Microsoft brings ortc-api to Edge browser for Skype web app
In the latest Windows 10 Preview build 10547 it is possible to use the objectrtc api in the Microsoft Edge browser. Microsoft is working on a browser version of Skype that uses the api so that it no longer requires a plug-in.
The current web version of Skype already uses webrtc. Objectrtc should be included in the upcoming version of webrtc, webrtc 1.1. Before that, developers can already experiment with ortc in the latest preview build of Edge. Using ortc should make it easier to use certain protocols without the need for additional plugins. In addition, it should be easier to use video and audio in a scalable way for mobile applications. Ortc is being developed in collaboration with the W3C, among others.
The main focus of the Microsoft developer team with the ortc api support is enabling audio and video communication. Furthermore, this first implementation fully or partially supports rtp/rtcp multiplexing, stun/turn/ice and various audio codecs and for now only supports the h.264UC video codec used by Skype. The team is busy adding h.264 to that as well.
With the ortc implementation, services such as Skype must be able to use real-time communication via audio and video via browsers that support it. Other implementations besides audiovisual applications include options such as peer-to-peer file sharing and other browser-to-browser applications. The webrtc project was started by Google in May 2011 as an open source project for real-time browser communication. Webrtc’s W3C draft is a constant work-in-progress. Webrtc support can be found – in part – in Edge, Chrome and Chromium, Firefox and Opera. On mobile with Chrome, Firefox and Opera Mobile and via ‘Bowser’ on iOS. The latter is also available for Android, but does not require the use of Bowser to enjoy webrtc.
ORTC api diagram