Andrew Sviridenko, Chairman of Russia based Spirit DSP sent me some comments on the Sonorit/Camino purchase by eBay/Skype. He wrote:
This is Skype / eBay move in the right direction to complete with Microsoft, Google, AOL and Yahoo, as Andy points out (added Google which is very strong technology company and top eBay competitor), Skype core biz is voice and it cannot afford to depend on the 3rd party license, but must own the core voice technology, as Microsoft does. However Sonorit/Camino is too small (less then 10 people), was formed as a company just several months ago, has no shipping product, has no single customer, so this acquisition does not solve Skype technology hole yet.
This acquisition is not to avoid paying royalties to GIPS as Jeff Pulver guessed, this is strategic Skype technology move to compete with Microsoft, Google, AOL and Yahoo as Andy points out, there are several clear less costy ways for Skype to stop paying royalties to GIPS.
Following Skype acquisition by eBay in September, this acquisition validates again high market prices for software voice technology companies, like Skype, GIPS, Camino and SPIRIT.