4 ms·

They're incredible. They basically sold their company to eBay twice. First the name and the servers and then again for the technology. Pretty awesome.

staunch 17y ago
I don't know the details, but it seems they took advantage of eBay's ignorance. Screwing people over is not a good longterm strategy. I know I wouldn't want anything to do with them.
- neilc 17y ago
  There's certainly been drama, but I don't think that eBay was ignorant of the fact that they never purchased some of the core Skype/Joltid technology -- per http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/technology/companies/07skype.html?hpw http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/technology/companies/07sky... "EBay did not purchase this part of the Skype technology in 2005 because the Skype founders, and Joltid’s other shareholders, were asking for additional hundreds of millions, and stated that they intended to use the technology for other unrelated ventures, like their video startup Joost."
  - zandorg 17y ago
    I tried using Joost. It was obviously using SDL, and had a kind of zooming video interface. It was so impossible to figure out the user interface, that I never got to see any videos!
- Timothee 17y ago
  It's not a good long-term strategy but in some cases, you don't need it long-term. They're most probably set for life. (or until they invest in newspapers)
- andreyf 17y ago
  it seems they took advantage of eBay's ignorance. Screwing people over is not a good longterm strategy When one does a $2.6 billion deal, there is no ignorance regarding what is being sold. There are teams of lawyers on both sides of the table checking and re-checking every detail.
  - halo 17y ago
    You'd think that, but the whole Novell/SCO affair proved that companies can pay $150m for something with neither side fully understanding what was sold.
    - ghshephard 17y ago
      Alternatively, SCO knew precisely what it had purchased (the language is pretty clear). Likewise with Ebay.
- tomjen2 17y ago
  You are right, but they made enough that they don't have to depend on others will to work with them again - selling your soul is a surprisingly popular option when the price gets that high.

staunch 17y ago

I don't know the details, but it seems they took advantage of eBay's ignorance. Screwing people over is not a good longterm strategy. I know I wouldn't want anything to do with them.

neilc 17y ago
There's certainly been drama, but I don't think that eBay was ignorant of the fact that they never purchased some of the core Skype/Joltid technology -- per http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/technology/companies/07skype.html?hpw http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/technology/companies/07sky... "EBay did not purchase this part of the Skype technology in 2005 because the Skype founders, and Joltid’s other shareholders, were asking for additional hundreds of millions, and stated that they intended to use the technology for other unrelated ventures, like their video startup Joost."
- zandorg 17y ago
  I tried using Joost. It was obviously using SDL, and had a kind of zooming video interface. It was so impossible to figure out the user interface, that I never got to see any videos!
Timothee 17y ago
It's not a good long-term strategy but in some cases, you don't need it long-term. They're most probably set for life. (or until they invest in newspapers)
andreyf 17y ago
it seems they took advantage of eBay's ignorance. Screwing people over is not a good longterm strategy When one does a $2.6 billion deal, there is no ignorance regarding what is being sold. There are teams of lawyers on both sides of the table checking and re-checking every detail.
- halo 17y ago
  You'd think that, but the whole Novell/SCO affair proved that companies can pay $150m for something with neither side fully understanding what was sold.
  - ghshephard 17y ago
    Alternatively, SCO knew precisely what it had purchased (the language is pretty clear). Likewise with Ebay.
tomjen2 17y ago
You are right, but they made enough that they don't have to depend on others will to work with them again - selling your soul is a surprisingly popular option when the price gets that high.