Well...
I didn't say it was less proprietary...
I said "gtalk works just as well"...
My perspective.

but I do agree with the fact pichlo pointed out...
Also...anybody I personally know who uses voip ...uses Skype.
So by proxy...by default... M$'s move is damaging even for those here who have no prob using gtalk and similar ilk in place of Skype ...but for all those who know ONLY how to use Skype ...they are in a pickle.
And it doesn't make it any easier to communicate with those people who wish to (or can) stay only with Skype.

But the overall prob actually deepens and widens to not only include Skype.

There are ALOT of local senior citizens I donate my time and help with their windows 7 computers...

ALL of them had a trial moving from xp to win7...NONE of them are going to transition to windows 8 before or after win7 shelf life expires.

I have gotten only 1 senior couple to transition to linux lite.
From the larger objective perspective the damage these moves called "progress" are doing or going to do...are truly horrible to contemplate.

It brings to a new brutal and lonely level ....of the concept of "..The technologically advanced tribe wins..." to a opera-esque vibrato ..."...The technologically advanced individual wins.."

Hmm...for those upset and having to transition to something more friendly to devices ...
let alone our devices...from Skype to something else...
and if gtalk isn't adequate enough...
Please do propose better please...
and I will most definitely try them or it....
...I'll tell all the people I know to do the same ...
and I'll happily transition to "that" better voip client..
for my n8x0's,
my n900,
my soon to be neo900
and all my laptops as well.