The following is from an article on neoseeker.com
http://www.neoseeker.com/news/21941-rumor-skype-to-replace-xbox-live-voice-chat-nextgen-making-the-service-crossgame-and-platform/
According to a source at CVG, supported by some recent job listings at Microsoft, the console developer is considering replacing their current Xbox voice systems with Skype. Consider Microsoft laid down a hefty $8.5 billion sum in 2011 for Skype, I'd probably want to put that software in everything I made too. This would, effectively, make the system cross platform on top of cross-game.
The source, said to be, "familiar with the matter," was quoted saying that Microsoft would be, "consolidating all their communications technology." He also made this statement specific to Xbox:
"You might jump to the conclusion that we'll see asynchronous voice and video messages in next-gen Xbox Live."
This is one of those rumors that seems so true simply because it would be stupid not to do. I mean, think about it. Microsoft is already pushing further cross-platform synchronization, like with the Windows 8 store. They've also got this Kinect thing which makes a pretty good living room camera. Like I said earlier, they spent $8.5 billion on Skype, so just put all this stuff together and damn, that's a job well done.
As for the related job listings over at Microsoft, the company is hiring a user interface designer for the "next Xbox" at their UK-based Skype offices. The listing has the following statement:
"The team you'll join is responsible for Skype in the living room (broadly the home), across various devices but with a focus on the large screen and the next generation of Xbox."
As untrustworthy as the source's information is above, it's pretty clear what Microsoft according to this job listing, right? Hopefully we hear more information as we get closer to E3, but considering how protective console developers are of the software being run it may be a while before we confirmation. I'll say it again though: now that we've heard about this, it's silly to think Microsoft wouldn't add Skype into Xbox LIVE.
Syko's Note: I use Skype to talk to friends, as do MANY many other people, and if this is implemented properly we could be looking at a much better system to talk to our friends over XBL.