[Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion

[Jay Milk]

Colin, you may have hit on the very reason they purchased skype rather
than designing their own -- the Asia factor.  Ebay is behind in Japan,
where yahoo auctions got a 3-4 months headstart.  Maybe they're trying
to regain their share there by muddling (uhm... Merging) these products.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Colin Anderson [mailto:ColinA at landmarkmasterbuilder.com] 
> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 2:49 PM
> To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Skype purchased by Ebay 2.6 Billion
> 
> 
> 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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