Sep 3
2010Skype files for an IPO – good news for Mobile VoIPView Comments
On Monday last week Skype filed its S1 supporting an IPO application with the SEC. For many industry observers, this was not entirely unexpected news, many commentators would have prepared their ‘Skype goes public’ blog posts months ago.
http://www.businessinsider.com/skype-files-for-ipo-2010-8
Aside from the bizarre BSkyB litigation related to alleged trademark confusion over Skype’s name, we learned a fair deal about Skype’s strategy from the S1 documentation:
Freemium as a model works – just over 6% of Skype’s 560 million strong user-base pay for service, spending USD 96 per annum each. Skype is a cash machine (just as Morodo would be once we get critical mass).
Mobile, Value-Adds and Enterprise and key growth areas – now that Skype has established relationships with several Mobile Operators, it forecasts stronger revenue from mobile. Premium value-added services and SME (Skype for Business) are named as strategic growth areas.
Securing proprietary technology cost Big Time – Skype paid cash and equity at the value of approximately USD 300 million to the Founders to secure an audio-codec license from JoltID, something that was overlooked in the original eBay acquisition. That, right there, is the value of using Open Source codecs.
A number of people have asked us what this means for Morodo. It’s all good news as far as the team is concerned. Why?
- Continued competition in the Mobile VoIP space validates our business. If nobody was doing what we do, we’d be worried. We’re pleased to remain a leader in Mobile VoIP app technology.
- The Mass-Media loves Mobile VoIP. Use of an alternative voice and data carrier from a mobile has yet to reach mass-adoption. The market is open, the technology is proven (and the benefits obvious), it’s all about growth.
- The incumbent giants have awoken. We’ve been saying for some time that the big Mobile Operators would eventually adopt Mobile VoIP strategies and now they are. Interest in your company is growing.
Another big week in VoIP that brings yet more valid reasons that VoIP services and products are big business.
