Well...this time Microsoft is buying Skype

From the link:

Microsoft simply has so much cash it doesn't know what to do with and, for whatever reasons, paying bigger dividends and buying back stock are just not options

The real deep question that would likely shed a Sun's worth of light on the topic, is why aren't those options ?

RBM wrote:From the link:

Microsoft simply has so much cash it doesn't know what to do with and, for whatever reasons, paying bigger dividends and buying back stock are just not options

The real deep question that would likely shed a Sun's worth of light on the topic, is why aren't those options ?

Indeed, wondering that myself.

To: MC and RBM,

I listen to quite a few tech podcasts over the course of a week on my mp3 player, since the ones I enjoy are all available as free downloads, either daily or weekly.

One person participating in a roundtable discussion from one such podcast, suggested this is really a pre-emptive strike by Microsoft. Essentially, that Google and Amazon are both interested in providing VoIP services themselves, so Microsoft purchased Skype to keep Skype's intellectual property out of the hands of either Amazon or Google.

I've heard for a long time VOIP was the next big thing. It's a no brainer for MS if they are really flush with cash and the other choices are off the table for whatever reason.

So, it sounds totally plausible to me.