Report: Facebook, Skype Getting Really Friendly

Such an agreement would give both Skype and Facebook not only a leg up on rival VoIP and social networking services from the likes of Google, but also the combined force of two Internet-based services beloved by consumers.

The talks, which were reported by All Things Digital Wednesday, stems from Facebook's goal of merging IP communications and social networking communities more closely together. Facebook in recent weeks had also been rumored to be developing a mobile device of its own.

Any alliance of the sort would also be a boon for Skype, which has reported having 124 million average monthly users as of the second quarter of 2010 and 560 million overall registered users. The potential for Facebook's more than 500 million reported users to access Skype more easily is obviously an appeal for the consumer VoIP upstart.

According to All Things Digital, a Skype-Facebook integration would allow users to both SMS message and call their Facebook friends using Skype, as part of Facebook Connect. Video chat through Skype will also be available, through the expected release of Skype 5.0, the report notes.

Skype representatives did not respond to a request from CRN seeking comment.

Skype has been in expansion mode as of late. Not only is the Luxembourg-based company preparing an initial public offering, but it's also been making a serious bid to expand its appeal for business enterprise customers, through both a recently unveiled channel partner program and through a just-announced strategic unified communications partnership with Avaya.