eBay admits Skype Mistake, Skype co-founders forced out

"http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2007/tc2007101_499889.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_ technology"

"On average, he estimates, Skype's users pay just 12¢ to 13¢ per month.
Despite its legal troubles, Vonage (VG) generates $28.38 a month from
subscribers to its Internet-based phone service."

SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in
news:4702437b$0$79890$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net:

> "http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2007/tc2007101_49988
> 9.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology"
>
> "On average, he estimates, Skype's users pay just 12¢ to 13¢ per
> month. Despite its legal troubles, Vonage (VG) generates $28.38 a
> month from subscribers to its Internet-based phone service."
>

Dream on....Ebay isn't stupid. Skype was purchased to Ebay's BUSINESS
could operate across the planet, not to be the center of their business
model. Ebay is connecting their SELLERS with their BUYERS. Ebay makes
money every time that happens....



Larry
--
Please - Turn OFF cruise control when
you turn on windshield wipers!

noone@home.com (Larry) wrote in
news:Xns99BD8E2F11C4Anoonehomecom@208.49.80.253:

> SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in
> news:4702437b$0$79890$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net:
>
>> "http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2007/tc2007101_4
>> 9988 9.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology"
>>
>> "On average, he estimates, Skype's users pay just 12½ to 13½ per
>> month. Despite its legal troubles, Vonage (VG) generates $28.38 a
>> month from subscribers to its Internet-based phone service."
>>
>
> Dream on....Ebay isn't stupid.

Nor are they infallible:

On Oct. 1, eBay confirmed that it overpaid for Skype—by
nearly $1 billion—and that the popular Web-calling business
has not performed up to the rosy forecasts set back in 2005.
In announcing a $1.43 billion charge against profits, eBay
also revealed a broad management reshuffle in which Skype
co-founders Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis will be leaving
their posts.

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | bert@iphouse.com

At 02 Oct 2007 06:12:49 -0700 SMS wrote:
>
"http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2007/tc2007101_4998
> 89.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology"
>
> "On average, he estimates, Skype's users pay just 12¢ to 13¢ per
> month. Despite its legal troubles, Vonage (VG) generates $28.38 a
> month from subscribers to its Internet-based phone service."


Apples and oranges. Unlike Vonage, Skype offers no hardware subsidies,

and has no telephony related costs for the 200 million "free" Skype-
to-Skype users.

(I'm not saying eBay didn't pay waaaay too much for it, just that
Skype and Vonage aren't in the same business.)



--

"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003

At 02 Oct 2007 17:58:26 +0000 Larry wrote:

> Dream on....Ebay isn't stupid. Skype was purchased to Ebay's
BUSINESS
> could operate across the planet, not to be the center of their
business
> model. Ebay is connecting their SELLERS with their BUYERS. Ebay
makes
> money every time that happens....


That doesn't mean they didn't overpay. They could've just as easily
built their own "eBrey" VoIP/IM service from scratch (a la Yahoo Voice,
Google Talk, etc.) for a LOT less money. They obviously intended to
expand Skype into a full blown VoIP (and still might- heck, they sell
Skype stuff at WalMart these days- webcams, headsets, USB corded and
cordless VoIP phones, etc.)


--

"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003