Skype to replace Xbox Live voice chat with next-Xbox - rumor

Skype, which was purchased by Microsoft for $8.5 billion in 2011, will be soon replace Xbox Live voice chat, according to someone familiar with the matter speaking with CVG.

According to the site's source, Microsoft plans to consolidate all of its communications technology into the Skype program. It's already ditching its Messenger service for the program, with the switch expected to be pulled in March.

The source said the next Xbox console will use the service instead of the current voice chat system.

"You might jump to the conclusion that we'll see asynchronous voice and video messages in next-gen Xbox Live," the source added.

It's not too far-fetched, really: job listings in April, May 2012 and August 2012 suggested the next-Xbox would support the service.

Microsoft is expected to announced it's new console this year, according to various reports, with the announcement happening anytime between GDC in March and E3 in June.