Microsoft stops Windows Live VOIP services from July

re: Microsoft stops Windows Live VOIP services from July

Chris — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:42:37 GMT

@foaf: There's definitely trouble dealing with Telco's, who want to preserve their revenue streams by restricting data services (VOIP is the main one now that IM is now pretty much accepted).

I guess the question is whether VOIP is still a rapidly growing service or has reached maturity? Its difficult to tell as there are no user numbers out there, which perhaps is one reason why MS has not yet invested heavily in the area (or publicly at least).

re: Microsoft stops Windows Live VOIP services from July

foaf — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:25:00 GMT

Maybe MS is hitting a barrier with the Mobile Telco Operators. Their vision of Echo's is sound for users, but might not fit with Mobiles Ops business models.

For example in the UK, some Operators block VOIP if a user is on an 'unlimited' dataplan, as it simply will take up bandwidth without generating revenue.

Windows Live for Windows Mobile, and the 'vision' that is Echoes has so much potential. I would go further by suggesting they use Windows Live Messenger as the contacts front end for their Win Mob phones (ie: I want to find a contact and then decide whether I want to IM, SMS, MMS, Email, Call or Vid Call them, not have to choose the method of communication before choosing the contact, but that's another story...)

re: Microsoft stops Windows Live VOIP services from July

chustar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:28:06 GMT

I think it might be time to start keeping a running tally of all the live services that have been murdered. I can't help but feel Microsoft has started pruning extremely diligently.

And you guys said Sinofsky was bad for Windows Live!