It seems like Skype will be a functional part of the next Xbox, but not the current one.
While we obviously still haven’t heard anything official about Microsoft’s next-generation video game console, there has been no shortage of tips and insider leaks to point to rumors about what to expect.
The latest comes from a job listing on Microsoft’s official careers website. It suggests that Skype will be an integral part of the next Xbox.
Microsoft purchased Skype last year in one of the biggest technology acquisitions of its kind, and ever since the software giant has worked to integrate the voice-over IP platform into several new products and services.
However, the one thing that spectators have been waiting on ever since the ink hit the paper has been some sort of Skype integration into the Xbox 360. We may have to wait until the Xbox 720.
The job in question is for a “Skype for Xbox Program Manager.” Sounds pretty obvious, but here are the details:
“Skype is working on powering real-time voice and video communications on the Xbox. Xbox is a fundamental lynchpin of Skype’s living-room strategy, and we are focused on enabling amazing new in-game and in-console voice and video experiences for the next generation of Xbox.”
Unfortunately, we’re very unlikely to hear about any of this next month at the E3 trade show, where Microsoft has vowed not to make any Xbox 720 announcements. As a result, we’re very interested to hear what the company plans to do to keep the Xbox 360 relevant and exciting for another year.
