| From: JakeStraw | 5/11/2011 8:35:37 AM | | | | | | Microsoft betting Skype keeps it ahead of Google, Apple
For the $8.5 billion acquisition to work, Microsoft doesn't need to make more money off Skype. It just needs to make sure that its existing products are better than offerings from rivals.
ct.cnet.com
Here's why Microsoft's $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype makes sense: Microsoft, still a laggard on the Internet, has landed one of the most popular brands on the Web with a deeply engaged base of users. And it can bake Skype's widely used technology into its communications products, making them better.
At least, that's the bet. Microsoft says Skype has more than 170 million connected users. According to a regulatory filing, Skype claims its users made 207 billion minutes of voice and video calls last year. Microsoft wants to capitalize on that loyalty, putting Skype technology into various products, hoping that it can spin Skype's users into other Microsoft products. |
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| From: JakeStraw | 5/13/2011 2:42:34 PM | | | | | | | FWIW - Whitney Tilson one of the better-known value investors recently increased his position in MSFT by around 178K shares ... |
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| From: JakeStraw | 5/18/2011 1:06:10 PM | | | | | | Has Microsoft Declared War on Carriers?
minyanville.com
"If over half of a soft carrier's airtime minutes were carried over Wi-Fi rather than a leased cellular network, that carrier could beat a traditional mobile carrier on price even if the traditional carrier doubled their costs when they leased access to the soft carrier, and for every customer who only has 3G access there's another who has almost exclusively Wi-Fi access, and over time the scales continue to tip toward the latter, steadily lowering soft-carrier costs. Rates could either be flat regardless of transport, averaging out the benefit to all customers, or discounts could be given to those who use Wi-Fi more often."
With this system in place, consumers could finally move away from the ridiculously outdated process of placing a call over a cellular network. Never knowing before making a call whether the person is free, present, and willing to chat -- unlike, say, an AIM or GChat status. Having to pay (comparatively) an arm and a leg to send 160 characters when a lengthy email is essentially free. And dealing with one dropped call after another. |
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| From: JakeStraw | 5/24/2011 1:46:02 PM | | | | | | Microsoft shows off new Windows Phone 7 features
The software giant demonstrates new features for its lagging phone operating system, including smoother social-networking and multitasking services.
ct.cnet.com |
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| From: JakeStraw | 5/26/2011 9:35:41 AM | | | | | | Greenlight’s Einhorn Says Microsoft Should Replace Steve Ballmer
businessweek.com
“Microsoft trades at a remarkable discount,” Einhorn said. “Microsoft is not getting credit for its achievements and prospects.”
Microsoft shares trade for about 9.8 times profit from the past year, or 34 percent less than the price-earnings ratio for the S&P 500. That’s the biggest discount since at least 1992 for the company, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Still, Ballmer isn’t taking advantage of Microsoft’s opportunities, Einhorn said. In his criticism, he likened Ballmer to Charlie Brown, a perpetual loser in baseball, football and other pursuits. The cartoon character’s signature lament is, “Good grief!”
“Ballmer’s problem is that he’s stuck in the past,” Einhorn said. “He’s allowed competitors to beat Microsoft in huge areas, including search, mobile-communications software, tablet computing and social networking. Even worse, his response to these failures has been to pour tremendous resources into efforts to develop his way out of these holes.” |
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| From: JakeStraw | 5/27/2011 9:04:30 AM | | | | | | Caris believes a sooner than expected launch for a possible Windows tablet can be a very positive catalyst for Microsoft shares. Caris hears that Microsoft may be ready to show its Windows operating system for tablets as early as next week and reiterates a Buy rating on the stock with a $36 price target
finance.yahoo.com |
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| From: JakeStraw | 6/16/2011 1:40:46 PM | | | | | | Microsoft advances natural UI with Kinect SDK
The software giant gives developers tools to create applications that use voice and gestures for its ubiquitous Windows operating system.
ct.cnet.com |
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