Nokia losing sales because of Skype? We call shenanigans.

WP Central

Business Insider is reporting that Skype is causing Microsoft and by extension Nokia problems in terms of sales of their Lumia line. The data comes from the shareholder coming together held yesterday in Finland but since information technology was not open to the public or recorded, there'due south a lot of second hand "reporting" going, some of it dubious.

Reportedly a question was raised about Skype from a shareholder. From BI:

"Nokia seems to be having a problem with the distribution aqueduct due to Skype" asking how will Nokia bargain with this problem. Elop answered "If the operator doesn't desire united states, information technology doesn't desire u.s.. Nosotros volition entreatment to them with other arguments. We have more to offering to them. It is a good signal to commencement the discussion from Skype."

Both BI and an awfully written personal blog called 'Communities Dominates Brands' spin this every bit Nokia having issues selling Lumias because of carrier opposition to Skype.

While nosotros have piffling doubtfulness that carriers don't like Skype and are concerned about how Microsoft pushes it on them, it seems like apartment out ignorance to claim this is why Nokia may exist having trouble selling their Lumia line.

As anyone on Windows Phone who has used Skype knows, it's far from a threat to carriers especially at its current stage. Let's go over the reasons why this story is dubious and reeks of shoddy reporting:

Skype on Windows Phone doesn't run in the background and can't receive calls
Skype is widely available on the much more ubiquitous iOS and Android platforms where it tin run in the background
Tango Video Phone call is also at present widely available on all platforms and tin receive calls in the background on Windows Telephone, making information technology more of a "threat" than Skype
Skype doesn't come pre-installed on any Windows Phone; Tango Video Telephone call does
The carriers are gearing up for Skype by capping data and raising costs equally voice-usage starts to reject

Certainly we tin see carriers existence concerned with how Microsoft integrates Skype into Windows Phone viii but that seems like something that could be negotiated by the OEMs and carriers on a per-device level. Microsoft has been very, very proficient at working with carriers (and cable providers) on content delivery and not stepping on their toes. In fact it'due south a core reason why the Xbox 360 is doing so well as a general entertainment device over Google Tv set.

The notion that Android and iOS get a pass on Skype with the carriers but Nokia (and only Nokia) are being singled out seems ludicrous, especially since Windows Telephone is a drop in the saucepan compared to Apple and Google's systems right now. In other words, while Nokia may be having problems getting traction in the smartphone market place with Windows Phone, we don't think it's because of Skype.

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is now getting Android 11

Information technology'south here

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is at present getting Android 11

After a very long wait, the original Surface Duo is now eligible to receive its over-the-air Bone update to Android 11. Hither is what is new and fixed with the biggest update yet for Microsoft's kickoff dual-screen Android device.