This sounds like a brilliant strategic partnership: this story says that if you’re using Skype with a dual-core Intel processor you’re allowed to have 10-way conference calls, but if you’re using a competing processor (or, presumably, an older Intel chip) you’ll be limited to 5-way calls. Apparently this is the case regardless of whether the processor you have can actually handle a 10-way call.
I happen to think that if you’re doing 10-way conference calls you need to rethink your conference call strategy. One way or another, this sounds like a really stinky deal for consumers, and it should provide golden opportunities for other platforms (both processors and VOIP providers). It’s another reason why I’m going to take a hard look at AMD next time I need to buy a new CPU.
Update: This story says that AMD’s attorneys are making pointed inquiries into this deal in their ongoing antitrust action against Intel. Whoops.
Update 2: Looks like the 5-user limit on non-Intel chips was an arbitrary restriction after all, and according to this Slashdot article, it’s been cracked. Double whoops.
Related posts:
Maybe you should tell Yahoo Messenger folks to close that deal with AMD…
Whatever for? The winner has already been picked!