Give the Skype folks credit for knowing how to weave their way into the media at every angle, but this story is more about the Mac and it becoming a telephony device of major proportion.
As a reformed Mac user (i.e. I used to use a Mac) I always enjoyed how easy they were to use. What I hated was being second class to new emerging technology and much of what was going on with the Internet sadly took on a PC focus so some time back in 1997 or 98 I switched back to the PC world which for business was the right move.
The Mac and IP based communications is something that has all the right elements. Except one. The NIH (Not invented here) syndrome that plagues Apple. For Apple to go in the VoIP direction the partnership would either have to bring so much in the way of added new user base, or the company would have to go back to its roots of being innovative, not just offer an option to what the masses purchase.
This is a company cultural issue. Apple has to really say..okay, we’re ready to do it again. Is Steve up to that Job?