NEW YORK - Microsoft buys Internet voice and video leader Skype for $ 8.5 billion in a movement which aims to strengthen its presence in an arena dominated by Google and Facebook online.
The purchase of Skype, which would have also attracted interest from Cisco, Facebook and Google, is the largest ever by Microsoft and gives him the control of one of the few companies whose name has become a verb, as in "skype.".
Analysts were divided on the acquisition, with some saying it was a good strategic blow to the U.S. software giant and others saying Microsoft paid too expensive and would stifle innovation at Skype.
Skype, one of the top applications page on the Apple iPhone and smartphones powered by Google's Android software, has approximately 170 million users which will now be able to "skype" using Windows powered phones or even Xbox games consoles.
"Skype is a phenomenal service which is loved by millions of people around the world," Chief Executive of Microsoft Steve Ballmer has declared Tuesday start announcing the purchase.
"Together we will create the future of communications in real time for people can easily stay in touch with family, friends, customers and colleagues anywhere in the world.".
Microsoft said that Skype will become a new division of the enterprise at Microsoft with Skype CEO Tony Bates, assuming the title of President of the Microsoft Division of Skype, reporting directly to Ballmer.
Skype users can call low cost or free of charge on the Internet using their computers or smartphones. Skype bypasses the standard telephone network to channel the voice and video calls on the Web.
The purchase of Skype could be a way for Microsoft that allow some of its image as commercial software and to grow in a hot smartphone market at a time where life Internet go mobile.
Microsoft Windows is the dominant computer operating but its Bing search engine drags away from Google and his Windows mobile phone platform has been losing market share to the iPhone of Apple, Google Android and Blackberry from Research In Motion.
Bates, "Mobile moves clearly to a capacity of rich communications just voices," said a joint with Ballmer to San Francisco press conference. "We have also focused very, very strongly on video." The video is in our DNA. ?
"At Microsoft, we see a tremendous opportunity to gather what people want all on one screen," Ballmer said. "" "". We are committed to optimize Skype for television with the Xbox and Kinect, for the phone and PC. ?
Greater acquisition of Microsoft so far has been its 2007 digital aQuantive purchase farm marketing of $ 6.3 billion. Microsoft tried in vain to buy Yahoo! for $ 47.5 billion in 2008.
Microsoft and Skype, said that the deal was approved by the advice of Microsoft based in Redmond, Washington and the Skype based on the Luxembourg, which is the property of the investor group Silver Lake.
Magnus Rehle, Managing Director of Greenwich Consulting, said Microsoft "buys a brand and a large piece of customers."
"It could (also) be a defensive strategy to them... to block Facebook and Google to do instead," Rehle added.
Analyst Douglas McIntyre 247WallSt.com said Microsoft "genuine motivation for a buyback of Skype is likely to be to increase its share of the mobile, something search engine, it could not do so far.
Gartner research vice President Leif - Olof Wallin said that Microsoft had been forced to pay high price for Skype, but the case has potential.
"The purchase price kind of indicates that there has been a kind of process that led the price to bid," said Wallin.
"If it is integrated into the right lane, he has great potential to take advantage of platforms such as Xbox and Windows phone to new heights," he said.
Analyst Trip Chowdhry of Global Equities Research was skeptical.
"Strategically a good blow, but Microsoft will political internal kill this wonderful company,"Chowdhry said."".
Skype was founded in 2003 and acquired by giant eBay auction online in September 2005. She was sold to the Group investment led by Silver Lake in November 2009 in an agreement that a value of the business at $ 2.75 billion.
Skype last year announced plans for an initial public offer of stock and appeared on the road to profitability, but investors are clearly hungry for a reward.
The other members of the Group of investors led by Silver Lake are eBay, CPP Investment Board, Joltid Limited, Europlay Capital Advisors, and Andreessen Horowitz.
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals including companies said they expect to get this year.
Shares of Microsoft fell 0.62% to Wall Street to close at $25.67
No comments:
Post a Comment