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Microsoft to Acquire Skype for $8.5 Billion
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Nintendo has always made their money on hardware. The Wii is so underpowered they make money even selling them at $129 whereas the others take a loss, hoping to recoup it with game and accessory sales. Nintendo gets those too, but makes something off the initial hardware purchase as well.
This is probably also a way for Microsoft to keep Skype away from Google. Overpaying is not a big deal if you think this hurts your rival.
And hey, Microsoft is the king of wasting money in a vain search for something, anything, that can bring in dough the way Windows/Office/Server groups do.
And hey, Microsoft is the king of wasting money in a vain search for something, anything, that can bring in dough the way Windows/Office/Server groups do.
Without even looking, I can tell there's an insane amount of the usual MS hate from the fanboys. Buuuut in this case, as a Windows/PC user I can actually agree; I see no good coming from this acquisition. I predict the next MS-flavoured iteration of Skype will be more along the lines of that hideous abomination otherwise known as Live Messenger 2011. I prefer the current Skype far more than MSN. Better features, better call quality, better UI, etc.
Also, looks like you can kiss Skype.app goodbye
Your comment explained (partially) the reason(s) for the "usual MS hate" you deride in the very first sentence.
Not after they pay out all the lawsuits!
Fact of the matter is there were only about 3 companies with enough cash sitting around to buy Skype, at this price. 4 if you count Facebook but I don't believe they were ever even remotely interested.
Not after they pay out all the lawsuits!
Fact of the matter is there were only about 3 companies with enough cash sitting around to buy Skype, at this price. 4 if you count Facebook but I don't believe they were ever even remotely interested.
it was actually google and facebook making bids for skype, then microsoft apparently jumped over them and offered almost twice as much.
Why are there so many uneducated kids here that just want Microsoft to fail? you say they will screw it up, but you have nothing to back up that claim. I mean, they acquired kinect technology and so far I've only seen them doing great things with it. And 8 billion might sound a lot, but for a giant like Microsoft its not. They are essentially going after the Skype userbase. They will make those 8 billion back in no time.
Please tell me why Microsoft would screw this up? This means that Xbox and all future phones running win7 will get factory integration of Skype. how is that a bad thing??
Just because apple didn't manage to buy it, doesn't mean Skype is dead. This is a huge boost for Skype.
Please tell me why Microsoft would screw this up? This means that Xbox and all future phones running win7 will get factory integration of Skype. how is that a bad thing??
Just because apple didn't manage to buy it, doesn't mean Skype is dead. This is a huge boost for Skype.
*barf*
Screw Sony. Seriously, there's a special place in Hell for evil, greedy corporo-fascists like them.
Your comment explained (partially) the reason(s) for the "usual MS hate" you deride in the very first sentence.
Not really, most of it is unwarranted hate stemming from fanboyism and ignorance.
I'm not unwilling to diss MS when they do **** up, it's just that not everything they do is a **** up.
So will they: buy-underrate-kill it? That is their pattern on products I've liked. Usually they kill of the Macintosh version first but eventually the entire product.
My first reaction was OMG but then I thought......
Firstly, since I am neither a Skype nor a MS shareholder, I don't give a damn what was paid for the company, too much or too little makes no odds to me.
I am a big user of Skype Out, making all my overseas calls from both France and the UK via Skype Out and I use peer to peer Skype Voip as well. My first thought was "this is the end - where do I go now". Then I thought "hang on a bit; Skype has been rubbish for the last 18 months or so and getting worse." I am guessing this is since the private equity bandits took it over from Fleabay and are trying to milk more cash out of it. I am sure they have reduced the bandwidth from what it used to be, to the point that on P to P, I often have to switch off video to get a decent audible connection. It is not my equipment or line speed as iChat works just fine in video mode. It may well be that MS will run it BETTER than old Skype did. I will wait in judgement. I cannot see them dumping around 16% (Skype's figures) of the user base, they have just paid handsomely for, who did not use Windoze and failing to maintain development for Mac OSX, iOS, Blackberry, Android and Linux. After all they can't make much more of a mess than Mac V.5.x for Skype.
Firstly, since I am neither a Skype nor a MS shareholder, I don't give a damn what was paid for the company, too much or too little makes no odds to me.
I am a big user of Skype Out, making all my overseas calls from both France and the UK via Skype Out and I use peer to peer Skype Voip as well. My first thought was "this is the end - where do I go now". Then I thought "hang on a bit; Skype has been rubbish for the last 18 months or so and getting worse." I am guessing this is since the private equity bandits took it over from Fleabay and are trying to milk more cash out of it. I am sure they have reduced the bandwidth from what it used to be, to the point that on P to P, I often have to switch off video to get a decent audible connection. It is not my equipment or line speed as iChat works just fine in video mode. It may well be that MS will run it BETTER than old Skype did. I will wait in judgement. I cannot see them dumping around 16% (Skype's figures) of the user base, they have just paid handsomely for, who did not use Windoze and failing to maintain development for Mac OSX, iOS, Blackberry, Android and Linux. After all they can't make much more of a mess than Mac V.5.x for Skype.
Why are there so many uneducated kids completely unfamiliar with Microsoft's history?
Once a business weasel, always a business weasel...
MS is money...they have the most money they can do almost anything.. and buy almost anything thats capitalism.. you will submit to those with the most money
I think you missed the point. The point isn't complaining that MS could buy Skype but rather that they overbid (i.e. they're fools).
Dr Evil would be proud
I wonder who had a "Frickin laser" pointed at them to make them do this. Skype must have been shouting "Show me the money"
I wonder who had a "Frickin laser" pointed at them to make them do this. Skype must have been shouting "Show me the money"
How is this good news for the tech industry? Engadget comments about how this is good is getting all of the likes! I don't understand. I thought all of the Android fanboys would be angry over this just like we are!
So FaceTime is still an open platform if anybody actually decides to port it to other OS's... Just saying...
So FaceTime is still an open platform if anybody actually decides to port it to other OS's... Just saying...