more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Frankston <Bob2-19-0501 () bobf frankston com>
Date: September 12, 2005 8:46:53 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net, 'Ip Ip' <ip () v2 listbox com>
Cc: 'Irwin Lazar' <ilazar () burtongroup com>
Subject: RE: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype


I wanted to keep my comments short so I didn't go into the many  
issues of
the competitive landscape.

Presence and other capabilities that Skype provides are not at all  
special
-- they just did a good job and had an advantage over the open source
projects in that they could take bold steps in implementing their
capabilities.

With Skype as an example it becomes easier for open source projects and
standards efforts to cooperate towards a visible goal and I expect it
happen though as long as Skype executes well and doesn't generate too  
much
resentment there might not be a strong motivation. Personally I don't  
like
the Skype in/out/mail deposits expiring. It would behoove Microsoft,  
Google
and others to cooperate. Jabber has had a problem getting traction so  
far
but that can change.

There is a lot one can do beyond Skype but it's hard to get people  
excited
without having an example to follow.

I presume AOL's AIM is still dominating IM but since they get too easily
confused by my dual LAN and other technology issues I no longer use  
them. I
don't know if they are capable of cooperating with others.

I agree with Brock -- the sellers are the winners in this particular
auction. As to who actually gets what -- the deals are often more
complicated underneath and may involve future profits. Perhaps after  
this
sale they my find it safe to visit the US but probably not ... it's  
simply
too risk to visit the land of DRM, DMCA, RIAA etc.

I wonder how well AOL did on the ICQ deal -- here too I think the  
sellers
did well. They took their money and put it back into creating new  
things --
rich geeks are an asset.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net]
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 20:05
To: Ip Ip
Subject: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype



Begin forwarded message:

From: Irwin Lazar <ilazar () burtongroup com>
Date: September 12, 2005 7:21:00 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype


Dave, it's important to note that Skype is more than a softphone.
It's IM and presence capabilities give it something that Gizmo and
FWD can't match.  Pulver is beta testing a competitor, but it's WinXP
only at the moment.  The best hope for a Skype competitor IMHO will
be MSM once the Teleo integration is completed.

Irwin

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