End of Skype Online Chat? VOIP Bombshell
By Andrew Redfern @ 4th August 2009 10:59 am
Ebay has dropped a bombshell in a recent filing that could well lead to the end of Skype. It would appear that some of the technology that powers skype and allows the online telephone system to work could still be owned by the founder of Skype.
This should all come as a bit of a shock to Ebay which paid two and a half billion dollars for Skype in 2005. A long and drawn-out court battle looks likely to be the only way to settle this. Alternative technologies are being developed by Ebay but at present are not far enough into the development stage.Ebay have issued the following statement
“Skype would be severely and adversely affected and the continued operation of Skype’s business as currently conducted would likely not be possible.” Just what would happen to the users has not been made clear, some users will have paid in advance for premium services.Ebays growth figures have been seriously hit by the recession and this news will not be welcomed by shareholders. It appears that Joltid, owned by Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, have tried to terminate a licensing agreement with Skype. The Swedish company have used the London law courts for their future battle.
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