There’s quite a bit that’s interesting in all this Skype/eBay business. I know others have raked over all this before, but now it’s official I’ll weigh in too. The release is quite informative. It says “Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world.” How, … Read more
eBay Inc. has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration. Here’s the rest of the release: The acquisition will strengthen eBay’s global marketplace and payments platform, while opening several new lines of business and creating significant … Read more
Was the story that News Corp nearly bought Skype for $3 billion really true? British paper the Independent on Sunday seems to think so: According to well-placed sources, Skype entered into talks with News Corp over a potential $3bn sale. This would have made a massive profit for the two founders and their backers – … Read more
Interesting piece over at Techdirt about Skype: Is it a viable business and if so, as what? Techdirt:Going Rate For Skype Apparently Now $3 Billion concludes: While it’s likely that Skype will be sold, its value isn’t as a business or a service, but as a technology On the way the piece discusses an alleged near-deal … Read more
Skype has lowered rates of its SkypeOut service to some destinations as part of its first anniversary celebrations. Here are the details: Six major new countries have been added to the SkypeOut Global Rate, a fixed, low-cost rate of 1.7 Euro cents per minute to popular calling destinations. China, Greece, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Poland and … Read more