Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- streamline / ˈstrimˌlaɪn / (v.) – to make something simpler, faster, or more efficient
Example:The company wants to streamline the hiring process so that new employees can start working sooner.
- a host of (someone/something) / ə hoʊst ʌv / (idiom) – a large number of things or people
Example:The company introduced a host of new products at the beginning of the year.
- far-flung / ˈfɑrˈflʌŋ / (adj.) – very far away
Example:The company has offices in far-flung places around the world.
- upstart / ˈʌpˌstɑrt / (n.) – a person or company that is new and growing quickly, sometimes surprising others
Example:Many people didn’t trust the upstart phone company because they weren’t familiar with it.
- on the wane / ɒn ðə weɪn / (idiom) – becoming smaller, weaker, or less important
Example:Interest in the old game is on the wane as new ones come out.
Article
Read the text below.
Microsoft is closing down Skype, the video-calling service it bought for $8.5 billion in 2011, which had helped spark a transformation in how people communicate online.
The tech giant said it will retire Skype in May and shift some of its services to Microsoft Teams, its flagship videoconferencing and team applications platform. Skype users will be able to use their existing accounts to log into Teams.
Microsoft has for years prioritized Teams over Skype, and the decision to fold the brand reflects the tech giant’s desire to streamline its main communications app as it faces a host of competitors.
Founded in 2003 by a group of engineers in Tallinn, Estonia, Skype was a pioneer in making telephone calls using the internet instead of landlines. It relied on VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, technology that converts audio into a digital signal transmitted online. Skype added video calls after online retailer eBay bought the service in 2005.
“It brought a lot of people around the world closer,” said Barbara Larson, a management professor at Northeastern University who studies the history of virtual and remote work.
The ability to bypass expensive international phone calls to connect with far-flung coworkers was a boon for startups, but also people outside of the business world. As with other new platforms, scammers also made use of it.
Skype was still considered high-tech in 2017 when recently inaugurated President Donald Trump’s administration used it to field questions from journalists far from the White House press briefing room. It was a month later when Microsoft launched Teams, an attempt to catch up to the growing demand for workplace chatting services sparked by upstart rival Slack Technologies.
Slack and Teams, along with newer video platforms such as Zoom, saw explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic as companies scrambled to shift to remote work, and even families and friends looked for new tools for virtual gatherings. Skype, by then, was already on the wane but had paved the way for strengthening the connections people can build remotely.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Companies like Zoom, Teams, and Slack became more popular than Skype. What do you think makes an app successful? Why do you think some technologies fade away while others survive? Discuss.
- What service or product have you used that was later discontinued? How did it feel when it disappeared? What apps or online products do you think would last a long time and why? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The article says Skype “brought people around the world closer.” Do you think it’s possible to build or maintain a friendship or relationship through video calls or online communication? Why do you say so? Do you believe there is a best way to communicate to maintain a relationship? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Do you prefer texting, voice calls, or video calls when talking to friends and family? Why? What about when talking to your classmates/coworkers? Discuss.
