Should Skype offer email? skypename@Skype.com?
Google, Microsoft, AOL, and now Yahoo! blending their instant messengers with their email services. So their members get:
- One web, mobile, or desktop client to use your email and chat
- One view of a relationship, spanning conversations across media
- One contact/buddy/address book
- One presence
- One alerting policy
- Integrated alias/pseudonym/profile management
Can you spell "customer lock-in"? Your Yahoo! identity is good for job search, dating, picking television to watch, and running your store. It's also your calling card to Yahoo! groups and other social forums.
How about "time savings" and "lower cognitive burden" and "more mode choices" and "better relationships"? Kevin Tofel says seeing a contact online lets you shift from sending an email to starting a chat session. Brad Linder describes how draft email text follows you into a new IM chat.
How long before email becomes a required messenger feature?
del.icio.us tags: skypejournal, skype, aol, aim, google, gtalk, googletalk, livemessenger, yahoomessenger, yahoo!messenger, im, chat, unifiedmessaging, messenger, yahoo!, yahoo
Comments
What about the contrary, Skype (and in particular chat) replacing email? Email is screwed up with all the spam there is, better fix email than just replicating it.
Posted by: Robert | February 13, 2007 11:30 AM
I'm not sure it's a good idea. I get email to my yahoo address, which I only check occasionally. People complain at me for not responding to their emails, when I never told them to use that as a valid email anyway.
Posted by: Timothy | February 13, 2007 12:54 PM
It does seem strange that they haven't added that form of online communication as it ties in nicely with text and voice chat. Though if we have to prioritize, I would prefer Skype add AIM, MSN, and Y text chat support so I'd only have to run one IM client.
Posted by: Dave Zatz | February 13, 2007 02:33 PM
This is really a nice idea, but need a small twist. At present almost every user have their own premanent email ID in yahoo or MSN or Gmail. So it might be better if we could config those in skype client just for mail notification! or with some integrated functions. (I guess this may never happen!)
Posted by: U. Yogu | February 14, 2007 01:22 AM
I'm going to have to agree with Robert - one of the best things about having Skype as an integrated voice/chat app is that I can send fewer emails.
Still, it's an interesting idea, and one that I'll discuss with the rest of the Skype team.
Posted by: Peter Parkes (Skype UK) | February 14, 2007 01:29 AM
At first I thought this was a great idea. Then I thought, I grab all my mail from different accounts through one GMail account. What's more, it'll be so gosh darn easy to get spammed on such a Skype email account for anyone who scans through the Skype user base. So I'm not so sure it'll achieve anything.
Posted by: raj | February 14, 2007 07:52 AM
I was suprised (when I first installed skype) that it didn't have email setup so that I could have my very own "rick@skype.com".
why?! ... I can't believe you people are even talking about sucking in IM/email from yahoo, msn, ... the toilet-sink ! ...
Instead, why don't you all just stop spamming each other, and LEARN how to email properly, and then you won't need 50 different email accounts.
:) ya! -NOT Kidding.
"SKYPE" as it is now, can replace everything including my phone (and thats just using skype-in/out.)-and its still cheap $.
Now, if skype would just fire up some email servers (for ...skype.com/net/... email users only)
well picture it !
You can finally get rid of those yahoo, msn, toilet-sink accounts.
"...one IM to rule Them All!..."
-of course, Skype would have t0o keep it $cheap$
And finally, -yup you guessed it - SkypeTV
and now (along with those yahoo, msn,.. accounts) you can finanlly throw your TV out in the garbage.
Seriously, has anyone looked at there TV/Cable/Satellite bill lately ?!!! -comon' wouldn't you like to save more money and do it to these CableTV giants at the same time. (just pay them for their crappy ISP service and thats all they git)
I heard that. and that was/is a resounding
YES!
Rick.
Posted by: Richard Nekus | March 17, 2007 12:27 PM
Yes! skype should definitely offer email (atleast as an option if we need it)
...and please port it again to the Greatest (2) NetOS's on the planet, namely (Free)BSD, and OpenSolaris.
Rick.
Posted by: Rick | March 17, 2007 12:40 PM
But... what if... someone signed up as say... security@skype.com then sent out many emails in the style of skype and then used this evil plan to steal account info :o
Posted by: Alexander | September 21, 2007 06:09 AM
hi
do skype have an email address, i have problem with my a/c. need to get it sorted
owen
Posted by: owen williams | March 14, 2008 12:49 PM
why do skype not have emails addresses?
if they do, please let's know!
Posted by: Jb Rai | March 22, 2008 04:41 AM
In order to be able to join Skype I need to speak to someone in my area ie Hillcrest or Kloof or Gillitts or Botha's Hill or Pinetown in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa
Posted by: Bob Johnston | June 14, 2008 01:23 AM
In order to be able to join Skype I need to speak to someone in my area ie Hillcrest or Kloof or Gillitts or Botha's Hill or Pinetown in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa
Posted by: Bob Johnston | June 14, 2008 01:23 AM
In order to be able to join Skype I need to speak to someone in my area ie Hillcrest or Kloof or Gillitts or Botha's Hill or Pinetown in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa
Posted by: Bob Johnston | June 14, 2008 01:23 AM
I just got skype, and I must admit my brain is lost. I find it far too difficult to understand, and I dont think I am totally dumb. All I want to do is place an add somewhere, or locate skype users, to contact them, and that seems to be out of the question. Perhaps its me, there may be a way somewhere. If your got any idea email me on my personal email..........palmerboxing@yahoo.,com.au
Posted by: Neil McIntyre | June 26, 2008 12:34 AM