This post represents installment number four (4) of a blog series on real-time capabilities and its impact in online media. In case you're interested, the other related posts are:
- The Bin Laden Announcement and Mobile Devices' Power in Real-Time News Consumption
- Bin Laden Announcement Spotlights Power of Real-Time
- 5 Competitive Advantages in Studying Real-Time Marketing & PR by David Meerman Scott
Microsoft Positions the Skype Acquisition
Microsoft recently acquired Skype for $8.5 billion. This announcement generated significant news coverage. A Google News Search for "microsoft skype acquisition" yields 2,800+ results.
Official Microsoft Press Release. The May 10th Microsoft Press Release, Microsoft to Acquire Skype, mentions the term "real-time" four (4) times.
Here are the direct quotes:
"The acquisition will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating significant new business and revenue opportunities."
"The combination will extend Skype's world-class brand and the the reach of its networked platform, while enhancing Microsoft's existing portfolio of real-time communications products and services."
"Microsoft has a long-standing focus and investment in real-time communications across its various platforms, including Lync (which saw 30 percent revenue growth in Q3), Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE."
"Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."
Conclusion
Real-Time Speed as a Competitive Advantage. Speed and immediacy are competitive differentiators. Microsoft views real-time capabilities as a competitive advantage driving future revenue growth.
Therefore, I'm looking forward to seeing how the Microsoft-Skype deal influences future Microsoft desktop and mobile offerings. The implications for the overall telecommunications and media landscape will be fun to watch.
Also, I expect skype enabling on Hotmail. Sounds like a good suggestion though.
@email archiving: Enabling / Syncing skype with Hotmail would be very cool. Thanks for your comment and creative thinking!
This is promising to me. Imagine a tie-up of both existing products for collaborative use. For example, SKYPE enabled MS Outlook. I can see it being a reality.
It is very challenging, indeed. Skype is now officially a part of Microsoft. Now I do not feel any difference.