Comcast, Skype Team Up for What, Exactly?

Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) has launched a high definition, Skype-based video calling plan for its Xfinity broadband customers. The plan costs $9.95/month and is available in Boston and Seattle today, with other cities to follow later this week. Skype is owned by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT).

This could be a big seller or it could be a flop. To hazard a guess, more likely closer to a flop. The capability is simply not likely to get widespread use. It’s very cool, of course, but not something that today’s mostly young and ferociously mobile smartphone customers are likely to use much. Young smartphone users don’t have time to sit still for a nice cozy Skype chat with the grandparents. Sad, perhaps, but true.

Paul Ausick