Microsoft to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion

[minestrone]

Everything MS touches turns to processed food waste. Just look at Nokia.

Yes, Facebook tanked after they bought stock in that 10 years ago.

[AtW]

Yes, Facebook tanked after they bought stock in that 10 years ago.

They bought minority stake...

[minestrone]

They bought minority stake...

I know.

Anyway, they have had quite a few successful takeovers. Skype, Hotmail etc. Their record has been fairly decent overall.

[AtW]

Anyway, they have had quite a few successful takeovers. Skype, Hotmail etc. Their record has been fairly decent overall.

Skype is turning into bloatware tulip, had to stop updates to avoid them.

Hotmail mothballed.

Microsoft has never been good with acquisitions.

[minestrone]

Skype is turning into bloatware tulip, had to stop updates to avoid them.

Hotmail mothballed.

Microsoft has never been good with acquisitions.

Hotmail which has rebranded has about 500 million accounts.

Skype has about 800 million.

Yes, they are clear failures for MS.

[AtW]

Hotmail which has rebranded has about 500 million accounts.

Skype has about 800 million.

Yes, they are clear failures for MS.

Gmail is a winner, so yes Hotmail ended up as failure even though MSFT had advantage.

Whatsapp, Viber and a bunch of other trendy messengers outplaying Skype - MSFT already fecked up one attempt to force people use new version on Win 8, give it a few years and usage of Skype will decline.

[minestrone]

Whatsapp, Viber and a bunch of other trendy messengers outplaying Skype - MSFT already fecked up one attempt to force people use new version on Win 8, give it a few years and usage of Skype will decline.

Yes, just like you have been saying about house prices for 10 years.

[AtW]

Yes, just like you have been saying about house prices for 10 years.

They have indeed declined a LOT.

You just need to value them in real money - gold.

[minestrone]

Microsoft have turned it around in the last couple of years.

I was reading about the xbox E3 event last night, seen a twitter comment made by a games company boss on how they got Minecraft running on all OSs to get people signed up for xbox live accounts. Get them when they are young I suppose.

[scooterscot]

Hotmail which has rebranded has about 500 million accounts.

Skype has about 800 million.

The problem with Skype is it's not re-venting itself. They're just profiting from the users. Which is fine. But I'm certain Skype will be replaced. The quality of the connections remains pitiful. VOIP is the most efficient use of the protocol. Someone is going to come along one day and torppdo it. Of course MS will be waiting to buy it.