In April, some online job listings indicated that the Skype division of Microsoft was working on a web-based version of the popular Internet phone app. Now yet another job listing seems to show that Microsoft could be using WebRTC to help build the web version of Skype. As first spotted by GigaOM, the Microsoft job listing (since filled) stated:
As a member of the Media Signaling and Gateway Technologies Team, you will impact (hundreds of) millions, and help us reach billions. You will do this by being part of a talented group of engineers defining Skype’s next generation calling architecture. You will help create an architecture that allows WebRTC enabled endpoints to directly interoperate with other endpoints on the Skype network, without the need of gateways.
WebRTC was first developed by Global IP Solutions. It was later bought by Google, which turned it into an open source framework in 2011. WebRTC is designed to allow for both voice and video chat to happen in a web browser but without any need to download a plug-in software program.
This move certainly fits with Microsoft's policies with Windows 8. The company has been upfront that the IE 10 Metro version of Windows 8 would ban plug-ins. If a web-based version of Skype is in the works, it makes sense to create it with no plug-in needed for IE 10 Metro users.
Via: GigaOM
Source: Microsoft job listing
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