Tag Archives | restructuring
The Skype Spinout Version 2.0

The Skype Spinout Version 2.0

By on November 9, 2009

So it’s finally resolved. The Skype spinout from eBay will involve Skype’s founders as investors and board members while contributing a cash investment. Skype finally owns the core intellectual property required for Skype to operate at its current cost levels. eBay gets the cash they were looking for but 5% less of the new Skype. [...]

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eBay CEO: “This deal’s going to close..”

eBay CEO: “This deal’s going to close..”

By on September 25, 2009

While participating in an interview session earlier today at the National Retail Federation’s annual Shop.org summit in Las Vegas, eBay CEO closed off questioning about the pending sale of Skype with “… there’s nothing new on that; this deal’s going to close.” AuctionByte’s Ina Steiner put out this video on her post, eBay CEO: Skype [...]

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Demythifying the Skype Developer Story

Demythifying the Skype Developer Story

By on September 13, 2009

On Friday the Skype Developer Blog posted a blog announcing the end of the Skype Extras program in what amounts to two stages: Immediately: No new partner programs or upgrades will be placed into the Skype Extras Going forward: Skype Extras will remain available via the Skype for Windows client until their certification expires (which [...]

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17 Million Canadians Will Have an Interest in Skype’s Success

By on September 2, 2009

OK, now I have your attention with a headline different from the “Skype sold for $2.75 billion” headlines so rampant in the blogosphere yesterday…. By now the web has been saturated with stories about yesterday’s announcement of the forthcoming acquisition of a 65% controlling interest in Skype by a consortium of investors, led by SilverLake [...]

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The Skype IPO: “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over”

The Skype IPO: “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over”

By on April 16, 2009

This past Tuesday the media got the meat they had been looking for ever since newly minted eBay CEO John Donahoe announced a year ago that Skype’s future within eBay was under review. Lots of speculation ensued over the past year; it was a de facto admission that maybe there were minimal, if any, synergies [...]

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Skype Business Model Revealed at eBay Analyst Event

By on March 12, 2009

Yesterday eBay held an analyst event at its San Jose headquarters location with a keynote by eBay CEO John Donahoe followed by presentations by various eBay executives and Skype President Josh Silverman. Josh’s presentation broke a lot of new ground for Skype addressing issues such as: How does Skype generate revenue? What drives Skype’s cost [...]

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Skype Modifies Fair Usage Policy

Skype Modifies Fair Usage Policy

By on February 16, 2009

When Skype’s Unlimited Calling Plans were modified last May, the only “Fair Usage” limitation was 10,000 minutes per month on any of the plans. Recently my attention was drawn to a modified Fair Usage policy. Primarily it would appear that the new Fair Usage policy would apply to businesses using SkypeOut for customer service and [...]

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The Skype Restructuring: Global Products, Regional Markets

By on January 23, 2009

Josh Silverman joined Skype as President early in the spring of 2008; since then he has been reviewing Skype’s opportunities and building a team of experienced executives who can bring to Skype the products, programs and team building expertise required to operate a business with a run rate of $600MM per year, 20% contribution margins [...]

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Skype COO Outlines Skype’s Software Guidelines

By on January 16, 2009

During our conversations with Skype COO Scott Durchslag last week at CES, Scott outlined Skype’s criteria for its software development going forward. First was the emphasis on “liquid communications” through statements such as “Skype Whenever, Wherever”. Just as today you can pick up any PC or mobile platform and find all the Google Tools (Search, [...]

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Skype at CES 2009, Part II: An Overview and Observations

Skype at CES 2009, Part II: An Overview and Observations

By on January 13, 2009

There’s a “new sheriff in town” when it come to running Skype; CES 2009 was a “coming out” event for the new executive team. CES 2009 provided an opportunity to catch up personally with many of the vendors we have covered in Skype Journal including Skype, Truphone, SlingMedia, Philips and Research in Motion (BlackBerry). I [...]

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