14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, rumors surfaced that Skype is looking to partner with either Facebook or Google, along with other companies perhaps, and that an acquisition is also on the table. Now, those rumors get more backing and a bit of an expansion.
Apparently, a big announcement is coming from Skype this week, even as soon as later today. While the details of that announcement are unknown, it will have something to do with the recent rumors.
According to GigaOm, sources close to the company say that it's working out the final details and the paperwork and that some big news is coming as soon as it's finished.
Skype would not comment on the matter, but the details should be out soon. But the rumors also got more interesting, apparently, one of the other companies interested in a partnership of sorts is Microsoft.
There are some appealing advantages for Microsoft from a deal with Skype, as GigaOm notes. It could be another product on the business software and services line up, and a solid one at that.
It could, conceivably, give its Windows Phone business a boost with some sort of integration.
Facebook's interest is also understandable, integrating voice and video chat services makes a lot of sense for the social network. In fact, there is talk of Facebook thinking about acquiring Skype altogether.
It could certainly afford it, but it probably doesn't need to, Facebook has already partnered with Skype, which offers integration with the social network in its latest desktop client, and has been rumored to expand on that for many months now.
Google already offers much of what Skype is offering, though it's been less successful at spreading its Google Talk service than Skype, so the technology is not really appealing to Google.
It could be looking to get its hands on the hundreds of millions of people using Skype, but, again, Google isn't exactly small potatoes in this department as well. Of course, anything that derails some Facebook plans looks interesting to Google at this point.