Skype, Yahoo in talks?
It is too early to tell, what is going on, but there seems to be rumors floating that Skype and Yahoo are in close contact, and perhaps cooking up a commercial partnership. The reports are based on a post on Jean-Michel’s blog. It might be too soon for Skype to be cashing out, and I am not sure if Yahoo can justify the big ticket valuation that would be slapped on Skype. There maybe a revenue share deal in the offering! That would make my recent post on Skype, more relevant.
I have a feeling that two companies could be working on ways to get together and make their individual IM/VoIP clients work with each other. Some sources say that Yahoo’s Messenger team has been hyperactive, and is trying to find creative opportunities, so lets not rule out a possibility of an outright purchase. Still given the 41 million downloads, Skype would be a great acqusition for Yahoo, because it could add some significant heft to the Yahoo! Messenger platform. Yahoo has been spending significant amounts of money on turning this into a voice client as well.
The big problem to this deal would be cozy relationship Yahoo enjoys with the baby bells. Skype is public enemy #1 in those circles, and it could mean a big risk for Yahoo which is building itself as media giant of the 21st century. Stay tuned – I am on the trail right now!
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Wow…good catch Om. I always though they b2f (built to flip) for Microsoft. Yahoo seems like a good candidate though.
yeah… surprising move. more to follow
I know some of the people working on VoIP for Yahoo! Messenger were just contractors and are no longer working on the product. Possibly a Yahoo! VoIP powered by Skype?
My guess is that Yahoo! most likely would buy DDDC (deltathree) or EGHT (8X8 or Packet8), which would give them the experience and know-how or running a commercial VoIP service. DDDC, based in Israel and with worldwide customers, probably is the more like acquisition by Yahoo! Both would be ready to go for Yahoo!, while Skype probably would need a lot of fine-tuning to work.
i seem to recall posting on a few sites…
skype will sell. watch for this (or something very close)
they never had a chance…
e911 etc……
craig
Hasn’t Yahoo bought a license for Xten technology and put a person on Xten’s advisory board?
Wouldn’t this be a blow to Xten to have Yahoo ditch that and go to Skype?
Skype WILL change from what it is today. The question is what will it change into.
Yahoo + Skype is interesting, but what about Yahoo developing its own web browser?
i bet google wants skype more than yahoo since they want a presence in IM (of course the preeminent play in VoIP would be nice for goog too!).. my hunch, skype is too pricey for either of them at this point to acquire. skype and yahoo will do some kind of interop deal and skype will ride up yahoo’s larger footprint of users. the amazing thing to me is that skype even exists.. aol/msn/yhoo have been asleep at the wheel for VoIP.
ashwin
i could not agree more. for the longest time i have been saying that IM people should be getting their act together on VoIP, and they did not. I mean it is only fair that they should pay through their nose for a certain amount of laziness and not paying attention to what’s going around them.
Speaking of buyouts, what is taking Google so long to take out Knoppix? Seems like a perfect fit.