Thursday, October 14, 2010

http://ping.fm/R7tA6
Social networking, mobile, voice and video services are all coming together a determined rate of speed — heck, even Apple is being forced to allow Google's disruptive voice apps back on the iPhone for fear of being ostracized. This trend could lead to one of the most powerful partnerships since Harry Reese tied up with Milton Hershey. Facebook is close to announcing a wide-ranging agreement with this IP-based communications platform that will include integration of SMS, voice chat and the all powerful Facebook Connect system, reports Kara Swisher in the WSJ's BoomTown blog. Folks who log in with their Skype account using Facebook will be able to chat with their Facebook friends and visa versa. Facebook has been experimenting with more advanced communications tools such as live streaming and video chat but a Skype integration would bring best of class services to a social network that is quickly defining how the people of the world connect with one another. Also, both services can only gain followers in such a scenario, as both have over 550 million registered users who can't all overlap. Rumors of branded Facebook phone continued to be bandied about but this deal, if it turns out to be real, is much bigger.

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