[Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion

[Iqbal]

Hi

70 million users, now how many of these are ALREADY ebay customers. 
Google never made a succes out of any other thing other than search and 
that will remain the case, companies never do, they are usually good at 
what they started at, especially if they grow very big, then they 
decided they may as well do everything, which is where their own success 
starts to eat away at them.

Skype founders good luck to them, sell at $4billion cant be bad, for 2 
years worth of work, and little marketing, ...you got to ask urself why 
ebay couldn't have done the same...maybe ebay want to use there auction 
platform, for buying and selling VoIP minutes :-)

Iqbal

Colin Anderson wrote:

>While ostensibly people see this purchase as Ebay being a "me-too" VoIP
>player with GoogleTalk and Microsoft buying, what's it called, Teleo? , I
>think there's a deeper plan. Let's look at the numbers:
>
>-Huge installed base, like 30 to 70 million users (those are the numbers I
>hear kicked around)
>-Secure, encrypted P2P client that works great through firewalls
>-Name brand recognition. Even my mother in law has heard of Skype and she is
>a techno-illiterate.
>-Installed base loyalty. People who use Skype, love it. 
>-Oh yeah, it does voice, too. (sarcasm on purpose: voice is only partially
>the point)
>
>So what Ebay could do with this is use the Skype client as an Ebay portal
>that they control. Why, do you ask, would they want to do this? Several
>reasons:
>
>-Break away from browsers with security flaws and inherent
>social-engineering tactics like phishing. Nobody controls the WWW. Ebay now
>controls the Skype network, controls the encryption, everything. Less fraud
>for Ebay to deal with, assuming they repackage the client into "Ebay 2.0 -
>download now for free!"
>
>-Paypal integration - back to voice, wouldn't it be nice to pay for your
>phone bill (a Skype account -> regular PSTN) through PayPal? 
>
>-Repositioning of Ebay as an online solution provider once the "Ebay Way" is
>fleshed out, much as Google has moved beyond search into "holy crap" stuff
>like video on demand, mapping, etc. In the end, isn't it a good business
>plan to become an indispensable, comprehensive middleman instead of a one
>trick pony? Voice is just one aspect of it. 
>
>-30-70 million users ain't bad. They may be Ebayers - they may not. However,
>this gives Ebay a huge "installed base" that they can play with before they
>bring new products and services to the general market.  Skype users are
>crazy about Skype, and they will download any client that Ebay shoves down
>their throat, as long as it's free. Later, once the service is worked out
>and debugged, *then* they will do micropayments for the service (via PayPal,
>of course) 
>
>still, 2.6 bil is a crazy price and I agree that they paid too much. I would
>have loved to be a fly on the wall and see the other offers and who was in
>the running. The Skype guys have made no secret that the whole reason that
>they created Skype in the first place was to make money and to be bought
>out. I'm sure there is champagne and hookers galore at the Skype offices
>today. 
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dean Collins [mailto:Dean at collins.net.pr]
>Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 11:27 AM
>To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
>Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion
>
>
>This is the most insane decision taken by eBay ever.
>
>If I was an investor I would be devastated.
>
>There is nothing wrong with a company starting up a voice over ip
>service but this isn't what eBay should be doing.
>
>Companies need to understand they are stewards for their investors money
>not the ultimate owners and that if they cant deliver ROI on this money
>then it is their duty to return the money via dividends or share buy
>backs.
>
>eBay is insane and this is the beginning of the end for them.
>
>
>Cheers,
>Dean
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-
>>bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Cory Andrews
>>Sent: Monday, 12 September 2005 1:08 PM
>>To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
>>Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion
>>
>>Good news for service providers in my opinion, Ebay will likely start
>>alienating Skype users like they did with Paypal users.
>>"SkypeSucks.com" domain already taken, shucks....
>>
>>http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=3837895
>>
>>--
>>Cory J Andrews
>>Partner / Purchasing
>>+++++++++++++++
>>VOIPSupply.com - Everything you need for VOIP
>>454 Sonwil Drive
>>Buffalo, NY 14225
>>+++++++++++++++
>>tf voice - 800-398-VOIP X22
>>l voice - 716.630.1555 X22
>>f - 716.630.1548
>>e - Cory at VOIPSupply.com
>>AIM - b2Cory
>>
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