Citrix, Skype Team Up for Enhanced Web, Audio Conferencing

We’re no stranger to Skype here at Nine Lives Media Inc. If you take a look around at any of our sites, you’ll find plenty of Fast Chat videos conducted over Skype. So of course our collective ears perked up when we heard about Skype’s partnership with Citrix to deliver better business collaboration through both web and audio conferencing. Virtualization gurus working with video collaboration gurus? Sounds like a plan …

The new strategic partnership will enable Skype to provide new web and audio conferencing capabilities that had once been unique to the GoToMeeting client from Citrix. That will put Skype on the map for expanding its business offerings, web conferencing business tools and other powerful collaboration tweaks all with Citrix’s GoToMeeting backbone. Those tools are anticipated for an end of 2011 release and on track to be integrated into the Skype for Business desktop experience.

You might be thinking, “Aren’t those fancy features already in Skype for Business?” You’d be right, but now the integration of GoToMeeting will allow users to quickly set up conference-call meetings through Skype or regular public-switched telephone numbers. In addition, Skype’s SILK audio codec will be embedded into the aforementioned business call, improving audio quality, while GoToMeeting tweaks will help provide better interactive screen-sharing.

A win-win for all those involved? Sounds like it. We’ll be sure to check out the features should they arrive on time for the end of 2011.

Sign up for The VAR Guy’s Weekly Newsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. Follow The VAR Guy via RSS, Facebook and Twitter. Follow experts at VARtweet. Read The VAR Guy’s editorial disclosures here.