Windows 8.1 to ship with Skype pre-installed

[wraggster]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/08/windows-8-1-skype.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/15/windows-8-1-ships-with-skype-pre-installed/)We already suspected that Windows and Skype were going to get particularly cozy after Microsoft phased out Messenger (http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/15/microsoft-begins-wider-messenger-shutdown-on-april-8th/), but it's now official: Windows 8.1 (http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/30/microsoft-windows-8-1-unveiled/) will ship with Skype pre-installed. Those who haven't already downloaded the messaging client (http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/02/skype-video-messaging-windows-8/) will get it when they upgrade their OS (or buy a Windows 8.1 PC) after October (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/14/windows-8.1-launch/). The move won't change much for existing Skype users, but it could easily lead to a jump in Skype adoption when the app will soon come bundled with the majority of PCs (http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/10/gartner-and-idc-pc-shipments-dropped-about-11-percent-in-q2/).

http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/15/windows-8-1-ships-with-skype-pre-installed/