Sometimes, more frequently than shoulf eb the case, it seems like Microsoft's left hand doesn't know what their right hand is doing, or an alternative idiom might be " it's arse from it's elbow".
So Microsoft buys Skype. It starts improving the integration with it's other products and service. I've never been a big Skype user but in part prompted by Microsoft's purchase I think it might be a good idea to get a Skype number for business calls. Rather than use my old, personal account I spot the fact that I can now sign in with (one of) my Microsoft logins - "Windows Live" I think is the current vernacular if marketing haven't changed it since last I looked. Great. This seems sensible - this should give me the option to pull in contcats from elsewhere ... should save some time and effort. The UI offers me the option to merge with an existing account - I don't go for this option as the UI doesn;t explain what exactly this means, and anyway surely I would be abel to perform a merge after regustration should I so choose?!
All good - I register, I buy my skype number. Side bar: it was impossible to find out how much this was goign to cost without going through the purchase process. Seems an OK price and there is a monthly option so I can see how it goes. All setup in a few minutes and I test the number and the allied voicemail. All good so I change the contact details on my email sig and website. Quite happy.
Oh dear though ... I go to my Nokia Lumia 800 to change the skype account to match the new one so that I may receive skype calls to my mobile and it doesn't accept the microsoft login or the accompanying autogenerated skype login. I must be doing something wrong - surely Microsoft wouldn't have cocked up like this? A quick google and yes, it seems this was a deliberate decision. I check for updates to the skype client - there haven't been any for months. I can't find any roadmap for OS/ device releases. I try the skype support twitter account - there is no response in 24hrs. So I fire off a support email. I keep it brief;):
There is no option on windows phone 7 skype client to login with a Microsoft account. Solution?
I am pleasantly surprised to receive a response within an hour or so. The response itself I am less happy with:
We understand that you wish to sign in to Skype using a Microsoft account on Windows 7. We'd be glad to look into this for you.
Unfortunately this feature is not currently available in Skype.
We will pass on your request to our development team for consideration and potential inclusion in a future release.
Should any further issues arise, please feel free to contact us again.
Hmmm, Windows 7? Solution? Next email:
An entirely unsatisfactory response! It’s Windows Phone 7 and the question is outstanding – what is the recommended workaround solution to enable skype usage on win phone 7? E.g. do I need to create a new skype account and merge with the Microsoft account – will this work?
Skype support response (from different support person, continued quick response):
We understand that you want to sign in to Skype on your Windows 7 phone using your Microsoft account. We know how important this is for you, and we would like to inform you further about this issue.
To view your Microsoft contacts, you need to sign in using your Microsoft email address and password on Skype. Unfortunately, the option to do this is not yet available on your current device. Even if you merged your Microsoft account to a Skype account, you will still be required to sign in using Microsoft credentials to be able to view your Microsoft contacts.
Please accept our sincerest apologies on this matter, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.
Which isn't actually my main issue. Next email:
Thanks for the rapid responses.
I don’t particularly mind if I don’t see my Microsoft related contacts – I can presumably set them up separately if I need to. What I would like to be able to do is receive Skype calls to my mobile via the Skype number I bought yesterday but which is currently associated with the Microsoft based account I also setup yesterday. I have a separate skype account ‘olops2000’ I have previously used but I created a new Microsoft linked account yesterday and did not merge accounts at the time as I was not made aware of the Window Phone limitation. Can the olops2000 account now me merged with the Microsoft account, for example, so that I may receive calls as above? If you can supply me a brief step by step as to how I currently can achieve this goal ether way that would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Skype support's response:
We understand that you want to sign in using your Microsoft account so you can make use of the Skype Number that you have bought under your account. Please allow us to assist you with this issue.
Please be informed that your Microsoft account is currently merged to an automatically generated Skype ID live:chris.sully, which was created when you signed up for Skype using Microsoft credentials. You cannot use this Skype Name to log in nor can you reset the password for it. To access this account, you will need to use your Microsoft email address and password.
When we unmerge your accounts so that you may merge to an existing Skype account, please note that all purchases on the live:chris.sully account will be lost. Also, it is not possible to transfer purchases from one account to another. What we can recommend is that you use another device that supports logging in using a Microsoft account so that you may use the Skype Number that you have bought.
We hope you find this answer helpful. Should you need any further assistance or have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us again.
My turn:
Thanks for the clarity even though the situation is far from ideal.
Re: What we can recommend is that you use another device that supports logging in using a Microsoft account so that you may use the Skype Number that you have bought.
Is there a list of operating systems/ devices that support such functionality anywhere, i.e. a web page? Although given Microsoft now owns Skype I would hope/ expect the functionality would come to my device imminently? Would you be able to confirm if the functionality is planned for the next release of the Skype client for Windows phone 7.X (7.8 perhaps?) and/ or whether the functionality exists/ is planned for the Windows Phone 8 client? Also when these releases are scheduled for/ is there any ‘roadmap’ information available anywhere?
Thanks in advance.
Skype's turn (different person again):
Thank you for your reply.
We understand your concern that you want to know if you'll be able to log your Microsoft email in Windows phone 7.8 or 8. We'll be more than glad to further assist you.
Yes, you may use your Microsoft credentials on Windows phone 8. We're sorry that it's not available for version 7.8
Should any further issues arise, please feel free to contact us again.
So we get there in the end: another dead end for Windows Phone 7.X, even though Microsoft is now in charge! Rubbish!