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Microsoft to buy Skype for $7 billion

online.wsj.com

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Re: Microsoft to buy Skype for $7 billion

#13
A few thoughts:

When we see the mac version stagnate, we won't be able to say MS has sabotaged it - skype did that before on their own.

The linux version has never been on parity with the others - will it be officially killed? Might MS actually put resources in to it to make it work as well as the others?

Overall, good on MS for doing this. I'm assuming this may bring on some more interesting dynamics to the google voice / skype party.

Re: Microsoft to buy Skype for $7 billion

#15
post #5

Maybe I've missed something, but what has changed in the two years since eBay spun off Skype at a valuation of < $3B to make it worth more than $7 billion today?

The value of the dollar's dropped.

Not by that much, but it's certainly changed.

That, and ebay never figured out how to monetize it. MS likely has some plans in place to aggressively make money from it. I'm a skype subscriber, and probably will continue to be one, assuming they keep at least the same level of support for Macs.

Re: Microsoft to buy Skype for $7 billion

#16
post #5

Maybe I've missed something, but what has changed in the two years since eBay spun off Skype at a valuation of < $3B to make it worth more than $7 billion today?

The markets changed a lot. I don't know much about skype but I do think that's probably a huge part of this.

Re: Microsoft to buy Skype for $7 billion

#18
post #5

Maybe I've missed something, but what has changed in the two years since eBay spun off Skype at a valuation of < $3B to make it worth more than $7 billion today?

If this graph is to believed, it looks like they are on their way to doubling in size since then:

http://skypenumerology.blogspot.com/2011/04/summer-recession...

Re: Microsoft to buy Skype for $7 billion

#19

A few thoughts: When we see the mac version stagnate, we won't be able to say MS has sabotaged it - skype did that before on their own. The linux version has never been on parity with the others - will it be officially killed? Might MS actually put resources in to it to make it work as well as the others? Overall, good on MS for doing this. I'm assuming this may bring on some more interesting dynamics to the google v…

Don't forget about the Android and iOS apps. No doubt those will be killed off as well.
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