Essentially, Skype just killed its version of the App Store. For the uninitiated, Skype Extras were certified plugins or add-on applications for the VoIP service. Some of the most popular Extras are recording programs like Pamela for Skype (Windows) and eCamm's Call Recorder for Mac OS X.
Although Skype claims that it will continue to distribute existing applications through the Extras Manager in Skype for Windows and in the Skype shop, what options will exist for future updates or for future add-ons remains unclear.
In an e-mail to developers and on it blog, Skype said:
Despite the incredible breadth of Extras developed for Skype, simply not enough people were using them to justify our continued support of the Extras programme. Unfortunately, effective today, we will shut down the Skype Extras programme.
For developers, this means that if you don't already have a program certified as a Skype Extra, you're out of luck. Skype says it will continue to support the Public API and maintain documentation, but it is unclear what, if any functionality differences exist between the Public API and the old Extras Developer Program.
For end users, you can still download or purchase Skype Extras from Skype's website or from the developer directly, however, as of December 11, Skype Credit will not be able to be used to purchase Skype Extras.
This is just another confusing chapter in the long, winding saga of Skype. As platforms like Facebook, Twitter and the iPhone all explode -- in large part because of their third-party ecosystems -- we have the question any decision to deter third-party development.