Skype is Doomed!

[ltsune]

So yeah, most of you have probably already heard as this is not exactly new news. But anyway, Microsoft bought Skype for $8B. Personally I have my doubts whether or not this was a good idea.

Interesting picture:

Spoiler!

In case the picture will not load: http://www.focus.com/images/view/58070/

[Mirosuke]

HMMMMMMMMM...... I am fan of Skype for texting and calls over the internet... wonder if its going to get better? =_=

[Toshiharu]

I'm surprised Microsoft thought it was worth 8 billion dollars. I personally don't use Skype, but I don't see this as a good thing. Microsoft will most likely plug it into everything they have now, but will not allow it to be on other platforms.

I guess you can say it's good, but bad as well.

HMMMMMMMMM...... I am fan of Skype for texting and calls over the internet... wonder if its going to get better? =_=

Doubtful. If anything use Google Voice.

[Amarisa]

Microsoft is probably trying to compete with Google Voice. I use Google voice for everything other then people that already know my cell number. I can make calls on an ipod with google voice plus everything with google voice is free (all but international). Once my cellphone plan reaches it's 2 years I will probably just get a mobile wi-fi adapter. Probably more useful then a cellphone in my case. Then I could browse the internet on my netbook without needing public wi-fi.

[Gladiator_RN]

Hmmm I could buy alot of icecream with $8.5 bill

[Amarisa]

Hmmm I could buy alot of icecream with $8.5 bill

You could buy out a ice cream company then get free ice cream for life

then make money on the side for getting ice cream.

[jaksje]

or strawberries ^^

/srogeekon
Or so much silk
/srogeekoff

[CrimsonNuker]

Microsoft wins again

[Hapjap]

coincidentally close to the predicted rapture?

[BuDo]

Seems to me microsoft have a bunch of useless talent for quite some time since the only way for them to offer a good product is either by stealing it or buying out the competition. Case in point they have Messenger chat where a person could make voice calls PC to PC. They couldn't further develop that? What do they have all those high paid engineers and development team for?

[LaloHao]

Seems to me microsoft have a bunch of useless talent for quite some time since the only way for them to offer a good product is either by stealing it or buying out the competition. Case in point they have Messenger chat where a person could make voice calls PC to PC. They couldn't further develop that? What do they have all those high paid engineers and development team for?

Microsoft has engineers?

[Hapjap]

Seems to me microsoft have a bunch of useless talent for quite some time since the only way for them to offer a good product is either by stealing it or buying out the competition. Case in point they have Messenger chat where a person could make voice calls PC to PC. They couldn't further develop that? What do they have all those high paid engineers and development team for?

eh just how capitalism works. sometimes its all about the name. remember google bought youtube even though they hasedd google video. TBH all the internet voice services worked at the same quality for me (skype,google,messenger). and to give MS some credit they did create major improvements to operating systems.

[TheDrop]

Skype is great at calling/talking @ home on a desktop.

Id say Google voice is better for texting/calling w/ phone though. (not sure if the calling is free?).

[Swindler]

Who the fuck cares? Skype is a shitty software that eats memory and makes annoying retarded sounds, and with Microsoft behind the curtain I bet it will be worse than before. Nothing more annoying than someone who asks "Wanna talk in Skype?" gtfo.

[LaloHao]

Why would you even have skype if you're not gonna use it? Doesn't make any sense

[strangelove]

Skype is not worth anywhere near $8 billion and Microsoft knows that. The only reason they spent so much on Skype was to prevent Google from acquiring Skype and therefore integrating all those 600m+ Skype users into their Google Voice service, which Google has a habit of doing (acquiring companies and assimilates those services into their lesser known ones. Think Google's acquisition of Upstartle and 2Web Technologies which became Google Docs and the much better known acquisition of Android, Inc., who originally created the Android OS). Microsoft is plateauing at this point and they're being forced to be on defense to stop new giants from growing even bigger. The only advantage I see for them at this point is that Google is strategically like Microsoft used to be so they're able to blind-side them with purchases like these. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the future.

[Toshiharu]

Skype is great at calling/talking @ home on a desktop.

Id say Google voice is better for texting/calling w/ phone though. (not sure if the calling is free?).

Google Voice may not be as 'easy' to use considering it's in a browser(Ignoring phone applications), but I can call anyone I want [in the united states] from any computer that has a microphone.

What I also love is that if I want to give my number out to other people I can give them my google number and google will ring whatever phone I want through their number. I don't use Skype, but if Skype does that too then well.. whatever. lol

Skype is not worth anywhere near $8 billion and Microsoft knows that. The only reason they spent so much on Skype was to prevent Google from acquiring Skype

Makes sense. I can only expect Google Voice to progress now. inb4 google voice turns into a messenger, video chat, etc etc. Though everything google wants to do is in a web browser. I still wouldn't be surprised if Google Voice turns into something like that.

Why would you even have skype if you're not gonna use it? Doesn't make any sense

Why do I have a Google number when I don't use it? Because it's free.

[TheDrop]

Who the fuck cares? Skype is a shitty software that eats memory and makes annoying retarded sounds, and with Microsoft behind the curtain I bet it will be worse than before. Nothing more annoying than someone who asks "Wanna talk in Skype?" gtfo.

Thats some serious hate right there

[SoAyame]

Who the fuck cares? Skype is a shitty software that eats memory and makes annoying retarded sounds, and with Microsoft behind the curtain I bet it will be worse than before. Nothing more annoying than someone who asks "Wanna talk in Skype?" gtfo.

Thats some serious hate right there

Must had a very bad experience. I pay 2.99 a month for skype and the calls are crystal clear. I have Google Voice too but I dont use it as it still take day time minutes from my carrier .

[Amarisa]

Who the fuck cares? Skype is a shitty software that eats memory and makes annoying retarded sounds, and with Microsoft behind the curtain I bet it will be worse than before. Nothing more annoying than someone who asks "Wanna talk in Skype?" gtfo.

Thats some serious hate right there

Must had a very bad experience. I pay 2.99 a month for skype and the calls are crystal clear. I have Google Voice too but I dont use it as it still take day time minutes from my carrier .

not if you use it on the computer like skype.

[BuDo]

Skype is not worth anywhere near $8 billion and Microsoft knows that. The only reason they spent so much on Skype was to prevent Google from acquiring Skype.

If that turns out to be true then Microsoft better not try to do anything with Skype as they have a habit of mucking things up. Or this whole strategic move would be for naught...

[Skyve]

Seems to me microsoft have a bunch of useless talent for quite some time since the only way for them to offer a good product is either by stealing it or buying out the competition. Case in point they have Messenger chat where a person could make voice calls PC to PC. They couldn't further develop that? What do they have all those high paid engineers and development team for?

Wait what? There's nothing wrong with buying products from other companies. It's capitalism bro.

[ltsune]

Skype is not worth anywhere near $8 billion and Microsoft knows that. The only reason they spent so much on Skype was to prevent Google from acquiring Skype.

If that turns out to be true then Microsoft better not try to do anything with Skype as they have a habit of mucking things up. Or this whole strategic move would be for naught...

Yes indeed. Of course microsoft knows that Skype is not worth that much. They just couldn't take the risk. I mean, if they didn't buy it either Google or Facebook would have gotten it.

And yeah, to all you talking about Google Voice.... too bad it only works in the US
I would use it, if I could.

But yeah, I mainly use Skype to keep in touch with my business related contacts. None of them uses MSN but close to everyone use Skype daily.

[BuDo]

Seems to me microsoft have a bunch of useless talent for quite some time since the only way for them to offer a good product is either by stealing it or buying out the competition. Case in point they have Messenger chat where a person could make voice calls PC to PC. They couldn't further develop that? What do they have all those high paid engineers and development team for?

Wait what? There's nothing wrong with buying products from other companies. It's capitalism bro.

Just saying that they act like they put out great products and the world buys it up from them when a lot of it wasn't really their creation....It started from day one.... If you and I were to try and get a prominent position at microsoft we'd have to go through 9 interviews (I've heard). This process is in place to hire the best of the best. Whats the point when the people they hire ain't doing much

[CloneZ]

Doom is what I call this... the terminator movies suddenly became a lot more realistic D:

Buying out competition... MSN and skype gonna be forged.. but I still vote for vent/ts ^^ (or a good oldschool cellphone..)

[*BlackFox]

But anyway, Microsoft bought Skype for $8B.

That is kinda nuts!
Well, what is Microsoft plan to earn back the $8 billion... they Just spent?

[ltsune]

But anyway, Microsoft bought Skype for $8B.

That is kinda nuts!
Well, what is Microsoft plan to earn back the $8 billion... they Just spent?

They don't. That would be like $1000 for each Skype user.
But at least they made sure neither Facebook or Google would get their hands on Skype. And besides, Microsoft might have felt a bit of a pressure from Apples face-time or whatever it's called, which is going to roll out, if it isn't already, to iPhone, ipad etc. soon.

[woutR]

Who the fuck cares? Skype is a shitty software that eats memory and makes annoying retarded sounds, and with Microsoft behind the curtain I bet it will be worse than before. Nothing more annoying than someone who asks "Wanna talk in Skype?" gtfo.

Man, skype is legit. Works perfect. I use it over MSN too. You need to give it another try because it's the best voice communication over PC there is, fool.

[/Pi]

Big fish eats little fish. It happens everyday.

This process is in place to hire the best of the best. Whats the point when the people they hire ain't doing much

Who says they're not doing much?

[MrJoey]

Big fish eats little fish. It happens everyday.

This process is in place to hire the best of the best. Whats the point when the people they hire ain't doing much

Who says they're not doing much?

What's the last thing Microsoft made? Bing?

Moving on.