This is probably a sign of what is to come. Canonical is taking Linux to the next level (again). A major, closed software is distributed on an Linux platform – Ubuntu. Skype is now available in Ubuntu software centre, just search for “skype”. The logo is missing and there will probably come more information in the future, but its there:
Skype available in Ubuntu
There are rumours that Skype is open sourcing parts of the code (the API?). That would make it easier to integrate other services with Skype creating new cool and usable features and functions. Skype for Linux is still behind the Windows version, hopefully it will catch up soon, during the meantime you can install the “extra functionalities for Linux Skype client” from sky essentials, also available in the software centre, only four rows from the main Skype package.
A sign of the future?
I suspect we will soon see many more popular closed or semi closed Software’s made available in Ubuntu Software Centre. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we really soon can buy software from there as well. This would make Linux an commercially interesting platform for software vendors, assuring that more and more popular software’s are made available. Why is this good? Well then everyone hopefully can choose to run Ubuntu if they wish, not having to use something else because of some important software isn’t available. This can only be good, open software will still continue to rapidly grow and compete with the closed source. It also makes it possible to pay/subscribe/donate for open source software, speeding up the development even further and also changing the software landscape by introducing a new software genre, commercial open source!
I like this idea, Ubuntu available and usable for everyone. The missing link between closed hyper commercial software’s and the free and open source. This will also benefit “pure” free and open source Linux distros. What do you think?
