"User" Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 http://www.thestar.com/business/companies/microsoft/article/988576--microsoft-to-buy-skype-in-8-5-billion-deal http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video/video-microsoft-to-buy-skype/article2016355/ Goodbye stable software? The company abused its monopoly position on PCs and attracted a lousy reputation for poor security and overly complex, unreliable software. Moving into other products and market areas simply drags down the reputation for the companies that it takes over. Microsoft doesn't need Skype because of the money. This is a strategic move to diversify seeing as the future outlook for their main money making source (Windows OS) isn't too rosy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asper Sarnoff Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I've found Skype to be unreliable enough as is. If Microsoft manages to mess this up properly, it'll suddenly become a lot harder for me and Fira to keep in contact as we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Fox Runner Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I've found Skype to be unreliable enough as is. If Microsoft manages to mess this up properly, it'll suddenly become a lot harder for me and Fira to keep in contact as we do. Same with me and my GF Asper. I just have to wonder why Microsoft feels the need to own everything. I mean, their OS can pretty good, but their software is horrible. I have enough problems with Windows Live Messenger, so if Skype goes the same way I'll be running out of reliable chat sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott7 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Well... this sucks... Skype felt pretty reliable to me for the few months that i've had it, Logging in is quick and voice chats are clear as Krystal, but yeah having sending a message when someone is completely offline you have to wait till they got on is kind of lame. But with Microsoft's unstable software, and ridiculous fees that they make for the most simplest things as online gaming with Xbox, We can kiss our favorite Instant messenger goodbye =( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Goodbye to Mac and Linux ports for Skype. At least Linux anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZComposer Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 And this is why I hate PE firms. All they do is Pump and Dump without care to the users. Ebay sold Skype to a PE firm. They turned Skype around and then decided to sell. M$ dangled the cash. The winners are Microsoft, who now has a property they can use to scare Google, and the PE firm, who made out like bandits on the deal. The losers are users. Skype will become a less-open platform, likely to be integrated into ShitDows Live, bring ShitDows Live ads with it. And forget Linux and Max support. Those clients will cease to be maintained. Fuck You So Much, Microsoft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
"User" Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Skype doesn't actually make nearly as much money as people think they might as a very tiny minority of Skype users actually pay to call other people's phones/cells or what not. Everyone else users the free features. Ebay was a little late to realize this when they bought out Skype from their Estonian founders and very much overpaid. I'm thinking this is a massive overpayment as well and Microsoft has a history of doing this. Don't forget that Microsoft wanted to pay $40+ billion for Yahoo but since Yahoo balked at that said company now has a value of in the 20 billion's if I remember correctly. Microsoft was lucky they rejected the offer. In this case Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion (all cash purchase...geez) which is a 300% increase in value in the three years since the eBay write-down in October 2007. Ebay tried to integrate some of their stuff into Skype but that was a dismal failure so they passed it off to a private equity (PE) firm which of course tried to increase it's value (that's what they're in business for after all). Microsoft could very well end up going down the same path as Ebay with their (sometimes) impulsive decisions. Only time will tell. Edit: Looks like the DJIA is on the upswing as a result of this acquisition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rin Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 -Shrugs- Well, as long as I have free calls, it doesn't really matter to me. I hardly use Skype anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxMcCloud Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 When I heard about the news, I reacted pretty much similar to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
"User" Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 When I heard about the news, I reacted pretty much similar to this. That scene during that TNG episode was hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deploy Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Darn you, Micro$oft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxMcCloud Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 That scene during that TNG episode was hilarious. That episode was the best. I think the words are something across these lines. "In Faith I do not love thee, with my eyes, there may be a thousand errors to see, but tis my love that loves what they despise, and in despise of those are pleased to doth, Shall I compare thee to a sunny day!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nope. Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I'm sure they will make the Skype client so heavy it will require a Hexa-core processor. Look at Windows Live Messenger. It's slow as fuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deploy Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I hope they don't ruin the awesomeness of Skype for everyone.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Fox Runner Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 When I heard about the news, I reacted pretty much similar to this. You and me both Fox! Yeah and I just realized, they'll probably dump Mac support. Looks like I can't voice chat with my girlfriend anymore. Well, fuck you Microsoft, you just took something else away from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deploy Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Skype is still working currently on my Mac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Fox Runner Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Skype is still working currently on my Mac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Fox Runner Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Skype is still working currently on my Mac. Well, I doubt they would cancel it immediately, but its only a matter of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Everyone can retaliate by installing gentoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneWolf Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 See, this could go either way. If Microsoft decides to let Skype do it's thing and just sap on it's shares, then fine. But if Microsoft decides to screw everything up by trying to redo the whole thing, then we Skype users are screwed. Oh, this might also mean another Steam update that breaks every game on Steam to ever be unfortunate enough to have voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZComposer Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Dude, it's Microsoft. They will assimilate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deploy Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drasiana Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 You are aware Microsoft does allow some of their software to be used on Macs, right? Like the entire Microsoft Office Suite? Yeah. I severely doubt they'd yoink Skype from Macs, they would lose more than gain from that. That being said, Skype has been awful since its last update. PC-to-mobile calls often crash/break the call, lag in IM, video AND voice has suddenly skyrocketed, and its attempts to retrieve dropped calls (which happens with distressing frequency) are bizarre and riddled in fail. And it's always sucked on mobile, really. I also doubt that the change will be significant. This is like when Disney bought Marvel and a bunch of crying fanboys ran around screaming about how they were going to "Disneyfy" the superheroes. Which they didn't. If anything, Microsoft will be able to invest the time apparently needed for the obnoxious flaws already plaguing Skype. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr. Nintendo Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Great...at that rate, Microsoft is going to be big and, I don't know. I guess Nintendo and Sony would be screwed later on... (I'm kidding really.) USE THE FAIL GUN OF DEATH!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxMcCloud Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Well, we are screwed D: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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