EBay Sells Skype To Marc Andreessen

Julefrokost writes "Computerworld has a story about eBay selling Skype. Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape, along with a group of investors, are reported to have paid $2 billion for Skype. According to the New York Times, Google was also a potential buyer. Also, the original founders of Skype are said to have placed a bid, but Marc Andreessen & Co was the highest bidder."

Comments

I hope they improve it... as it was.

[xtracto]

I hope the new owners make it better and re-incorporate the functionality it had before.

I really miss Skypecasts, it was a really useful tool for practicing languages and having informal meetings (moderation, talk turns, etc)...

Just today I spent about an hour looking for a skypecast alternative where I could practice my German with others (maybe first only hearing and talking a bit later).

Skype worth half the value of Marvel?

[Demoriel]

Is Skype really worth half the value of Marvel? Disney got an amazing deal...

Re:Buy now!!!

[AmigaMMC]

I think Google (and myself) are better off with Google Voice. I never liked skype and if you look at prices for making calls to landlines and cellphones in Europe they're more expensive than the alternative. With Google voice I can call Europe for 2 cents a minute from any U.S. phone, without having to log onto my computer.

Re:Buy now!!!

[bberens]

I realize they provide only related (but similar) service, but Vonage is now like $30/mo (after taxes) and you can call anywhere in the world for free. I have friends in India who are dropping their local land lines in exchange for an American Vonage account so they can make cheap calls within their own neighborhood. That's pretty wild :) The telecomm revolution is underway kids. Next up, cable.