Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

mashable.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 64 posts

Re: Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

#21

Post by murz »

I'm curious what the sources would have to gain by leaking this information? In the Reuters article it says they had "direct knowledge of the discussions", why would they risk their jobs to leak something like this? I don't get it.

Re: Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

#24

Post by omfut »

ryanhunt wrote: post #18

it's not overly surprising considering the recent Facebook Skype integration and Skype's expansion to the USA (new office in Brisbane, CA). I'd say it's more like likely a 'strategic partnership' than a buy-out. Having said that though, they're both private companies, so it may not as straight forward as a normal 'merger'

Its makes more sense for Facebook to buy Skype instead of Google. Here are some of my points.( snippets from my article).

•Enhance their messaging platform with support for Voice and Video powered by Skype. Off course Facebook can develop its own Voice and Video infrastructure. Too me it’s a stretch. Instead by buying Skype they get instant access to VoIP/SMS/Video features •Support Voice/Video will boost the messaging platform, which doesn’t seem to have gained much traction •With Skype Acquisition they also get QIK Live streaming capabilities. That’s an added plus •Instant Access to more than 500 million users. The chances of Skype users having Facebook account are high. There might be an overlap •Facebook can really become a global operator providing Voice/SMS/Video/IM communication to all its users. Off course PSTN access will still be short coming, a partnership with one of the operator can offset this shortcoming •A Facebook phone becomes a reality. Most of the operators are moving towards 4G/LTE, it’s a matter of time that all Voice calls will be carried via IP network. With a partnership with one of the access network, Facebook’s ambitious phone becomes a reality. So constant monthly revenue for basic phone service becomes a reality. Voila! •Patronize Innovation by opening up the Skype platform for developers (Telco 2.0 Platform). Something similar to Twilio, Voxeo etc •Who said Facebook is only for Consumer market, with Skype acquisition they can venture into Enterprise market and become a threat to some of the incumbent Video/VoIP provider like Avaya, Cisco etc •According to CDC Straw Poll 75% of the companies will adopt, Video Conferencing by 2012. Skype already supports consumer video conferencing which can be extended /enhanced for enterprise •Voice conferencing is another big Enterprise feature. So armed with these powerful features, facebook can look beyond consumer market •It makes sense to have different revenue stream instead of relying only on advertisements •Everybody wants a piece of Facebooks social graph including operators. T-Mobiles recently launched Bobsled , a one touch calling within facebook. In fact Facebook can do a better job than Third Party service providers.

Re: Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

#25

Post by inoop »

The Skype app on Android is really only barely functional, and what is more, the total lack of support or interest in fixing bugs from their side is almost comical. A couple of months ago I fixed a problem where the sound was coming out of the back speaker rather than the earpiece, a problem that seems to affect many people.

I located the problem and fixed it using baksmali/smali. I then opened a ticket on their public Jira server describing the problem, solution, and even attached the patched .apk. Months later they still haven't merged it into Skype proper, even though it's literally a two-line fix. In the meantime loads of people cannot use Skype on their phones.

The fact that a company that is supposed to be worth 1 trillion USD doesn't have the manpower or interest to fix such a simple bug that totally breaks their product for a lot of people should tell us something. From the outside it looks like all the skilled people have left a long time ago, and I wonder if they'll be able to maintain their market position like this.

Re: Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

#26

Post by gcb »

skype is only a good option if they want users. because the only appeal of skype is the userbase. really.

if facebook has the penetration everyone believes they have, skype would be irrelevant. buy any other media streaming company with an actual decent codec and the rest is commodity.

Re: Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

#28

Post by staunch »

Andreessen was an investor in Qik.

Andreessen did a huge deal to buy Skype.

Andreessen is an investor in Facebook AND on the board.

He sold Qik to Skype for $100M and now he's going to sell Skype to Facebook for billions?

"No conflict, no interest" indeed.

Re: Facebook considering $3-4Bn buyout of Skype

#29

Post by jackvalentine »

MatthewB wrote: post #4

At first I wasn't sure how Skype played into FB's strategy but I guess it makes sense. Skype would come with a plethora of talent, which facebook is known to spend money for. Also, the Skype technology would allow FB to fill out the video communication side of things that they have yet to tap.

Do you have any names in mind for this "talent" that Skype currently posess? I'm not familiar with the company's staff at all but from how the OSX client 5.0 release was such a failure & how bad the android client is I'm inclined to think there isn't much left at all.
Post reply on HN