Om reports on the steady stream of rumors that Skype is likely to be bought by now either Facebook, Google or Microsoft.
Here's why I think the company may be bought..
1. Facebook-they need a realtime comms platform to put themselves inside. Skype's new Web OS effortes being led by Jonathan Rosenberg and Jason Fischl make that happen.
2. Google-they just can afford to buy it, and it slows Facebook down. They don't need it.
3. Microsoft-they need something to become far more hip and cool. Skype gives them that, plus with Skype Connect, the business platform taken away their less threatened in the Unified Communications space…
So, in essence, two companies in the mix are looking at Skype for seriously defensive reasons, and one, wants it for offence.
Now why does SIlver Lake and the rest of the investors want to sell. Because there are buyers. Also, eBay reportedly wants OUT..very much OUT and a sale now gets it off their books and they see some new money to work with.
One things for sure, whichever company buys Skype needs to build up the developer eco-system. Google and Microsoft have the horsepower there. Linking Skype up with Microsoft's BizSpark would be a very, very hot opportunity to transform Microsoft.