Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Microsoft Buys Skype: Will it Impact Your eLearning Strategy?

The big news this week is Microsoft buying Skype for $8.5billion.  I suppose I could end this post right there an let that sink in.  There are many places to read all of the business and tech news about the deal. I liked the GigaOm post.  Just Google it if you want the story from many different angles.

However, I'm not sure anyone has thought about what this deal might mean for corporate eLearning strategies.  I don't have any answers but it sure does open the realm of possibilities quite a bit.

Since Microsoft has some ownership in Facebook this might open up FB as a more viable corporate solution.  Don't flame me just yet.  I'm just thinking out loud here.  Maybe smaller companies would find Facebook an acceptable communication tool with a Skype feature incorporated into the mega-network.  Or for larger companies that already have an Sharepoint and other Microsoft offerings, perhaps Skype becomes a better more private internal communications tool.  Basically having Skype behind your firewall is a pretty cool thought wouldn't you say?  But maybe that's not possible.

This could also be good for secure corporate mobile communications.  I'm sure Microsoft:Skype will be integrated into some sort of MS Mobile OS.  Could Universities take advantage of this?

How do you think Microsoft buying Skype will impact you?  Let me know in the comments.

mLearnCon - San Jose, CA - Nov. 21-23 2011

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that Skype is a good tool. When I see how far corporate elearning has come in a relatively short period of time, I am amazed. I think that it will continue to grow and change for the better. As it is, when done well, remote/electronic learning can really help you to reach your career goals, as well as to develop your employees and those who work for/with you. E-learning is holding an event in September designed around teaching the best practices for remote/electronic learning. I recently learned about it and it sounds really useful. You should take a look.

Anonymous said...

While I'm not surprised, I can see that corporate elearning has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. There are truly countless benefits to it and with the addition of Skype, I think it will only go farther. When it is done well, remote/electronic learning can really help you to reach your career goals, as well as to develop your employees and those who work for/with you. I just learned about an event that Elearning is holding in September designed around teaching the best practices for remote/electronic learning. It sounds really helpful. I'd recommend taking a look.