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Skype on Xbox One: A Feature The PS4 Can’t Match

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Microsoft might have already shared a little about the Skype voice chat that is integrated into the Xbox One, but until now that company hadn’t actually shared any real audio to back up its claim that the Xbox One’s communication systems system bests that of the Xbox 360 and possibly the PlayStation 4.

According to a post on the Xbox Wire PR blog, Microsoft’s decision to base its communication software on the assets and software of Skype has allowed the Xbox One to completely surpass the voice and video capabilities of the Xbox 360. By using Skype’s well-tested codec and dedicated audio processing, Microsoft says the console is able to deliver in-game party chats and voice messaging that are clear and crisp.

While these two innovations alone would allow for better chatting, those using the new Xbox One Chat Headset may notice an even bigger improvement when voice chatting. That’s because Microsoft has boosted the transfer speed of the Xbox One wireless controller. It’s these controllers that actually transmit audio to the Xbox One when gamers have a headset plugged in.

The Xbox One will still hit 13 regions in November.

The Xbox One will still hit 13 regions in November.

The company also provided two short samples of audio captured using the Xbox One’s Skype codec and hardware.

While today’s blog post doesn’t call it out, the Xbox One’s Skype integration might actually be one of the key differentiating features for the console. Since every Xbox with an Xbox LIVE subscription can place audio and video calls using the console’s Kinect sensor and included headset, every Xbox One allows users to connect with friends and family.

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That’s a feature enhanced by the sheer volume of Skype users and the breadth of Skype applications that are available on nearly every mobile platform and PC operating system. While the PlayStation 3, and the PlayStation 4, do allow users to voice chat with other PlayStation Network users, Sony’s announcements so far have indicated that these users won’t be able to communicate with friends and family outside of the PlayStation ecosystem. As the competition for the living room heats up, it’s likely that it will be features like this – things that are useful for the whole family – that will decide the winner.

Read: PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One: Games & Features

The Xbox One is now available for pre-order for $499. Microsoft has yet to announce the exact date that users will be able to pick up the device on store shelves, however the console is likely to go on sale sometime this November.

25 Comments

25 Comments

  1. kasif

    08/29/2013 at 1:39 pm

    Skype is coming to ps4.

    • robbyrob2

      08/30/2013 at 8:11 am

      HA! Really??? MS owned Skype is coming to the PS4.

      Riiiiiiiiiiiight,

      • Zanten

        08/30/2013 at 8:21 am

        MS owned Skype is already on the PlayStation Vita. :P So while I personally don’t know if the rumor is true, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand.

    • robbyrob2

      08/30/2013 at 8:14 am

      for those of you under the delusion that PS4 has Skype…..article is 9 days old. scroll down it’s as clear as day. Skype for Xbox One YES. Skype for Wii U and PS4 NO

      https://www.ign.com/wikis/xbox-one/PS4_vs._Xbox_One_vs._Wii_U_Comparison_Chart

  2. Brian

    08/29/2013 at 1:55 pm

    and your source?….you do know that Skype is owned by Microsoft…right?

    • Deadpoolio

      08/29/2013 at 3:00 pm

      Yes it is owned by MS and it was CONFIRMED at least a month ago that YES it will also be on PS4….AT LAUNCH….And will be the exact same Skype that the One80 has…Which was again also Confirmed

      Sony is one of the main owners of Blu-Ray yet the One80 also has a Blu-Ray drive…By your logic maybe Sony should be dictating when they can release their console

      • shawn

        08/29/2013 at 3:47 pm

        skype will not be on the ps4 and the only reason it is on the vita is because that happened before microsoft bought skype and im sorry but sony is one of 18 companies who own blu ray rights, the xbox 360 already has tv apps where u dont even need a cable box to view internet tv and sony pictures is even a app on the 360 sorry but microsoft trumps again …

        • kasif

          08/29/2013 at 6:39 pm

          Ur behind on the news bro

      • robbyrob2

        08/30/2013 at 8:15 am

        MS OWNS skype. Sony is a partner among many other companies that own Bluray. HUGE difference.

  3. Brian

    08/29/2013 at 2:00 pm

    Accually, never mind, I found my own source..but still, Microsoft owns the rights which means ps4 won’t get it for a while and I doubt the integration will be as nice as xbox one has.

  4. Rees

    08/29/2013 at 3:00 pm

    Skype is not coming to ps4

    • Deadpoolio

      08/29/2013 at 3:04 pm

      Ummmm Sorry skippy YES it is…It has been confirmed and NO it’s not going to be some lesser app than the one on the One80….They have the exact same features get over it…There is nothing that MS has that Sony doesn’t already have outside of having 2 devices running to watch Tv through your Xbox on your Tv instead of just having 1 device running Tv to your Tv………

      Although Sony does have some features that the One80 does not…Like offering webTv with that Viacom deal through an app which makes more sense that using a console as a middle man…..Or lets not forget Sony is also Sony Pictures…

      • JNZ

        08/30/2013 at 4:38 pm

        No, “skippy” it’s not coming to PS4. MS has the ability to block Skype and the Skype protocol and codecs from being on any platform they do not give their OK to. MS gave the OK to Sony for vita because MS does not have a competing handheld. They have a DIRECT competitor in X1.

        Skype will NOT be on PS4. But since you are so sure, and at launch even, surely you have a source showing Skype on PS4 right?

        • DBG

          09/02/2013 at 7:43 pm

          Having Skype and it’s technology (which not only includes the audio codec, but the hybrid P2P/client-server model that it uses) is something that will be unique to Xbox One. Microsoft is fine supporting gaming platforms it doesn’t see as a threat (Wii U, Vita), however it has been stated that many working hours have been put into making Skype a great experience on the Xbox One and with the new Kinect at its side, this means voice and video (basically my point is if it ever happens, it won’t be until 2015 or later).

          Another thing to consider is that I doubt Sony would actually want to present Skype front and center on their new console/UI. While Sony is great at licensing out to venders, they are really trying hard this time around to create a very centralized space and you need to make at least a partial “walled garden” for that to work (which means not promoting a rival’s proprietary communications network. I’m very happy to see both products including a bundled headset (a real weakness in PS3 gaming as you’d never know what you were going to get quality-wise… normally it was just silence). Also this link in mostly for the article’s author, in the off-chance they read it. Sony hasn’t talked codec, but there would be nothing stopping them from using Opus (built on Skype technology) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_(audio_format)

  5. ashleyprince2 (@ashleyprince21)

    08/29/2013 at 3:01 pm

    my friend’s step-mother makes $63/hr on the laptop. She has been fired for eight months but last month her paycheck was $17124 just working on the laptop for a few hours. continue reading this…….……WWW.ℛush64.COℳ

  6. kasif

    08/29/2013 at 3:02 pm

    It’s on PS vita now

  7. Epic Rockets (@In2umniaKillH3r)

    08/29/2013 at 3:03 pm

    Do you knew that Skype, which is owned by MS, want to go on PS4?

    Microsoft’s corporate vice-president for Skype, Mark Gillett, has expressed his desire to bring the Skype video-calling service to the PlayStation 4 console.

    “We’ve worked with Sony for a long time. Skype ships today on the PlayStation Portable amongst other cross-platform devices that we deliver to, and for the last few years we’ve also been shipping versions of Skype that run on Sony TVs. ”We’re obviously not party to their pre-release [PlayStation] hardware road map [but] we’re committed to cross-platform.”

  8. captainfawkes

    08/29/2013 at 4:57 pm

    Skype will be on PS4. Microsoft doesn’t care what the platform is.. Skype makes money on its own. Skype’s income comes from service fees to call to landline phones and such.. all of this can be done on PS Vita as well if you are paying for it. So there is no reason to believe that Microsoft would limit their VOIP service to just their products.

    • Aditya

      09/20/2013 at 5:54 am

      That makes sense. Because if Microsoft didn’t had to give skype on any other platform, we wouldn’t have it on mac. Right?

  9. Nathan R.

    08/29/2013 at 5:24 pm

    “MICROSOFT WANT SKYPE ON XBOX
    Microsoft’s corporate vice-president for Skype, Mark Gillett, has expressed his desire to bring the Skype video-calling service to the PlayStation 4 console.

    During the Xbox One reveal event in May Microsoft demonstrated how Skype would be integrated with their new Xbox One console and it appeared to be a unique feature however Skype want their video-call platform to be as open as possible by being available on as many devices as possible.

    Speaking to the BBC Gillett said:

    “We’ve worked with Sony for a long time. Skype ships today on the PlayStation Portable amongst other cross-platform devices that we deliver to, and for the last few years we’ve also been shipping versions of Skype that run on Sony TVs. ”We’re obviously not party to their pre-release [PlayStation] hardware road map [but] we’re committed to cross-platform.” ”

    https://www.handytips.info/1567/microsoft-we-want-skype-on-ps4/

  10. KuRupT1

    08/29/2013 at 8:10 pm

    Lol guess who ever wrote this article feels stupid

  11. Daniele Andreuzzi (@Ahytys)

    08/30/2013 at 12:36 am

    Guys, If I play a game, I don’t wanna chat on skype… I want to play that game!! If I chat on skype I’ll do it when i’m surfing the internet or when I’m not doing anything else… not when 10 people are trying to kill me in a game XD

  12. sushmasingh22

    08/30/2013 at 9:19 am

    Can i have it on PS Vita ?

    https://apps-for-pc.com/

    • John Jordan

      08/30/2013 at 6:58 pm

      Yes…I have it and it is great.

  13. Chomper1277

    10/29/2013 at 3:59 am

    The last thing I want to see or want my friends to see is what faces I make while playing video games. I’m sure they are frightening.

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