Facebook's mooted deal to buy and take over Skype in the near future has the potential to shake up the video and chat elements of social media in a big way. Speaking as someone from a digital PR background who uses Skype a great deal, it's interesting to see Facebook take an interest in a service that hasn't just become a key way for people to keep in touch, but also a key way of people networking and doing business.
Having thought about this potential deal, there are obviously a number of questions raised as to how this will change both the two parties involved and social media as a whole. Below are a few of my own conclusions that I think we can draw if any deal is to be completed.
Facebook gains VoIP video capabilities and a more robust chat mechanic - A Skype takeover would result in Facebook effectively purchasing its own VoIP video capability, as well as a chat platform that is better than the one it currently uses. Skype would potentially bring a revolution in Facebook's own chat functionality, as well as the introduction of VoIP and video calling using Skype's technology on the Facebook platform.
Facebook owns the VoIP video space - The popularity of Skype is almost unrivalled in terms of the VoIP and video calling space, proven by the fact that it's name is practically a verb "to Skype" and it cannot be far away from a dictionary entry. As such, it's unlikely that Facebook would rebrand the new asset, but it will almost certainly look to make the most of its dominance in the video calling business.
Google and Ebay miss an opportunity - Google and Ebay have almost certainly missed an opportunity here, the former because the opportunity to take Skype would have given Google dominance in an industry where Google Talk has achieved debatable success, and the latter because they opted to sell the majority of shares in Skype having bought it in 2005. Ebay could clearly have leveraged and integrated the platform to greater effect, and Google could equally have shown an interest alongside Facebook. However, Facebook's lack of video calling technology means that it is best placed to benefit from such a takeover.
Skype credits become Facebook credits, single sign on is introduced - It's likely that since both Skype and Facebook have such huge numbers of users Facebook will look to make the most of this and incorporate its single sign on tool across both platforms, cross pollinating the two networks. In addition, with both having a credits system, it's entirely possible that these will be combined too.
With all things considered, it's clear that Facebook and Skype are the perfect fit; both hold conversation at the forefront of their services to their users. It remains to be seen if and how Facebook would change and use the Skype platform as it exists today. Obviously Skype has already developed a strong and robust platform which it has used to dominate the VoIP video space, but it's fairly safe to say that Facebook will be looking at Skype with an eye on the future evolution and incorporation of the technology into the its own platform and infrastructure.
The Skype mobile app may also be an interesting area to watch, since mobile internet usage has exploded in the last couple of years and Facebook will undoubtedly be looking to make the most of it. An overall conclusion could be that Facebook is looking towards to business community and may use this as its next step for growth in usage. Coming at it from the angle of a social media agency, any implementation of Skype into the Facebook platform is sure to revolutionise the way businesses use Facebook.