Xbox Addict

Skype for Xbox 360 Coming Soon?

Microsoft’s latest Xbox awards survey hints at the possibility of a Skype for Xbox application arriving soon. "Other than playing games, which of the following activities do you enjoy on Xbox 360?" asks the survey. The answers include watching DVDs and Zune movies but curiously includes "using Skype" as an option. Microsoft isn’t speaking fully about its Skype plans until the EU commission has approved the deal. The company has previously confirmed the service will make its way to the Xbox and Kinect. Tony Bates, Skype’s CEO, revealed last month that an October time frame is realistic for the deal to be complete. "We already got through the US side of it," Bates said at a technology conference in Aspen, Colorado. "We still have Europe so it’s anyone’s guess, but I would say we’ve got a couple of months more here," he said. "Maybe sort of an October time frame would be my guess."

The software giant announced its intentions to purchase Skype in May. Microsoft’s deal is valued at $8.5 billion cash and will see Skype CEO Tony Bates assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division. Bates will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Microsoft says Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities.

Microsoft’s Skype deal timing in October could pave the way for an Xbox Skype application in time for the fall dashboard update. Microsoft’s latest dashboard update will bring Bing search and a new Metro tile user interface to the platform. Skype currently has 170 million connected users and saw over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010 alone.

Thanks to Grady Bailey for the news tip