Skype to Microsoft Posted by Marcus Cederström on May 12, 2011 in Uncategorized
Having spent several years abroad, there is nothing I love less than Skype. I can’t tell you how much money, homesickness, and friendships it has saved me. The fact that it was founded by a Swede always made me like it just a little bit more. Silly, I know. But that’s what made me raise my eyebrows just a little bit today when I saw the news.
Microsoft is buying Skype. For 8.5 billion dollars. Eight. Point. Five. Billion. USD. That’s a lot of money. (For those of you counting at home that’s a cool 52,926,100,000 SEK.
Several sources are saying this looks to be a good move. I don’t have the slightest clue. I’m not even going to pretend to understand the international telecommunications industry and VOIP. I’m mostly just staggered by the amount of money exchanging hands. And the continued success of a small little Swedish start-up on the global market.
So the word of the day? It’s an easy one. Along the lines of messa (to send an SMS) I give you, skypa. To skype.
What do you think though? Do you use Skype on a regular basis, and if so, are you concerned about the acquisition?
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About the Author: Marcus Cederström
Marcus Cederström has been writing for the Transparent Swedish Blog since 2009. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Oregon, a Master's Degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a PhD in Scandinavian Studies and Folklore from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has taught Swedish for several years and still spells things wrong. So, if you see something, say something.
Comments:
nita:
Hi, Im also a Swede moved abroad.. I was well amazed with Skype when it first came out! Befor that i had an internet telephone from Tesco (UK’s answere on swedish CO-OP or old OBS) It was absolut rubbish! kept cutting out and eccoing.. total mess.. now i can ring my friends back home and my sis in australia! Its sooo great! And its free! Best of all is that the android phones got it too! All u need is a router and wireless on ur phone and ur off! 🙂 Great stuff! Felt a slight flinch in my belly though… i hope Microsoft wont mess it up in anyway, that e i thy start charging or anything else.. that would make me proper angry!
Have a lovely sommer u all!!!
xx xx
david:
I just find that sad. I don’t remember anything that Microsoft bought becoming actually better.
And I am very concerned about their support for other operating systems. Not that I used it every day but it is good to have.
Heather:
Skype has been great for me. My boyfriend lives in Sweden and I live in Canada, so this is how we communicate most of the time. I am moving to Sweden in June, and I will need Skype to keep in touch with family and friends back home. I hope with this acquisition doesn’t change the use of it.
Margaret Aston:
I hope Skype does not change, I use it daily when my husband is in Sweden, and when I go to Sweden I use it to chat to friends and family. I am hoping to live in Sweden very soon in Elmsta near Vaddo canal so if any readers are nearby I would welcome some friendly faces who can help me to learn Swedish. I can be contacted via Facebook. Thank you.
paula:
there is nothing I love less than Skype.
I am thinking that you meant to say “more” than Skype, right?
I love Skype for the same reasons. I am in Sweden, with family in USA and Norway. It is great, and it works. At least it wasn´t Google that bought Skype, they can´t even get their calendar to work.
Marta:
Skype is like a best friend, truly irreplaceable. I’ve been using skype for a very long time now. It all started with me living in my country and my boyfriend living in Ireland. Without skype we probably wouldn’t have made it. Since I moved to Ireland I needed some sort of communication pathway to stay in touch with my family and friends. It helps to overcome homesickness enormously! I’m really worried that Microsoft will change their politics and skype will no longer be free. Swedes are great people. If someone was to invent skype that couldn’t have been anyone else but Swedes!
Ellen:
With all my respect and love to Sweden, Skype ( as a software) was created by Estonians, but company Skype was established by Swedish guys. So we should give a big redit to Esonians brains as well:)