Will Google purchase Skype?
My comments concerning the rumour negotiations between Google and Skype
Author: Matthew Wittering | Published: 8th April 2008
Currently the rumour mill is going into over drive as articles and blog posts appear reporting Google negotiating the purchase of Skype from owner Ebay.
Previously I have written about phone operator Three and their Skype handset. See my article titled, The converging worlds of Internet Services and Mobile Phone Networks.
The Interesting point about the Google acquiring Skype will be the integration of Skype into the Android mobile handset platform. This could provide create distribution and market penetration of the Skype application into different social groups if the program where packaged with Android handsets.
Android is a Linux derived mobile phone operating system. The Android platform will allow developers to produce application in a similar fashion currently enjoyed by Community and Commercial open source developers programming for Linux systems.
If this rumour is true this will turn the telecommunications industry on its head, through consumer demands for lower data tariff rates.
The sale of Skype is like to be spurred on by Google successfully ensuring that owners of the newly auctioned 700 MHz spectrum in the United States must provide an open service for all devices which meet curtain criteria.
It seems natural that Google wound purchase Skype to compliment is Google Talk instant messenger and Grand Central services and own the Skype technology.
I do hope however Google does not add advertisements in the service as Bacon (user subscribed spam) text messages based upon my voice calls and text messages. I feel that this would be invading my privacy and destroy the Skype brand.
This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence
I am a graduate of Lougborough University where I read Computing and Management BSc (Hons) earning a 2:1 classification.