Microsoft this week announced it is lending its support to the Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) technology and will be supporting the ORTC API in Internet Explorer.
By putting its substantial weight behind the trend of bringing voice and video calling to the browser (without plugins), consumers may ultimately be able to make plugin-free Skype calls from their browser.
"We aim to make browser-based calls more convenient by removing the need to download a plugin. It’s all about convenience – imagine you’ll be able to simply open IE and make a Skype call to friends, family, or get real-time support for that new device right from your browser," said SHujun Sun, Senior Program Manager, Internet Explorer.
WebRTC essentially enables Web app developers to include real-time video calling and data sharing capabilities in their products, which can range from games to video conferencing tools.