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Microsoft-Skype Deal Poised To Win EU Approval

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the it's-a-done-deal dept.

Pigskin-Referee wrote in with a story about the EU's approval of Microsoft acquiring Skype. The article reads: "Microsoft's proposed $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype has earned the approval of the European Union, the Financial Times reported Thursday. The European Commissioner for Competition, Joaquin Almunia, is expected to rule that the acquisition won't harm competition or turn Skype into a Microsoft-exclusive platform. The decision ignores accusations that Microsoft is simply bundling services on Windows to drown out smaller competitors, as argued by Italian Skype rival Messagenet last week. Messagenet also urged the Commission to require Microsoft to unbundle Skype from its Windows Office Suite. The FT reports that Microsoft 'promised' the Commission it would keep Skype interoperable and supported on rival operating systems."

14 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Unbundle "Skype" by Anonymous+Cowar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You don't think that microsoft is actually going to use the skype brand in office? No! They already have an IM/voice suite previously known as office communicator, now Lync. What microsoft is going to do is continue to produce Skype skinned IM clients for the masses (powered by Lync), while gutting the IP and integrating skype's P2P voice pathing (and other goodness) in its own products.

    1. Re:Unbundle "Skype" by AliasMarlowe · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And one must wonder about the level of Microsoft "support" for Skype on non-Windows platforms. What does that mean, exactly? It could be that new features/versions are released on Windows, and only appear on other platforms after lengthy delays - perhaps just before the next version appears on Windows. More pessimistically, it could mean that there would be few or no new versions or features on many platforms; just fixes for the most egregious bugs in their current version.

      --
      Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
    2. Re:Unbundle "Skype" by cdrnet · · Score: 2

      Indeed, it is much more likely to be bundled with Xbox Live, Windows Live and Windows Phone than with Office.

    3. Re:Unbundle "Skype" by Gwala · · Score: 3, Informative

      So.... no different than before Microsoft bought it then.

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      #!/bin/csh cat $0
    4. Re:Unbundle "Skype" by rtfa-troll · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Do you have a SIP client that actually works. I mean, other than in a perfectly groomed office environment with fast LAN and correctly allocated IP addresses all the way through to the SIP gateway? I mean, works as in "provides fully encrypted end to end voice with no more configuration than giving a username and password". Works as in "installs for free and almost instantly on Most Linux distros and has an interconnecting client which also works on Windows and Mac". Works as in "you can seamlessly switch on video and/or conference calling during the middle of a call". Works as in "it's very difficult for some stupid ignorant IT guy to turn off the encryption".

      I have never actually seen such a thing. If someone could just provide it they would be able to take over from Skype almost instantly.

      If you could make this do automated phone number verification and bypass then it would be a great success. Let people register phone number / name pairs; call them back and have them confirm a code (as Google apps does) and then when someone calls their phone number from that client route it directly to them over SIP.

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      =~ s,(.*),<sarcasm>$1</sarcasm>,g if any_point_you_wish();
  2. Just like eBay by Arancaytar · · Score: 2

    "Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so." -dna

  3. Not worried about exclusivity by bryan1945 · · Score: 2

    More worried about MS screwing it up somehow, just like the cliche that every new manager needs to put his "mark" on his new team? I'm worried about paperclips asking me questions, pop up windows asking if I'm "sure you want to really write that IM?", do you "really trust your wife" calling you, and the blue phone of death.
    (Did I miss any?)

    --
    Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
  4. Re:It their promise in writing? by qbast · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually 9 month delay would be a big improvement for a Linux version.

  5. Promises... by Jimpqfly · · Score: 2

    ... only engage the ones who believe them ...

  6. Bundled or Integrated? by sgt+scrub · · Score: 2

    Do the authorities know the difference? When Microsoft decides to discontinue skype, after it has completely been integrated into office of course, will this guy recognize it still exists?

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    Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.
  7. Re:I want my OS with as much stuff bundled in it by cluelessTypeOfGuy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And you can do it if you wanted. You can do the same thing in N. America. With a car, you have any choice you like. You can build it from scratch (and pay for it) or buy one ready to go.
    With software, due to laws, that choice can be taken from you, and Microsoft and likes used that option extensively.

  8. Re:I want my OS with as much stuff bundled in it by JasterBobaMereel · · Score: 2

    The issue is not the bundling, it is TINA (there is no alternative) syndrome, this was the problem with IE in Europe,

    People generally said that they had an icon for "The Internet" on their desktop, this was IE ...This is more like having a radio come with your car, but it is welded in place, and all mass-market cars have the same radio

    Whereas now you get a popup when you first use a Windows PC in Europe that asks which browser you want to use, so at least people know they have a choice...

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    Puteulanus fenestra mortis
  9. Skype relaunched as Windows Bing Voice by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Funny

    BOLGIAS 8 AND 9, Seattle, Tuesday (NTN) — Microsoft remains on the bleeding edge of innovation with its completely new-from-the-ground-up Windows Bing Voice Internet phone platform, formerly known as Skype.

    Windows Bing Voice was developed entirely in-house at an acquisition cost of only $8.5 billion. “Our developer teams know the meaning of confidentiality,” said Steve Ballmer. “Heck, even they didn’t know it was Skype until today. That’s how, uh, stealth we are.”

    The new Windows Bing Voice client will be included with Windows Phone 7, Office 365, Kin and Zune. “Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms! On a case by case time and availability basis, of course. We’ll give our Mac Business Unit developer details for Windows Bing Voice 2011 Ultimate Edition by 2013, for sure.”

    Service is expected to remain “at 100%” as the server infrastructure is moved from Linux to Windows, though Microsoft has not specified what that will be 100% of. The peer-to-peer functionality of Skype will also be harnessed to distribute Windows updates and Windows Genuine Advantage serial number blacklists.

    Google said that the Google Voice servers were “holding up well” under the influx of new users.

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    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  10. rivals by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

    Microsoft 'promised' the Commission it would keep Skype interoperable and supported on rival operating systems.

    "we did too keep our promise! there just isn't anything that rivals windows."

    i await the Linux port that will never come.

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    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.