Its makes more sense for Facebook to buy Skype instead of Google. Here are some of my points.( snippets from my article).
•Enhance their messaging platform with support for Voice and Video powered by Skype. Off course Facebook can develop its own Voice and Video infrastructure. Too me it’s a stretch. Instead by buying Skype they get instant access to VoIP/SMS/Video features
•Support Voice/Video will boost the messaging platform, which doesn’t seem to have gained much traction
•With Skype Acquisition they also get QIK Live streaming capabilities. That’s an added plus
•Instant Access to more than 500 million users. The chances of Skype users having Facebook account are high. There might be an overlap
•Facebook can really become a global operator providing Voice/SMS/Video/IM communication to all its users. Off course PSTN access will still be short coming, a partnership with one of the operator can offset this shortcoming
•A Facebook phone becomes a reality. Most of the operators are moving towards 4G/LTE, it’s a matter of time that all Voice calls will be carried via IP network. With a partnership with one of the access network, Facebook’s ambitious phone becomes a reality. So constant monthly revenue for basic phone service becomes a reality. Voila!
•Patronize Innovation by opening up the Skype platform for developers (Telco 2.0 Platform). Something similar to Twilio, Voxeo etc
•Who said Facebook is only for Consumer market, with Skype acquisition they can venture into Enterprise market and become a threat to some of the incumbent Video/VoIP provider like Avaya, Cisco etc
•According to CDC Straw Poll 75% of the companies will adopt, Video Conferencing by 2012. Skype already supports consumer video conferencing which can be extended /enhanced for enterprise
•Voice conferencing is another big Enterprise feature. So armed with these powerful features, facebook can look beyond consumer market
•It makes sense to have different revenue stream instead of relying only on advertisements
•Everybody wants a piece of Facebooks social graph including operators. T-Mobiles recently launched Bobsled , a one touch calling within facebook. In fact Facebook can do a better job than Third Party service providers.
•Enhance their messaging platform with support for Voice and Video powered by Skype. Off course Facebook can develop its own Voice and Video infrastructure. Too me it’s a stretch. Instead by buying Skype they get instant access to VoIP/SMS/Video features •Support Voice/Video will boost the messaging platform, which doesn’t seem to have gained much traction •With Skype Acquisition they also get QIK Live streaming capabilities. That’s an added plus •Instant Access to more than 500 million users. The chances of Skype users having Facebook account are high. There might be an overlap •Facebook can really become a global operator providing Voice/SMS/Video/IM communication to all its users. Off course PSTN access will still be short coming, a partnership with one of the operator can offset this shortcoming •A Facebook phone becomes a reality. Most of the operators are moving towards 4G/LTE, it’s a matter of time that all Voice calls will be carried via IP network. With a partnership with one of the access network, Facebook’s ambitious phone becomes a reality. So constant monthly revenue for basic phone service becomes a reality. Voila! •Patronize Innovation by opening up the Skype platform for developers (Telco 2.0 Platform). Something similar to Twilio, Voxeo etc •Who said Facebook is only for Consumer market, with Skype acquisition they can venture into Enterprise market and become a threat to some of the incumbent Video/VoIP provider like Avaya, Cisco etc •According to CDC Straw Poll 75% of the companies will adopt, Video Conferencing by 2012. Skype already supports consumer video conferencing which can be extended /enhanced for enterprise •Voice conferencing is another big Enterprise feature. So armed with these powerful features, facebook can look beyond consumer market •It makes sense to have different revenue stream instead of relying only on advertisements •Everybody wants a piece of Facebooks social graph including operators. T-Mobiles recently launched Bobsled , a one touch calling within facebook. In fact Facebook can do a better job than Third Party service providers.