Microsoft to bring Skype to browsers?

Microsoft is on the hunt for developers to realise its “Skype for Browsers” project, according to several new job postings. 

“Team at Skype is looking for passionate, team-oriented and self-motivated developers to help us bring Skype experience on to the Web,” one of Microsoft’s job ads reads.

"You will have a chance to integrate existing Skype solutions on to the web with the support of the backend services build from the ground up using latest Microsoft technologies," it continues, noting that the result will be delivered to "hundreds (sic) millions of thankful users worldwide."

“Essential” skills Microsoft is looking for include a past in developing rich web client applications and HTML5 user interfaces based on JavaScript, according to Microsoft's job posting. 

Making Skype a web application would allow the tool's features to function without necessarily having installed an application unique to each operating system.

TechCrunch, which first reported the new job listings, points out that it could improve Skype on Facebook and the no-plug in Internet Explorer 10 browser on Microsoft’s Windows 8 Metro interface.  

It would also bring Skype to Google’s Chrome browser and Mozilla’s Firefox.

Microsoft acquired Skype for US$8.5 billion last year and it became apparent to some that it just snapped up a company that had no real alternatives.

Cisco recently complained that Microsoft's intent to integrate Skype with its Lync unfied communications services could block businesses from accessing Skype's 700 million user base.

Cisco wants regultaors to force Microsoft greater interoperability to avoid a situation it compared to users of a single carrier only being able to call others on that carrier's network.   

Google meanwhile has been working on an alternative that has a similar goal to Microsoft through its WebRTC (real time communications) project, which also involved input from Mozilla and smaller browser maker, Opera.