The other suitors for Skype

If you missed the big news from two weeks ago, Microsoft agreed to acquire Skype for a lot of money. This post does not focus on that MS-Skype deal. Instead it looks at a what if scenario- Facebook and Google were rumored to be interested in Skype before MS jumped in with their huge offer. What if Facebook or Google had succeeded in acquiring Google?. There are/were some tantalizing prospects of one such alliance and offers possibly an insight into what is a complementary purchase in lieu of Skype. This also starts a series of posts on interesting buyout/acquisition targets.Scenario 1: What if Google was first to the party?A Google-Skype integration makes a lot of sense. Google's purchase of Grand Central has resulted in Google Voice, a unique and fantastic approach to the world of phone numbers for the 21st century. As an active user of Google Voice, I can vouch for how awesome it is. I can only imagine how many more cool stuff it can do with the right mix of technology and ideas. In addition to the base Google Voice service, Skype could be a strategic addition to the Android app world with unique experiences for the platform unavailable elsewhere. A comparison to turn-by-turn navigation on Android phones comes to mind. And Google hasnt been averse to exploring new media fronts as witnessed by Google Music and Youtube movie rentals. A bulletproof VoIP solution for corporates tying in with Google Apps for Business would make a lot of sense. Rumor has it that Google was willing to buy Skype for close to $4 billion but the Redmond giant wanted Skype far more badly than that.Scenario 2: Facebook acquires SkypeThis is a more tantalizing scenario, one that could have revolutionized social networking. It is still possible- thanks to the current love affair between Microsoft and Facebook fueled only be their common enemy- Google. Imagine if Facebook created a means for friends to call one another through Skype from within the Facebook portal. It further enmeshes the user in the Facebook world and promises all forms of communication ranging from the open wall post to the personal message to the Facebook chat interface and finally the Skype call. An unobtrusive button could be placed beneath every friend who is willing to talk to you. And that would make a world of difference in communication.Once you are in Facebook, there is no getting out- in a good way, that is. That sounds equally Orwellian and a fantastic business decision. Maybe thats what Facebook had in mind when it tried to bid for Skype. Maybe they are cooking one such with Microsoft. Wouldnt that be a blow to Google Talk?Scenario 3: Microsoft buys SkypeSo this scenario actually did happen. How it pans out remains to be seen. There are believers and skeptics. I am ambivalent. Microsoft probably considers $8.5 billion pocket change for an experiment that could turn out positive. Worst case scenario, it is one of its failed investments. Time will definitely tell how we view what happened with Skype and what did not.