"Wire", A Skype Competitor Launched By Its Co-Founder

Since its launch more than 10 years ago, Skype has become the primary tool for making VoIP calls and instant messages. 

 

Microsoft scooped up Skype from eBay back in 2011 for a meaty $8.5 billion, and now Skype's co-founder Janus Friis has revealed a new tool that will compete directly with Skype. Called Wire, the service is now available for iOS 8 and above, OS X 10.9 and above, and Android 4.2 and above.

"Skype was launched more than a decade ago. A lot has changed since then -- we are all used to free calls and texting, and we have taken to carrying our computers in our pockets," said Friis. "It is time to create the best possible communication tools, as beautiful as they are useful. Wire is just that."

According to the company, Wire users will be able to share images, YouTube video and SoundCloud music, and they'll be able to do VoIP calling and individual and group instant messaging.

To start a call, users simply click on the name of the person displayed in the friends list, and then click on the phone icon. To end the call, users must click on the X in the upper left corner. To transfer the call to another device, users must click on the "Transfer Call Here" button found on a banner flashing on the other device. Free calls require that both parties use Wire.

Check-Out The New "Wire"

Prior to that report, Microsoft revealed in October that as part of the WebRTC standard, the company is now supporting the new Object Real-Time Communications (ORTC) API. This will allow Skype users to chat and make calls directly from Internet Explorer without the need for a browser plug-in.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm specialized in various mobile application development services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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