MS / SKYPE PRESS ONFERENCE LIVE

THIS IS THE LIVE (AS OF 11 AM EASTERN MAY 10, 2011) PRESS CONFERENCE FROM MS & SKYPE WITH THE CEO'S OF BOTH COMPANIES: (Note -- Live conference ended at 11:48 AM and is expected to be available for re-viewing shortly after -- move the red cursor to 47:00 for the start of the re-broadcast program!!!) --

Plans are

1- Integrate with all MS products, including Lync, XBOX, Kinect, Hotmail

2- Maintain Skype as an independent division

3- Maintain Skype on non-MS hardware (iOS, Android, ...)

4- New revenue streams, especially advertising & premium services
5- Overseas cash  - Skype is a Luxembourg company -- accounting benefits
6- Skype on PC's, now going to mobile phones, living room (now on 50M TV's)
7- Connect all the platforms together
8- Business & consumer applications
9- Will work hard to develop relationships with carriers.

MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO EXPRESS 2008

Microsoft very recently released a new version of Visual Studio Express. MS provides free:

=> Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition.
=> Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition.
=> Visual C# 2008 Express Edition.
=> Visual Web 2008 Express Edition.

Also

Sequel Server 2005 is available as a free download.

For me the best news is that Windows programming comes automatically with the installation of VC++ Express 2008 (VC++ 2005 Express had required a separate installation for complete Windows programming).

There are some tutorials to get started.

A free Game Development Kit is also available as a separate download.

Joe Belefiore

Joe Belefiore, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft's eHome division.
Ground breaking digital convergence that includes a new use for your Microsoft media center.

Scott DiValerio

Scott Di Valerio is Corporate VP. of OEM Division at Microsoft Corp.
J. Scott Head's the Microsoft unit that sells software to, and manages relations with, computer makers such as HP.