platform

In a speech glutted with market data, Skype CSO Chris Dean began his remarks at VON by saying that there is an ongoing sea change in the telecom market, and it’s only accelerating.  The macro trends are around wireless, wireline, emerging applications and service models, the economy and the regulatory environment.  And he warned that there are immense risks to operators that don’t adapt.

According to Dean, 35% of Skype customers are using the product for business in some form, and 20% use video for business purposes.  95% chose Skype to save money, 62% say they communicate better, 70% say the use it for travel, and 80% say they see increased productivity.

Reaching out to wireline carriers, wireless carriers, MSO’s, OEMs, VARs, application developers and independent software vendors, Dean said that Skype is “no longer the bad-boy disruptive influence” it once was. He then went on to announce a new relationship with Cisco, and a channel program for service partners that will roll out later this year.

It was a sound and welcome riposte to the criticism that Skype has abandoned its ecosystem.

{ 4 comments }