Microsoft buys Skype ...

Smart move by microsoft, but I can't help feel there is distinct lack of innovation from the giant these days.
 
rypt said:
Technology behind Skype is hardly unique or that complicated though
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I would beg to differ. Otherwise there would be a pleatora of competition with bigger and better solutions. I would also be willing to bet the internals of their protocols and source code are very complex. Not to mention their various patents adding uniqueness to their product.

Why would Valve decide to use their voice codec for Steam if it's just the same as any other voip technology?
 
But is just a voice codec worth £5.5bn?

While Skype does have some IP, there is no way that IP is worth £5.5bn

As for the brand name, there is some value in the Skype name, but again ... £5.5bn?
 
redeye_uk said:
I would beg to differ. Otherwise there would be a pleatora of competition with bigger and better solutions. I would also be willing to bet the internals of their protocols and source code are very complex. Not to mention their various patents adding uniqueness to their product.

Why would Valve decide to use their voice codec for Steam if it's just the same as any other voip technology?
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I can back this up by assuring you that Skype tech is world leading. Skype make all other protocols (with the exception of the CISCO protocol and one or two others maybe) look like pathetic attempts thought up in an A-level IT class in comparison.
 
It's a tough one, and on face value it seems like a lot of money but in the long run it might just turn out to be a bargain. MS are buying IP, a brand and a whole lot of customers.
 
rypt said:
But is just a voice codec worth £5.5bn?

While Skype does have some IP, there is no way that IP is worth £5.5bn

As for the brand name, there is some value in the Skype name, but again ... £5.5bn?
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IP + the most established brand in VoIP + customers + the value added that Microsoft can add to the product = total value to Microsoft

They obviously thought that the total value was larger than the cash they paid. Whether they were right or not will only be seen in time (although it'll be almost impossible to judge).

I'd say... good deal done by both.
 
Spamalot said:
Yes, you're saying a company will defiantly profit out of the transaction when really you have no idea.
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No they won't defiantly profit but they will definitely profit.

Ho ho ho. Seriously, you have no idea about me as a person so kindly shut the **** up and move along if you have nothing to add other than personal quibbles about me.
 
LeJosh said:
No they won't defiantly profit but they will definitely profit.

Ho ho ho. Seriously, you have no idea about me as a person so kindly shut the **** up and move along if you have nothing to add other than personal quibbles about me.
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I would genuinely be interested in finding out about your insight, honestly.

So on the one hand you say I'm making personal quibbles about you and in the same sentence you tell me to shut the **** up. I think I know enough about you to know that your attitude towards other forum members isn't great.

Ps, I also have a lot to add to this thread. That's the main reason why it annoys me when people make blanket statements like you did!
 
Spamalot said:
IP + the most established brand in VoIP + customers + the value added that Microsoft can add to the product = total value to Microsoft
.
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You forgot debt and integration effort. Also, do we know if they paid cash for this?

Interesting move - if they can pull this one off and create a compelling collaboration platform then this will have been excellent for them. If it ends up as an isolated business unit for too long ... it may not be.
 
kenmare said:
Smart move by microsoft, but I can't help feel there is distinct lack of innovation from the giant these days.
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Really?

WP7
Courier (although that wasn't released in the end, probably partly due to hardware constraints)
Kinect
Surface (Not particularly the hardware but what they have been doing with it)
Windows 8 if it is as revolutionary as it's claimed...

:p

We already knew Skype was coming to Windows Phone (several months ago) but this may mean it's integrated a lot more, which could be interesting for those that use it. All I care about though is calls over wifi so if I'm in a foreign coutry/somewhere with no phone signal I can still use my phone to call...



snapdragon said:
FUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!


fapple / Appl£
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Isn't it Crapple? :p

But I think the people doing the M$ sign are actually young "gamers" rather than Apple users.
 
Morgoth said:
You don't need to talk, it has an instant messenger too.
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This is the thing I never got about skype, why use it as an IM when most people were already using MSN?

Having said that I haven't used MSN in a while, it's got terrible in the last year or so..
 
Amp34 said:
This is the thing I never got about skype, why use it as an IM when most people were already using MSN?

Having said that I haven't used MSN in a while, it's got terrible in the last year or so..
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MSN's definitely worse than it was before. So bloated with 'features'. Happily it's still possible to just have a screen appear with contacts, double click, start messaging, happy days :).

Editing messages on skype is nice, but I've never seen much of an advantage unless one's actually using it for video calling, In which case it forms a nice all-in-one communications package.
 
Spamalot said:
I would genuinely be interested in finding out about your insight, honestly.

So on the one hand you say I'm making personal quibbles about you and in the same sentence you tell me to shut the **** up. I think I know enough about you to know that your attitude towards other forum members isn't great.

Ps, I also have a lot to add to this thread. That's the main reason why it annoys me when people make blanket statements like you did!
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I don't care to be honest, I said earlier in the thread about SIP-trunking and VoIP, very vague I know but it is the future of telephony and Microsoft know this. They're not stupid.

And no, you're not in any position to judge my knowledge based on small snippets of my opinion on issues on this forum.

Now I would have taking you seriously if you had said that you disagreed with my opinion yet you just went ahead and said that I was in no position to say such a thing.

With zero basis other than by my previous posts on this forum.

I have no idea why you said my attitude towards other members is not great, I respect every member here. Until my personal life was made fun on another forum by a member on here. So I take care with who I show respect to.

Take what you want from this but you're opinion is no greater than mine and I yours but to say I'm in no position to judge a deal by a multi-national corp that is just ludicrous.

Majorly off topic there but you decided to call me out on my opinion.
 
Do Ventrillo and Mumble use skype technology as they seem to work just as good?

There is very little IP from skype imho, they have bought the customer base and brand. Any old monkey can write a VOIP codec these days.
 
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