

Skype gained its name with its most fundamental features, with voice and video calling, coupled with robust messaging services. If you've had any online calls, there's a fair chance one was on Skype. It joined Microsoft during its peak in 2010, and while less prevalent now, it remains one of the company's renowned consumer brands. It became a de facto app for VoIP, whether calling other Skype users or making international calls at affordable rates.
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Skype brought free and easy calling to the messes, with voice and video, accessible across all kinds of devices. Office Communicator / Skype for Business (2007) That's seen it secure over 100 million monthly active users across all platforms, as of January 2021.


While improvements can be made, especially if compared to rivals like Discord, it's a fundamental pillar to the new Xbox vision. When it comes to messaging, Xbox Live is a cross-platform network, coupled with various social sharing features and gaming communities. It's the backbone for Microsoft's gaming efforts, whether new video game releases or subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. The service now spans the latest Xbox consoles, with a steadily growing presence on PCs and mobiles, and even touching select titles on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation devices. While Xbox Live's earlier years saw it become a hotspot for Halo 2 trash-talking or downloading new content, it's steadily evolved into a larger network over the past decade. Microsoft sought to design an online gaming network to elevate its original Xbox console, enabling both remote multiplayer and broader social services intertwined with the Xbox experience. While Xbox Live doesn't fit adjacent to your usual instant messaging apps, it still plays a crucial role in Microsoft's consumer services, as a continued success today.
