AllThingsD in the Media: Microsoft’s Next CEO (Maybe) and a New Video Chat App

Kara Swisher talks about the chances that Ford CEO Alan Mullaly may be next to run Microsoft. And Walt Mossberg talks about video chat app Spin.
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New Spin on Video Chats Brings More to the Party

Spin, a new mobile video-chatting service that lets up to 10 people share photos and videos, is so different from traditional video-chatting apps that it can be a bit confusing at first.

Skype Begins Testing Video Messaging Feature

Skype has started allowing some users to send short video messages to one another when their friends aren’t available for a live chat.

’Twas the Night Before Christmas and Santa’s Online

Fwd: Ho ho ho!

Jibe Picks Up $8.3 Million From Vodafone and MTI to Help Build Carrier-Quality Messaging Into Apps

Start-up Jibe hopes to transform video chat from being its own separate program to being a feature within lots of other apps.

News Byte

After Leaving Zynga, Wilson Kriegel Surfaces at Paltalk

Wilson Kriegel has been named president and COO of Paltalk, a provider of group video calls. Prior to joining the New York company, Kriegel was at Zynga, having joined the social games maker through the acquisition of OMGPOP, where he was chief revenue officer. Kriegel will be responsible for Paltalk’s growth and research and business development.

Telefónica Digital Buys Video Chat Platform TokBox

Telefónica acquires TokBox for its video chat API, and plans to keep the company intact.

A Chance to Call 15 Friends to Video Chat in High Def

Zoom.us offers free, high-definition, group video calls for up to 15 people over a variety of devices.

News Byte

Google Adds Video Hangouts to Gmail, as Expected

Google today added its distinctive group video chat Google+ Hangouts tool to Gmail, expanding on the email service’s existing video chat to add mobile support, screen sharing and silly effects. This move was expected. Both Hangouts and Google video chat are built in part with tools from an outside company called Vidyo.

Can Google Make a Case for Hangouts?

Sure, group video chat is cool. But can Google convince us that we need it?

Faster, iPhone! Kill! Kill!