Skype: VoIP is dead

Skype’s GM of audio and video has declared VoIP dead. Wonder what that does to SkypeIn and SkypeOut?

Speaking at IT Expo in Los Angeles earlier this week, GM Jonathan Christensen declared VoIP morte as he walked through the history of Internet telephony, noting the benefits of lower cost, a who-cares attitude towards geographic number plans, and making long-distance calling irrelevant.

Christensen said unbundling is steering voice technologies in an unexpected direction and making them less important, making IM and its support system much more important. IM, presence, and chat are all much more important and Skype should get its due for putting together IM, voice, video, NAT, and peer-to-peer technology.

Moving forward, there are three pillars “beyond VoIP.” Skype and other services require an “agreed relationship” where both parties agree to communicate. Secondly, new audio tech, including wideband audio, will improve communications. Finally, higher resolution video will make video conferencing “more real.”