms. http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/may11/05-10CorpNewsPR.mspx http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/may11/05-10Cor...
- Joeboy 15y ago
  > Except that they refuted that very statement in their press release They rebutted it. I don't really see how they could refute it.
- pbhjpbhj 15y ago
  I don't see a rebuttal of the claim that they will no longer update the linux client (which beta is about 4 years old IIRC), or probably just drop it. If one was really naive I guess one might imagine that "invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms" might cover linux rather than a limited set of possible platforms. I have no worries about the java based client on my phone for example.
  - riffraff 15y ago
    they do say "Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms." Arguable if they will or not, but I don't think they could have been more direct than this
- rst 15y ago
  It says "non-Microsoft platforms". It doesn't say "all currently supported non-Microsoft platforms". So, this may just mean "we're not going to ditch the Mac".
- hboon 15y ago
  What happens is they will support it for 2 years and then drop it. See: http://www.afterdawn.com/news/press_releases/press_release.cfm/3823/microsoft_completes_tender_offer_for_fast_search_transfer http://www.afterdawn.com/news/press_releases/press_release.c... and 2 years later: http://www.cio.com/article/532513/Microsoft_to_Drop_Linux_Unix_Versions_of_Enterprise_Search http://www.cio.com/article/532513/Microsoft_to_Drop_Linux_Un...
wyclif 15y ago
The reality is that losing the Linux client for Skype isn't a tragedy, since it sucks and has since the beginning, unlike the Mac client.
- Derbasti 15y ago
  Ouch. The Skype Mac client sucks hard. It is pretty feature-complete, though.
  - wyclif 15y ago
    True, the Mac client is slightly better.

fname 15y ago

Except that they refuted that very statement in their press release Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms. http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/may11/05-10CorpNewsPR.mspx http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/may11/05-10Cor...

Joeboy 15y ago
> Except that they refuted that very statement in their press release They rebutted it. I don't really see how they could refute it.
pbhjpbhj 15y ago
I don't see a rebuttal of the claim that they will no longer update the linux client (which beta is about 4 years old IIRC), or probably just drop it. If one was really naive I guess one might imagine that "invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms" might cover linux rather than a limited set of possible platforms. I have no worries about the java based client on my phone for example.
- riffraff 15y ago
  they do say "Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms." Arguable if they will or not, but I don't think they could have been more direct than this
rst 15y ago
It says "non-Microsoft platforms". It doesn't say "all currently supported non-Microsoft platforms". So, this may just mean "we're not going to ditch the Mac".
hboon 15y ago
What happens is they will support it for 2 years and then drop it. See: http://www.afterdawn.com/news/press_releases/press_release.cfm/3823/microsoft_completes_tender_offer_for_fast_search_transfer http://www.afterdawn.com/news/press_releases/press_release.c... and 2 years later: http://www.cio.com/article/532513/Microsoft_to_Drop_Linux_Unix_Versions_of_Enterprise_Search http://www.cio.com/article/532513/Microsoft_to_Drop_Linux_Un...

wyclif 15y ago

The reality is that losing the Linux client for Skype isn't a tragedy, since it sucks and has since the beginning, unlike the Mac client.

Derbasti 15y ago
Ouch. The Skype Mac client sucks hard. It is pretty feature-complete, though.
- wyclif 15y ago
  True, the Mac client is slightly better.