Skype is a widely used simple and low-cost systemn for conducting personal and pretty often business video calls.
Currently, it requires people to download the Skype application on their computer or mobile device, but Microsoft Corp., (NASDAQ: MSFT) is experimenting on how to do away with all that.
With the beta version of Skype for Web, users are able to make video calls without needing to download the Skype app into their machines. And more work is being done involving Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC).
For now, people who want to use Skype for Web need to install a plug-in for the Web-based system to work.
Once Microsoft manages to include WebRTC to the system, users can use Skype for Web without any plug-ins. WebRTC is an application programming interface definition that supports browser-to-browser applications for voice calling, video chat and peer-to-peer file sharing without the need of either internal or external plug-ins.
Engineers from Skype and Internet Explorer are “starting to implement the technology to make Real-Time Communications on the web a reality,” according to Jonathan Watson, senior product marketing manager for user reach and engagement at Skype.
“In the future, using Skype on the Web will become even easier and convenient,” he wrote in a recent blog. “Imagine you want to meet your child’s teacher, or conduct an online interview with a potential candidate – you’ll be able to chat over Skype directly from a browser in just one click.”