[Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion

Mon Sep 12 12:48:56 MST 2005

Seems to me that the intellectual property (the network + encryption +
client) is really the crown jewel here and an Ebay/Skype client is a no
brainer. In fact, I can see a scenario where they drop or severly
de-ephasize the voice part for their ends - maybe reduced to a "Powered by
Skype" blurb on the client skin (just like you see "Powered by AOL search"
or other claptrap on CNN) 

The reality will be how well Ebay handles this. They will probably bumble
it. 

Funny thing is, for the $2.6 bil they spent for IP+client list, they chould
have designed and implemented their *own* stuff coupled with the mother of
all marketing campaigns (think global: tons of Skype users are Asians - any
Asian users on the list care to comment about how this is being percieved in
Asia?) 

May You Live In Interesting Times.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kanuri, Seshu (Company IT) [mailto:Seshu.Kanuri at morganstanley.com]
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 1:01 PM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion

That theory sounds great on paper, but consider some of the factors
below.

1) On the web there are no loyalties. Today it is Skype but tomorrow
certainly belongs to GoogleTalk, if they can put Encryption. How
difficult is that to do? Whose quality is better? Skype or Googletalk? I
read that already 10% of the Skype users have migrated to Googletalk and
the numbers are soaring. Googletalk is still in Beta.

2)Paying users of payPal are hardly 5% of the 75 Million that they are
boasting of. And the numbers are coming down as PayPal has come to be
known as a 'PreyPal' of late. Many have stopped using this when the
charges have started ripping them off at 6% of the transfer amount for
International payments (even between canada and USA) and about 3.5%
within USA.  

3)What is the percentage of paying users of Skype? 1%  - 2%, may be.
These customers may already be Ebay's customers.

Ebay seems to be going like Time Warner buying AOL because it's user
base. There are several similarities in this deal.

Skype is cool, it has good stuff in it. How much effort does it take for
Google to add these features and make the googlers start using Google
Talk - a month or may be two.

My 0.02 cents

Seshu Kanuri

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Colin
Anderson
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 2:06 PM
To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion

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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