“For the past week or so, rumors have been swirling around Skype, the Internet telephony company. Reuters has reported that the company has been in talks with both Facebook and Google, either for a partnership or for an outright acquisition,” Om Malik reports for GigaOM. “And if my sources are right, we will find out more details very soon.”
“How soon? People familiar with Skype indicate that some kind of news is forthcoming later this week, perhaps as soon as Monday,” Malik reports. “Sources also say that Microsoft has entered the mix and is interested in either partnering with, acquiring or investing in Skype.”
Malik reports, “Corporate attorneys and other senior managers [were] burning the midnight oil this weekend, ahead of some kind of announcement.”
Read more in the full article here.
Microsoft has absolutely ZERO focus as a company.
Exactly the opposite. They heard about the rumor that Skype has a vulnerability. That alone makes it a very viable canditate to be embraced and made part of the MS world.
Y’know, you may be onto something. Is there such a thing as “Corporate ADHD”? Maybe all Microsoft needs is some Ritalin.
——RM
Microsoft needs something like FaceTime. Maybe it doesn’t, but hey the mac has FaceTime, so MS must copy it. Like always…
it’s a shame facetime isnt being embraced
FaceTime is being embraced. Lots of families are using it to keep in touch with relatives, their kids in college and more. Its just not a thing that is always in the news… Apple did a great job getting video chat thats so easy, even a moron like Dvwhorehack, Enderlnutjob and Thurroten can use it.
what Apple needs to do though, is make a Windows version..
I love Facetime, it works great.
but i have two co-workers that will NEVER use it.
they got Skype on their iPhone 4’s as soon as skype could do video calls on it. they have no macs. they were glad that Apple put a “skype camera” on the iPhone..
Skype has turned from a company name to a general term. It’s no wonder why MS wants them.
If apple doesn’t make a Facetime app for windows, it will be doomed to be second tier. and eventually forgotten.
Agree. Why Apple hasn’t produced FaceTime for windows yet is puzzling and could end up being a huge blunder down the road. The only issue I can see is lack of a solid distribution model for Windows, but this didn’t stop Quicktime.
With all of the bugs and security holes, I have no problem thinking of Skype as an MS product.
Indeed – match made in ?
While Facetime may be being embraced by “lots of families”, it’s through Apple’s built-in software and not because 3rd party apps are embracing it. I think what Ed meant is that apps like Skype are not embracing Facetime and truly is a shame (and it’s clear they never will if Micro$oft buys them). 🙁
MS maybe is soft on focus, but this is a good deal for them if true. They’ll instantly get a few million global accounts with credit cards, including mine. I say that’s instant penetration. Video, telephony and other tech, patented GUI features with a recognisable brand power of Skype notwithstanding.
…and Microsoft would completely screw it up and squander whatever they inherit from Skype. Just like with Danger.
If they acquire Skype, my credit card and I will be moving on. I’m not giving those bastards another cent.
Ballmers latest and greatest idea. Spend, spend, spend and don’t stop spending.
Spending money makes you look like you know what you’re doing, at least temporarily.
It is difficult to guess what would MS do with the Mac version of Skype, if it were to acquire the company.
On the one hand, they have an obvious overriding angst over Apple’s runaway success with everything these days (compared to MS’s failures with everything, except perhaps their cash cows Windows and Office). Killing Skype for Mac would put a bit of a damper on the usability of Apple’s platform(s), as Skype seems to be one of those essential applications out there for practically everyone, and regardless of wide availability of many substitutes, in the minds of general populace, they are nothing more than substitutes.
On the other hand, MS has MacBU, with a very successful Office for Mac franchise. They develop and update the free MSN Messenger, so it isn’t like they don’t have genuine business interests in the Mac market. Let’s not forget the ‘Bing’ app for iOS either.
So, which is it? Kill it or support it? Personally, I’m rather skeptical, and would fear for Skype for Mac if MS were to acquire them.
They will definitely support it. Mac user base is growing and I think if losing OS battle in the future is inevitable they will need a footing in the apps.
There’s no reason for Microsoft to kill Skype on the Mac. Iif they want to turn their investment into a profitable proposition they need to get it on as many platforms as possible and not dilute the brand by making asinine decisions. Fact is MS has published quite a few apps to coexist with Office and Windows Phone 7 sync on the Mac so there’s no reason for them to turn infantile.
I don’t fear for the Mac version of Skype. It is Skype as a whole that will likely suffer in the event of a Microsoft acquisition. Microsoft has a way of killing or maiming everything it touches, much like a technological cancer.
Krquet – I suggest that you take your CC info off Skype if M$ buys them…no telling what scams you maybe seeing.
I know. Thank you. I also took mine off PSN a few year’s back, I’m so glad that I did. With the recent publisher’s petulant brawl over Apple, the tech media forgot to mention that consumer’s would be better served by not spraying their CC to every publisher’s out there, instead of having it contained within a few, like iTunes.
Skype 5 for Mac is bad enough without M$ getting a hold of it.
I agree with you there. Removed the new version and put the old one back on!
Ditto
And Ditto here also.
Help – I deleted the old version, but want it back!
If Microsoft kills the Mac version of Skype, look for the anti-trust lawsuits to rear up again. Thus, Microsoft will continue to support and develop the Mac Skype, but also because it will make them money.
Yes, they will continue developing Mac versions….developing them badly.
I have been using SKYPE for years now and really like it…except for Version 5. It sucks and crashes when you share screens and use Spaces. So, not very Mac friendly. Personally, I would like for Mac to buy SKYPE instead of some other company that may not focus on Mac features.
Maybe the best thing for Apple to do is to say nothing, but quietly work on perfecting FaceTime for Windows.
Launch it in a few months, just about the same time as Microsoft ‘improve’ Skype. Apple may be able to take advantage of a rather large data centre too.
That makes sense. iTunes for Windows jumpstarted the iPod revolution. FaceTime for Windows could do the same.
There is one fundamental difference between Skype and all other video-conferencing tools (iChat AV, FaceTime, MSN messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ooVoo, etc). Where none of them can punch through firewalls, Skype merrily goes through. I’m not exactly sure about the details, but literally all but Skype need at least SOME non-standard ports to be open in order to sustain A/V connection. Skype will work even if only Port 80 is open, and it will connect via HTTP, if none other is possible. The connection will be much more inefficient, for sure (than using UDP), but it will work.
At my place of work, Skype is the only thing that works; everything else is successfully blocked, and in order to block Skype connections, they’d likely have to block web access altogether.
So, regardless of Apples possible future efforts to port FaceTime to Windows, it simply won’t displace Skype from its place, for reasons mentioned above.
Agree… I’ve always been intrigue by that fact from Skype. That thing goes even through LEAD!
If it ain’t broken, call Microsoft and give them 24 hours.
Partnering with M$.
(sound of a flushing toilet)
Well, that’s one way to kill it.
This is my perception. Skype has not been supported on WP7 devices. Microsoft may offer Skype sufficient investment for Nokia and other platforms that further improve WP7 appeal. Purchasing Skype would create a new MS revenue stream, an opportunity to marginalize Google Voice, and drive backend licensing revenue from extended MS product features integrated into Skype Business (or consumer flatscreen TV applications).
Apple should buy Skype. Skype is the killer App. More social and useful than FaceBook. Come on Apple, secure your social future.
@Fghm
I agree. Most people I know do not use Facetime or the video feature on SKYPE for that matter. But, sharing screens….different story. For business, this is a killer feature. Knowing that it is free is even better.
If they take over Skype, they will $@ck it up in no time.
Skype working on mac, iOS, and windows, is one of the things that makes switching to mac more attractive and easy. Apple should acquire Skype and integrate it with Facetime/ichat. If microsoft gets skype and cancels mac/ios support it will be a problem.
I’d like to see Apple buy Skype.
Skype is very entrenched around the world for a variety of reasons. Apple has provided a successful technology with FaceTime that is used and enjoyed by some, but due to platform limitations simply can’t be used all the time.
Apple should by Skype. Roll FaceTime into Skype cross platform.
This is a great example of how Apple could go “where the puck is going” while at the same time acquiring a company that’s already proven itself and has a ton of users.
If Apple doesn’t buy Skype, it should only be because there would be a HUGE bidding war already between Google and Microsoft.
Facebook wants it too, but while it has cash, it doesn’t have FU cash to throw at something like Skype in a way that doesn’t directly return a profit.
FaceTime and webcams in general are great for phone sex 😉 yum!
“MS to invest in Skype…”
that could also mean they are going to buy a LOT of Skype credits
From my POV, someone has seriously got it in for Skype. Way to destroy a great program! First you rewrite it into a bad GUI POS full of bugs and dangerous security holes, then toss it into a frying pan for MegaloManiaSoft to burn to a useless chunk of charred code.
Well, there goes the chance of a skype version for iPad 2.