Pochissime ore dopo aver parlato di un rumor secondo il quale l’azienda di Redmond era intenzionata all’acquisizione di Skype, abbiamo ricevuto un comunicato stampa con il quale Microsoft ha ufficializzato l’accordo. Leggiamolo assieme (in lingua inglese) e discutiamo sulle possibili conseguenze che potrebbe portare a tutti gli Apple users.
Eccovi parte del comunicato stampa in lingua inglese:
REDMOND, Wash., and LUXEMBOURG – May 10, 2011 – Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) and Skype Global S.à r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.
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 reach of its networked platform, while enhancing Microsoft’s existing portfolio of real-time communications products and services.
With 170 million connected users and over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype has been a pioneer in creating rich, meaningful connections among friends, families and business colleagues globally. 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.
Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.
…
Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Ballmer.
“Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers,” said Tony Bates. “Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype’s plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate,” Bates said.
“Tony Bates has a great track record as a leader and will strengthen the Microsoft management team. I’m looking forward to Skype’s talented global workforce bringing its insights, ideas and experience to Microsoft,” Ballmer said.
Speaking on behalf of the investor group that sold Skype to Microsoft, Egon Durban, managing director of Silver Lake, said: “We are thrilled with Skype’s transformation during the period of our ownership and grateful for the extraordinary commitment of its management team and employees. We are excited about Skype’s long-term future with Microsoft, as it is poised to become one of the world’s most dynamic and comprehensive communications platforms.”
Ora, anche se molto probabilmente si tratterà solo di un dubbio irrilevante, molti di voi si staranno chiedendo se questo storico accordo porterà qualche conseguenza sugli ottimi client di Skype per le piattaforme Apple: appena ho letto dell’accordo mi sono subito venuti in mente moltissimi particolari, a partire dalle dichiarazioni di Ballimer riguardo l’iPhone, fino ad arrivare al fatto che in effetti una delle marce in più di iOS (ed Android) rispetto a Windows Phone 7 è proprio il fatto che il sistema operativo di Microsoft non abbia ancora un client per connettersi a Skype.
Insomma, questo accordo potrebbe cambiare molte cose ma in effetti potrebbe non cambiare nulla, c’è però da chiedersi se vedremo mai una versione di Skype per iPad e se le attuali applicazioni per Mac OS ed iOS verranno aggiornate con la stessa frequenza.
E voi che ne pensate? discutiamone tramite i commenti!
Leggi o Aggiungi Commenti