cover of episode Microsoft hangs up on Skype

Microsoft hangs up on Skype

2025/4/7
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#language learning#consumer behavior#educational#podcast commercialization#workplace communication People
J
Jeff
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@Jeff : 我是Jeff,今天我们来聊聊Skype。Skype曾经是通过互联网进行廉价通话和视频通话的先驱之一,它改变了人们长途沟通的方式。在早期取得成功后,Skype被eBay收购,之后又被微软收购,并成为微软商业工具的一部分。然而,随着WhatsApp、FaceTime、Zoom和Microsoft Teams等新兴应用的出现,Skype逐渐失去了市场竞争力,最终在2025年被微软停止服务。 Skype的成功在于它利用了VoIP技术,并将其变得更加可靠和用户友好。它整合了用户友好的ID、语音邮件和聊天式消息等功能,使得用户之间的通话变得更加便捷。Skype用户之间的通话是免费的,并且可以拨打国际号码,费用远低于传统电话公司。这使得印度到加拿大、美国到墨西哥、香港到伦敦等地的通话变得负担得起。 然而,Skype的商业模式也经历了曲折。在被eBay收购后,eBay并没有很好地将Skype整合到其平台中,这导致了Skype的业务发展受限。之后,Skype被微软收购,微软将Skype整合到其商业软件产品中,但并未充分抓住市场机遇。在2010年代中期,随着WhatsApp、Facebook Messenger、Apple的FaceTime和微信等应用的兴起,以及Zoom和Google在视频会议市场上的竞争,Skype逐渐被边缘化。 Skype未能及时适应市场变化,错过了疫情期间的市场机遇。它缺乏一键式会议链接等便捷功能,而Zoom则更好地满足了企业用户的需求。最终,微软利用Skype的技术开发了Teams,Teams的功能比Skype更加强大,也更好地整合到微软的其他工具中。因此,Skype最终被淘汰,这标志着一个时代的结束。 我个人也使用过Skype,尤其是在需要拨打国际电话时。它确实比传统电话便宜很多,而且Skype用户之间的通话是免费的。但是,由于我周围使用Skype的人不多,它的实用性受到了限制。后来,我的前雇主采用了Skype for Business作为即时通讯和通话平台,我又使用了几年。但现在,微软已经转向Teams,Skype已经不再需要了。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores Skype's early success in making affordable and easy voice and video calls over the internet, contrasting it with the expensive long-distance calls of the past. It details the technology behind Skype's innovation and its impact on global communication.
  • Skype's early success in providing affordable and easy voice and video calls over the internet.
  • The technology behind Skype's innovation (VoIP).
  • Skype's impact on global communication, making international calls affordable.

Shownotes Transcript

Today's story: Skype launched in 2003 and transformed long-distance communication by making voice and video calls cheaper and easier. After early success, the platform was sold to eBay and later to Microsoft, where it became part of the company’s business tools. As newer apps took over the market, Skype lost relevance and will be shut down in 2025.

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/764

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