Comments on: Why Microsoft Is Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/ Fri, 24 May 2013 01:02:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: PaulMarselis http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-700686 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:30:09 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-700686 Why Microsoft Is Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion — Tech News and Analysis http://t.co/tIZyB15g

]]> By: Julius http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-633637 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:58:56 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-633637 Well, goodbye to Skype support on anything but Windows and likely goodbye to the level of encryption Skype currently has for voice and instant messages. M$ will probably also introduce a slew of new electronic cavity searches into Skype (kinda like the Genuine Advantage thing for Windows only worse) to violate your privacy all in the name of “protecting the children” or some crap like that.

]]> By: manyuabhi http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-628726 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:37:14 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-628726 do you think microsoft can use skype and its enterprise influence to convince mobile network companies to offer free calls to people using skype on wp7. Now that they are under no restriction I cannot see any reason why such thing can be ruled out?

Also, can microsoft use skype integration into facebook to increase its share in facebook overall. they have a very minor stake and a very large presence in facebook, besides mark favours microsoft over google any day

]]> By: WoLf http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-627247 Sat, 28 May 2011 19:35:04 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-627247 You’re welcome to hurt yourself as much as you want by not using it.. the rest of the world doesn’t care.

]]> By: Robert http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-626443 Wed, 25 May 2011 12:09:09 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-626443 I like skype and have used it since I don’t know when. Most skype users are over in europe and beyond not in the usa. I am actually glad to see skype out from under the umbrella of ebay and paypal management. Hope to see that cotinue to go away because maybe just maybe you will be able to talk to someone on the damn phone about customer problems. I like the idea of skype moving on in the usa. I am very happy to see the future now

]]> By: Laurent http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-626366 Wed, 25 May 2011 04:30:18 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-626366 As I understand it, Skype revenues for 2010 are $860m for a Loss of $7m.
There are 800ish employees at Skype which is the majority of their Fixed cost.
It tends to prove that variable cost are pretty high (In country call termination fees) and that Skype advertised prices are too low to make it a profitable business.

The $5 billion valuation Microsoft put on Skype (from 3ish to 8.5) is very unlikely to be reflecting future expected profits. It seems Skype never made a profit and its likely to keep it that way if they dont raise their prices.

It is obviously a brand name with some key technology IPR (I am assuming that) and lots of loyal users.

]]> By: Pink Floyd http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-626280 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:15:21 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-626280 +1

]]> By: braithwa842 http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-626152 Tue, 24 May 2011 08:41:20 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-626152 700 million counted in 2009. Its probably 1400 million users by now. Do the maths- that about 6 dollars per user. If they are anything like me, ($100 per year) it is easy to see that they will soon make their money back. Its a bargain!!

More than that, this also represents:-
* An opportunity to squeeze out other operating systems (dont even imagine they are going to care for the Linux client).
* An opportunity to know who phones who, and when.
* An application for the xBox 360, another reason to put people on kinect connected to the internet, with microsoft (and the US Govt) in complete control of the hypervisor and the installed software, so they can look and listen into your living room.

]]> By: smash http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-625953 Mon, 23 May 2011 12:20:34 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-625953 dude microsoft already has windows live messenger which has a far bigger user base than skype while offering the same features plus a whole bunch of other features skype does not offer. you havent mentioned anything about messenger and how the acquisition of skype will affect that. what about that?

]]> By: betoguey http://gigaom.com/2011/05/09/why-microsoft-is-buying-skype-for-8-billion/#comment-625066 Wed, 18 May 2011 15:32:46 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=342470#comment-625066 Microsoft has Messenger and Link. Messenger needs a real VoIP service. Link has VoIP but it is enterprise only. I think the real key here is the access Skype gives Microsoft to a solid VoIP base that is already built up and available to the general public and business. They may do away with the Skype name and brand someday but they will certain use the underlying VoIP infrastructure/network to build their technologies and services on.

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