I note (see Reuters) that Facebook is mulling a bid for Skype ahead of its IPO. Readers will know that I have long suggested that such a bid would make huge sense. Having a Skype 'Call me/Phone out' button along side your Facebook friends and their Status reports would be really convenient - as you can see from the screenshot mockup I have used in my presentations for some years now where I have suggested that Facebook is the closest thing we have to my long desired 'MyTop'. For Facebook it would be another revenue stream and ke
ep users within the 'closed garden' so they don't stray. Skype's mainly PE investors get Facebook stock ahead of the IPO. Or cash, but suspect Facebook stock would be preferred if available! A valuation of $3-$4b is suggested.
The Reuters article also mentions Google in the fray. No wonder. Skype is a unique property and would be highly synergistic to both. I suspect Facebook would be a more logical home though as a social networking dimension would work best. And we know that is something currently Google can only dream about.