Interesting People mailing list archives
Brock realism more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:57:42 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: Patrizia <patrizia () worldonip com> Date: September 13, 2005 3:09:56 AM EDT To: dave () farber net Subject: RE: [IP] Brock realism more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype The bad thing of VoIP is that people do not know and do not understand enough of it.The good thing is that it is very easy to change from one supplier to the
other.And that is why it was a good business for SKYPE and a bad bargain for eBay.
Because open standard will win, being it h323 or SIP. There will soon be interconneting platforms.You will be able to belong to a SIP platform and be able to communicate with
a H323 platform. But Skype will still be a propietary island (with a downward number), relying (as they shout) on other people's nodes. With Vonage for example you pay for a Service, for Skype you pay for a software. Patrizia -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: 13 September 2005 02:07 To: Ip Ip Subject: [IP] Brock realism more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype Begin forwarded message: From: Brock Meeks <Brock.Meeks () msnbc com> Date: September 12, 2005 6:57:06 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Subject: RE: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype Marc says it's a "shame" Skype couldn't "resist" temptation.Good grief, with a nearly $5 billion carrot (if all financial incentives are met) dangling in front of them, the Skype folks would have been IDIOTS not
to take eBay's dumb money.The stench of Internet arrogance a la Steve Case of AOL buying Time Warner is again in the air. One can only hope this ludicrous paring comes back to
bite Meg Whitman in the ass.Shame on HER for wasting that kind of money on a speculative deal that won't be accretive until Christ returns in the clouds. That money could have been returned to shareholders, or spent on humanitarian efforts or... whatever.
But let's cut the crap about knocking Skype for "selling out." In this deal, they are the only smart ones. I say cash the check, sell the eBay stock as soon as you can and invent something else wild and wonderful that we all can't live without. --Brock -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 06:10 To: Ip Ip Subject: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype Begin forwarded message: From: Marc <marcaniballi () hotmail com> Date: September 12, 2005 4:23:22 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Subject: RE: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype Thank you Gregory;You have confirmed my suspicions. Although Lauren's call for disclosure is a
worthy effort in some respects, to me it seems rather late for that now. Regardless of the disclosure of Skype's crypto implementation, the factremains that should eBay decide, or the US Government mandate, that Skype have a backdoor, then the next version of Skype will likely have just that.
Given the overall maturity of the technology base, I suspect a more"private" competitor will emerge at this point, and Skype will become just another IP Softphone. While there are currently no guarantees that Skype is secure, under the eBay umbrella, which makes them subject to US law, there is now a guarantee that it will be insecure (open to prying law enforcement
and skilled hacking ears).It's a shame that they couldn't resist the temptation - I really can't see
that they actually NEEDED eBay. Marc -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 3:53 PM To: Ip Ip Subject: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype Begin forwarded message: From: Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com> Date: September 12, 2005 1:58:02 PM EDT To: ip () v2 listbox com, dave () farber net Subject: Re: [IP] query on eBay to Acquire Skype Reply-To: Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com>
From: David Farber <dave () farber net> Subject: [IP] query on eBay to Acquire Skype Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:47:07 -0400 To: Ip Ip <ip () v2 listbox com> Begin forwarded message: From: Marc <marcaniballi () hotmail com> Date: September 12, 2005 12:24:05 PM EDT To: dave () farber net Subject: RE: [IP] eBay to Acquire Skype Dave; Can anyone on IP project what sort of US regulatory exposure this will place upon Skype? I have my suspicions, but I would prefer the opinions of those more immersed in the field.
Well... Based on eBay's stated "privacy" policy, this will open up pen tracing to LEOs with just a phone call at the least.At the worst, Skype users will soon be getting new software that allows LEOs
to backdoor skype crypto and get free access to those phone calls (also based on eBay's stated "privacy policy"...
Marc -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 10:44 AM To: Ip Ip Subject: [IP] eBay to Acquire Skype Begin forwarded message: From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com> Date: September 12, 2005 7:50:46 AM EDT To: undisclosed-recipient:; Subject: eBay to Acquire Skype eBay to Acquire Skype - Sep 12, 2005 06:00 AM (BusinessWire) LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2005--eBay Inc. (Nasdaq:EBAY)( www.ebay.com ) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration. The acquisition will strengthen eBay's global marketplace and payments platform, while opening several new lines of business and creating significant new monetization opportunities for the company. The deal also represents a major opportunity for Skype to advance its leadership in Internet voice communications and offer people worldwide new ways to communicate in a global online era. Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world. .. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=51709287 ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as marcaniballi () hotmail com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting- people/
------------------------------------------------------------------- Gregory Hicks | Principal Systems Engineer Cadence Design Systems | Direct: 408.576.3609 555 River Oaks Pkwy M/S 6B1 | Fax: 408.894.3400 San Jose, CA 95134 | Internet: ghicks () cadence comI am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes. I will surely learn a
great deal today."A democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding on what to have for lunch.
Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the results of the decision." - Benjamin Franklin "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." --Alexander Hamilton -------------------------------------You are subscribed as marcaniballi () hotmail com To manage your subscription,
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- Brock realism more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype David Farber (Sep 13)