You are here: silicon.com > Networks > Telecoms

Skype makes $27m acquisition

Skype to buy voice start-up Sonorit

By Marguerite Reardon

Published: 12 April 2006 08:10 BST

eBay's Skype unit said on Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire a San Francisco-based speech-processing start-up for roughly $27m in stock.

eBay will issue 700,000 shares of stock to buy Sonorit and its subsidiary, Camino Networks. Skype said it bought the company for its engineering team, which should help Skype build new voice products for the future.

Luxembourg-based Skype, founded in 2002 by Scandinavian entrepreneurs, offers free computer-to-computer voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls and low-cost connectivity between computer and landline or mobile phones. Skype was bought last year by eBay in a deal valued between $2.5bn and $4bn and has more than 70 million registered users.

"We're excited about bringing the talented Camino Networks team to Skype," Niklas Zennstrom, Skype's CEO and co-founder, said in a press release.

In recent months, Skype has tried attracting new users by introducing new products that appeal both to consumers and small businesses.

Marguerite Reardon writes for CNET News.com.

Add comment

Print story

Email story

RSS

Radioactive: Mobile VoIP - not so disruptive

VoIP isn't cheaper - so why would you want it?

Skype and Kazaa hit with Rico lawsuit

VoIP usage growing despite quality complaints

In silicon.com

Commentary

Natasha Lomas RIM co-CEO: Qwerty is the next big thing Q&A: Mike Lazaridis, on why smart phones - and keyboards - are the future...

Howard Greenfield Tech Futures: The talkification of the web A software switch gives browsers a voice...

Latest News

Ofcom - high-fibre diet ordered for Broadband Britain

Ofcom primes WiMax spectrum auction

Yo!Sushi cuts copper in favour of MPLS

Warning over migrant tech skills shortage

Ofcom threatens O2 over 3G coverage failure

Power shortages squeeze London's data centres

Jobs

\"Hands on\" Network Operations Manager 50K Central London:

This is an opportunity not to be missed as the senior individual will qualify for company stock - and with a company founder who has a proven track ...

OO Developer. Stock Exchange. London. C++/Java

Stock Exchange. C++/Java One of the smaller stock exchanges in London is looking for a less experienced OO developer versed in C++ and/or Java to ...

C# Winforms Developer (.NET, C#.NET, Winforms, Windows Forms).

Established in the early 1990s and listed on the London Stock Exchange our client is an instantly recognisable brand. They are widely recognised as ...

Special Report Focus

CIO Agenda 2008
The exclusive silicon.com CIO Agenda 2008 survey looks at the CIO's tech shopping list for the year, examines whether IT budgets are rising or falling and reveals what the pain points are for tech chiefs this year. Find out more in our latest special report.