Last week reports began surfacing that Facebook was now prompting users to invite their Skype friends to Facebook. Now, Facebook is testing deeper integration which enables Skype users to start calls, chat, and send files if their friends on the service. While we’ve received at least one report, we aren’t quite sure if this is a feature being tested by Facebook or if this something that is part of an upgraded Skype application.
We’re reaching out to Facebook for clarification but since it’s late I wouldn’t expect a response before tomorrow. Given that Facebook has an existing chat platform, and has even tested a video chat product, one has to wonder why Facebook would be the one behind this product. Also, the multiple occurrences of the Skype icon within Facebook’s product below makes it seem a little bit questionable.
Whether or not it’s Facebook’s own product or a feature within Skype, it’s pretty clear that the two products have become increasingly integrated. Just in the past month I’ve personally noticed a dramatic increase in the number of contact requests on Skype. I’d assume it’s a result of the increasing integration between the two services. In this case, I’m not quite sure how Facebook would benefit from such robust integration with Skype.
And why wouldn’t they allow users to choose which icon users are linked to. Have you seen Skype show up in Facebook like the screenshot below?
Thanks to Noah for the tip!
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This seems to be a very old feature if you have the Skype plugin installed on firefox.
Quite old feature as far as i remember.
Comment by v1dz — June 22, 2010 @ 10:21 pm
I have noticed as well Skype showing up next to the names of my contacts. However on my side it is not related to Facebook but to the Skype extension for Firefox. It appears on other website as well.
Comment by Nicolas — June 22, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
Can you please give me the direct link to add skype on Facebook?
Thanks
Comment by Rakibul Islam — June 23, 2010 @ 12:14 am
Hi!
About the screenshot. When I use mozilla firefox and Im longed in at skype, I'm shown the skype icon as in the screenshot. But if I use chrome or IE it is not possible. And that has been on for some time now
Comment by Milan — June 23, 2010 @ 1:30 am
Hey there – the Skype icons you see on your friends’ profiles are inserted by our browser toolbar. It detects names of people on your Skype contact list, and makes it easy to call and chat with them.
Comment by Peter Parkes (Skype) — June 23, 2010 @ 1:37 am
how to use it
Comment by Mohammed Goher — June 23, 2010 @ 5:51 am
when you install Skype Addon for Internet Explorer or Firefox you can see icons even in the Facebook Chat User list. It is nice feature.
Comment by Pavel Kotyza — June 23, 2010 @ 6:14 am
Neil,
The more ways we can use these personal connections tools in unison, the more like a party this becomes…
Comment by Bruce Christensen — June 23, 2010 @ 6:51 am
Sorry Nick… I just got off the phone with a Neil..
Comment by Bruce Christensen — June 23, 2010 @ 6:52 am
I agree i'm sure i have seen it about but was sure it was related to the Firefox plugin? I'm running Facebook in chrome atm and not seeing anything…
Comment by David — June 23, 2010 @ 9:47 am
that's an add on the latest Skype version brings.
It's actually a browser add on , you can check it at the Firefox plugins manager. connects the names the browser finds on a web site with the screen name of your contacts.
If the person ain't in your contact list, you won't see the Skype icon right next to it to make a call or start a conversation.
It actually works on every website since it's a browser add on.
Comment by Ignacio Frontan Estr — June 23, 2010 @ 10:04 am
Nick,
As some readers have noticed this is not a new feature. You have just installed skype on your pc, wich automatically install browser extensions.
I suggest you to delete this post
Comment by Facebook User — June 24, 2010 @ 8:11 pm
Please can someone tell me how to get the icon next to my name in facebook?
I have done the skype add-on for IE and I have ticked the box on skype saying show status on the web and I still dont have it.
Comment by Trix — July 9, 2010 @ 11:24 pm
what if you want to use skype and FB but dont want the link, its already there and i want to disable/remove it!!!!!!!! please help???
Comment by wayne — August 23, 2010 @ 2:40 pm
[...] users to invite their Skype friends to join the site. Back in June we covered a deeper integration between the two companies. At the time it was just Skype that had automatically installed a browser add-on that let Facebook [...]
Pingback by Facebook And Skype Becoming Deeply Integrated — September 29, 2010 @ 10:48 am
I went to the skype webpage and was going to download it, but changed my mind…now I can't seem to get to facebook…everytime I type in the facebook URL address…it goes to skype…how do I fix this…now I hate skype and will never use it! That's too much accessibility to my pc….can we sue in this case?
Comment by Annie — April 23, 2011 @ 11:43 pm
The skype has also affected not only my firefox, but google chrome and explorer…is there a law against this?
Comment by annie — April 23, 2011 @ 11:44 pm
[...] has been working on further integrating Skype beyond simply exchanging contacts like you can right now. So reports that the social network wants [...]
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