What's in It for Facebook?

Microsoft's move to purchase Skype on Tuesday follows rumors that both Google and Facebook were as well interested in buying the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider. If that was true, it appears that Google's lost its chance. For Facebook, although, it could be a different story. Microsoft and Facebook are close, and Redmond could let the social network in on some of Skype's choice bits.

Microsoft's announcement Tuesday of its purchase of Skype for US$8.5 billion stunned industry watchers, who had seen Facebook, Google and maybe Cisco sniff around the VoIP giant in recent weeks.

The chance to buy Skype for itself -- presuming it

Even even though it's lost the chance to buy Skype for itself -- presuming it was interested to begin with -- Facebook is likely to be a major beneficiary of the purchase, given its long-time relationship with Microsoft. Embedding voice into Facebook's services could furthermore enhance the social networking giant's appeal.

"Facebook doesn't desperately need VoIP or video chat, however having them would even so make it a better service, closer to the communications nexus [Facebook CEO] Mark Zuckerberg envisages it to become one day," Aapo Markkanen, a senior analyst at ABI Technology, told the E-Commerce Times.

It's possible that the two will as well team up against their common enemies, Google and Apple, in a battle for online advertising dollars.

Skype will support various Microsoft devices, including Xbox, Kinect and Windows Phone, Redmond said when announcing the purchase of the company Tuesday. Microsoft will as well connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, XboxLive and other communities.

The purchase will let it offer real-time video

Microsoft expects the purchase will let it offer real-time video and voice communications to both consumers and the enterprise, as so then as generate new business and revenue opportunities.

"With Microsoft owning Skype, expect to see greater integration of Skype services, particularly mobile video chat, on Windows Phone services," Chris Hazelton, a innovation director at the 451 Group, told the E-Commerce Times.

What Facebook doesn't have now is voice communication

"What Facebook doesn't have now is voice communication," Wu pointed out. "Once they fill that hole, Facebook will become a very powerful communication tool and it will get more users."

"Microsoft and Facebook have a mutual interest -- to tackle Google's and Apple's ecosystems in communications, entertainment and advertising," ABI's Markkanen said.

The social networking giant

Integrating Skype into Facebook's services will furthermore strengthen the social networking giant, Strategy Analytics' Wu recommended.

"Facebook is already ahead of Google in the social networking area, and if it can offer Skype, that will furthermore strengthen its position," Wu explained.

Initially, Facebook might allow members to call contacts through a Skype plug-in, however later it might enhance its chat function by, for instance, enabling video calls, ABI's Markkanen recommended.

That would put Facebook on par with Google, which offers PC to PC calls, file transfer and video chat through its Google Talk service.