Andre Yoskowitz
15 Feb 2012 21:57
Cisco has confirmed today it will appeal the European Commission's approval of Microsoft's purchase of Skype.
Last year, the software giant acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, in an effort to integrate the extremely popular VoIP into its Lync suite of applications and platforms. Skype offers users a way to chat via voice, text or video.
Cisco says Microsoft should "support standards for interoperability with other collaboration platforms," says IW. The company does not oppose the merger, says their counsel, but does want more strict conditions imposed on Microsoft.
Says Cisco: "Microsoft's plan to integrate Skype exclusively with its Lync Enterprise Communications Platform could lock-in businesses who want to reach Skype's 700 million account holders to a Microsoft-only platform."
More specifically, Microsoft and Skype do not use the H.264 video codec or the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard.