Skype and Kinect could be Microsoft's new killer combo - GeekWire - 12 views
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Microsoft’s blockbuster agreement to acquire Skype is all but assured now, with multiple reports citing a purchase price of $8.5 billion,
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The skepticism is warranted. Microsoft has had a rough time with big acquisitions in the past, and Skype will be seen by many in the industry as tying its fortunes to an over-the-hill technology giant that has struggled in consumer markets.
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But many of the people trying to wrap their heads around the deal are missing an important point — the more than 10 million Microsoft cameras connected to television screens in homes around the world.
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Whether or not all of this justifies the $8+ billion price tag isn’t clear. Google and Facebook were reportedly discussing $3 billion to $4 billion at one point in their talks with Skype, which suggests that Microsoft was willing to pay a premium to keep those competitors at bay.
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A few years from now when the 'Holo Deck" is real and brought to you via the Cloud by our buddies in Redmond, will we remember it all started with Kinect & Skype? if games drive virtual presence toward a 3d experience... I'll take the ride and try to figure out how to use it in teaching and learning.