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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Microsoft nearing $7 Billion purchase of Skype

elvacano80 on 10 May 2011
brendude13 said:

Seriously? What is it with Microsoft and buying people out, do they want world domination or something?

Basically, they are ripping off other companies and shoving their noses into an industry that doesn't want them, just so they FORCE people to use their software and hardware. I am sick to death of having Microsoft shoving inferior (and blatantly copied) products down my throat.

Bing wasn't needed, yet I am constantly getting my it shoved in my face, why do they feel the need to even advertise it.

Let's just hope this falls flat on it's face, along with all of other Microsoft's shenanigans *cough* ZUNE xD *cough*.

This is the garbage that i hate reading on this site



 

 

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Seece on 10 May 2011
cloud1161 said:
dsister said:
cloud1161 said:

i have a feeling this would hurt both companies.   skype would hurt since their market would become, more than likely but not necessarily, strictly microsoft products.  not only that, but there are more video communication services opening every day so that would put even more tension on the competitive market.  microsoft would just be pushed further into debt from the 500 mill or whatever it was spent on advertising the kinect, not saying theres anything wrong with that or kinect, just that i dont see how they could be making a profit yet from kinect after spending that much on advertising.

 

Why don't people ever read the thread? It would make everything so much easier and stop us from having to repeat ourselves time and time again.

And at the second thing. Didn't it sell   10,000,000 copies? With a Microsoft just making $50 out of the $200(not saying they do) they should have made a profit...

dont people ever read the replies?  im pretty sure it costs money to buy the raw materials for each kinect as well as hiring people to assemble the device as well as transporting the device to retailers.  so even if they make 50 from the $150 for each device (not sure where you got $200 unless you mean canadian or something) that would balance them out from the 500 mill they spent on advertising yes, but not the actual cost to make the product.  and  what do you mean by making things easier from repeating time and time again.  

Shouldn't talk about things you have no clue on.

FIrst of all, that $500 mill was from launch, up until THIS coming xmas. Over that period MS will be looking at 15 - 20 million Kinects sold, possibly more.

Revenue for that (20 mill Kinects) tops $3 billion, if they only make $50 per Kinect, that's $1 bill profit, not even talking about the SW and increased 360 hardware.

360 division (EDD) is profiting right now, and is at around $1.3B profit for the last 9 months alone.




 

smroadkill15 on 10 May 2011
brendude13 said:

Seriously? What is it with Microsoft and buying people out, do they want world domination or something?

Basically, they are ripping off other companies and shoving their noses into an industry that doesn't want them, just so they FORCE people to use their software and hardware. I am sick to death of having Microsoft shoving inferior (and blatantly copied) products down my throat.

Bing wasn't needed, yet I am constantly getting my it shoved in my face, why do they feel the need to even advertise it.

Let's just hope this falls flat on it's face, along with all of other Microsoft's shenanigans *cough* ZUNE xD *cough*.

If you didn't know, Skype was actually losing millions of dollars and sooner or later was going to shut down. If anything MS saved Skype by buying it out.

What is your beef with Zune? It's actually a great MP3 player and imo better than the iphone, plus it was(now discontinued) a lot cheaper.

All I see in this post is a MS hater.



loves2splooge on 11 May 2011

Google Voice is great apparently and yeah apparently it's supposed to be the "Skype killer". But it's support outside the US is very limited. I noticed that while logged into Gmail on my computer I can actually make free Google Voice calls to US and Canadians landlines and mobiles (after installing the required plugin). But I don't get an actual Google Number (they are US only. To be fair, Skype Online Numbers aren't available in Canada either. I have to use my regular cell voice service for incoming calls). Nor can I set it up so that my actual cell phone number shows up when I make a call through it (I can do this with Skype however, which is very convenient when calling family and friends). Instead the other party will see some random long distance number on their call display instead of my number. Which sucks. The Google Voice Android App on Android Market is also U.S only. And I have tried using Google Voice on my phone by going into gmail on my internet browser but then when I went to download the plugin it gave me an error (probably because that plugin was meant for PCs, not smartphones. Silly me. lol)

Hopefully Canada gets full Google Voice support soon. Competition is good. But for now, I'll be sticking to my Skype apps.



Squilliam on 11 May 2011

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Tease.

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Squilliam on 11 May 2011
disolitude said:
Squilliam said:

To be honest Skype is worthless the instant Facebook offers a voice messaging service. This is stupid...


Err...yeah but that is

A. facebook proprietary technology, MS can't generate revenue with it

B. Not nearly as robust as skype

C. not going to be integrated to Xbox live and Windows phone 7

I am a little dissapointed that MS couldn't just make their own service instead of blowing all this $$$ on something that others can R&D themselves...but this is a very sound business decision on MS's part. Skype should generate about 1 billion dollars in revenue on calls and subscriptions alone per year. Once MS pops some advertising in there, and integrates a known Skype brand it in to its own products like Xbox live and WP7...this will be quite a sound investment.

Well they obviously think it's worth it long term, I.E 5-10 years. Microsoft tend to think in the extra long term when they make decisions like this so their goals may not be immediately obvious. Perhaps they want to make Skype the global go-to brand for voice communication the world over no matter what platform you're on?



Tease.

AussieGecko on 11 May 2011
fps_d0minat0r said:

one question....

couldnt micorosft make something better than skype for that amount of money??

i mean just look at it....its a way of talking through the internet, surely it would cost way less than 7bn to make something similar.


zune was better than the ipod the ipod sold more. One has brand recognition one didnt



 

Bet with Conegamer and Doobie_wop 

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=3879752

libellule on 11 May 2011
d21lewis said:

I expect to be able to call people from my 360, then.  And maybe a skype based Kinect game.  They could combine the name Skype and Kinect like they combined the names Kinect and animals to create Kinectimals.  What's a cool name?  I guess they could call it "Skynect"

 

......Sky...Net?  OH MY GOD!!!  It's happening again!!

LOL



Time to Work !

libellule on 11 May 2011
disolitude said:
libellule said:
disolitude said:
libellule said:

damn, i liked skype !

;(


I don't udnerstand... Since MS is involved...you must boycott? Why can't you keep loving it?

I will continue to have it, no worry

but I still prefer skype independant or on other hands, that is all ...


It hasn't been independent since 2005. eBay owned it since then and they really haven't done shit with it now that I think about it.

The rediculous growth that Skype is having can only increase once it gets mainstream application support on xbox live and such...

but then it will go for the benefit of .... MS.

Skype not being linked to MS was better (except if ebay is bigger than MS ... and it isn't)

MS guys are parasits



Time to Work !

Potable_Toe on 11 May 2011
AussieGecko said:
 


zune was better than the ipod the ipod sold more. One has brand recognition one didnt


To be fair if Microsoft gave Zune even 1/10th the push Apple has supported the Ipod, and now Iphone, with then it could have gone somewhere but instead they only released it in the US and reluctantly took it over to Canada with the Zune HD. But with this they could have a good go at making a fairly cheap Skype/Zune phone to achieve a more mass market appeal and then go all out with Windows Phone 7 generation two and make it a proper Zune Smartphone with integrated Skype connectivity... it may not take them to the top but im sure with Nokia and maybe even LG partnership they could gain several percent of the market. If they utilise this oppertunity correctly and don't be so conservative in their use of such a big new asset then it should easily make back their rediculous investment (it should only have cost them $4.2 billion at the most, including paying off the debts Skype had incurred).

P.S. I mention LG because they and Microsoft had a bit of a partnership going at WP7 launch with numerous free and exclusive apps on LG WP7's. But that may well have been put to one side in favour of their 'monumental' partnership deal with Nokia more recently, I must confess however that I haven't kept myself 'clued up' as of late on WP7 developements.