1. Buddylist: When I signed up I didn't originally sign up for a centralized buddylist. You could say Skype co-opted my buddylist by centralizing it. More importantly, they didn't ask me, they just did it. I don't get an option to opt-in or opt-out of the centralized buddylist. I doubt the central buddylist has changed the Skype architecture so it is nothing more than the names of the people on my buddylist.

2. Monitoring: Do we know if they are now monitoring my buddies? Do they know when my buddies are online or offline? I really doubt it. It would require all the API information. Have they added the number of "contacts" infomation to their statistics and reporting. It's certainly valuable information. Is my buddylist held in an encrypted format? Are they at risk of being searched or requisitioned by the any authorities? Does the centralized buddylist system expose Skype to new regulatory requirements that the orginal architecture protected them from?

3. Presence: Note the centralized buddylist was "free", it was not a service. Thus Skype clearly perceived an economic value in providing it for all. The obvious bonus is it enables a "mobile" strategy whereby your desktop and your future smartphone have synchonised buddylists. That means that Skype can accurately share your presence information across multiple devices.

4. Web Enabled Sharing: There is a bigger prize in Skype's holding your presence information and that of your buddies. They will be able to offer to integrate your presence in real-time with other websites. Depending on how they offer this type of service will also influence how "YOU" and "I" should feel about it. An obvious opportunity is for Skype to aggregate presence information for Small Medium Enterprises. Thus if you buy a business account with multiple lines then you will get a "presence directory" as well as a consolidated SkypeOut account. That will enable you to keep track of all SkypeOut calls and consolidate the buddylist.

5. Layered Presence: The real prize is in layered presence systems. Layered presence is when we slowly reveal ourselves. Think about a dating site. Most would not use their real names to begin with. Just like on IM, many want the protection of an alias. Skype has enabled a perfect method for you to retain the rights to how you share your presence information. It's contained in the SkypeAPI and just requires a little programming. Personal Presence Servers are under development. The initial versions are all simple, however they will soon be addressing layered presence.

6. My Identity: If we enable or allow Skype to create and co-opt our data to create layered presence systems then Skype rather than "YOU" and "ME" will control our identity information. If you think this is no problem then you must be a Microsoft Passport Lover. I know very few of them!

My view is Skype is at a strategic point where they have started to think about their business as a "network operator". They have recently made reference to mobile operators in that context. That's ultimately bad thinking. Skype should think about themselves as a "network facilitator". They have no rights to control or capture any personal information. They should ensure that it is up to the user to share it or ask Skype to act as their agent. That's why the SkypeAPI is a brilliant move. Potentially many parties can provide "Personal Presence Servers" and "Presence Engines". Those parties will help Skypers aggregate information, act as agents, enable smart exchanges, and if Skype's smart, use the Skype accounts system to tie into $'s for which Skype can take a percentage. Find a Presence service that sucks... or someone that abuses your presence and then you simple delete them and no longer share your information with them.

What do I want to see?
1. Voice Recognition: I'd like Skype to add voice recognition to my buddylist. I'm prepared to pay a small premium for an accurate system. What would this do? It means, I walk into the house: "Hi Skype - Stuart here" --- now I am logged in. Stuart you have three voice mails... "Play VM" ----- "Call Bill Campbell". With this simple little add to Skype, it can become completely voice activated and further simplify the response and connecting for any call. The log-in due to the centralized directory will enable you to go to a friends house and log-in verbally. The age of voice sensitive speaker phones may well be near. This is justification enough for having a centralized buddylist.

2. Opt-in / Opt-out. You should be able to opt in or opt out of the centralized service. I'd also like to see specific details on how "securely" my buddylist is stored. Is it encrypted like VM's apparently are? Does Skype have access to the list in anyway? What statistics are they collecting.

3. Presence Server: I expect Skype will offer a "presence" solution it's where the real money is to be made. However I'd prefer a model where the control resides with the user at all times. Thus I may enable Skype to temporarily share my presence, they act as my agent. Thus, Skype should facilitate presence services, not aim to control or be a "presence" operator.

In the end this is all about trust. Trust is earned. Skype did not ask permission to co-opt your buddylist. I still believe they are treading a fine line. In the wow, we have a new buddylist feature it was easy to overlook. It's bothered me for days as I've mulled it over.

I'd sum it up finally like this. Skype is in a unique position. They are potentially the next telephone system. They are on a growth trajectory much like Napster was in the early days. From purist perspectives Skype is not perfect as it is proprietary etc. Still there is no other VON - VoIP voice on the net application that is currently close. Unless MSN radically changes their business approach they are unlikely to drag users away. If Skype centralises much more they will be looking more like MSN on the one hand. On the other if the Telecoms decide to crush Skype, then I believe that they will only create a consumer movement similar to the Napster to Kazaa / gnutella shift. Only next time all of it will be controlled by users in the network. The cloud will be completely divorced from an operator.

That is thus Skype's challenge. To stay closer to users, and maintain their trust while showing "mobile" operators in particular that they are their best friend. Otherwise those mobile operators are going to be dealing with mesh and device driven networks much earlier than they might have planned.

Note: There is currently no comments in the Skype Knowledge Base on how they handle or protect your buddylist data.