I have to say that I was quite shocked this morning when I saw that Google added Skype to the Google Pack. It was always my impression that Google was trying to compete with Skype by offering a no-cost alternative to voice communication with Google Talk.
This raises a big question in my mind then: how does a company get their software into the Google Pack? From the looks of it Google must be accepting some money to get software integrated with the package because I can’t see them putting some of the things in there otherwise. If they weren’t accepting money then wouldn’t they put the free Avast! antivirus in there instead of a 6-month trial of Norton?
News Source: Digital Inspiration
Money could be a very good reason indeed for the same.
Then again it could be just their idea of getting more people to download the Software Pack.
Not many must realizing that you can just get the software by itself!
I don’t like the Google Pack because it’s too commercial. I’m waiting for a freeware or open source version…
the question should be asked the other way around – from a Skype perspective. Google doesn’t have a browser, and sees that it is critical to get its software onto desktops to effectively fend off Microsoft’s strength. Google Pack as a strategy hasn’t gone very far towards achieving this goal. As a separate tactic, Google has been signing up with all sorts of downloaded software to “sneak” in its toolbar. Firefox, Divx, VNC player, etc. etc. So in this case, it’s probably Google trying to get its toolbar installed with Skype, one of the most downloaded piece of Software. The old Skype would have been fine with just accepting money in return. But now part of ebay, they are equally strategic, and therefore asked Google to add Skype to GPack in order numb a potential threat – however small.
I thought I heard somewhere that GoogleTalk and Skype would be inter-operable by 2007. I don’t remember where though, so would someone like to look into that? This would explain why Skype is now an option in the Google Pack.