Strategic Review Bus 599

BUS599 - MBA Integrative Project

Case Assignment 1

Skype Company Analysis

Dr. Matthew Ademola

Trident University

Starlette L. Price

20 August 2012

Skype Company Analysis

Skype is a voice-over-Internet Protocol service and software application originally in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis. The software allows users to communicate with other users through voice, video, and instant messaging over the Internet. The first public beta version of the software was release in 2003 and was acquired by Microsoft in May 10, 2011 for the amount of US$8.5 billion.

Today, Skype operates the same manner that it has operated when it began. However, the acquisition of Microsoft of the company in 2011 prompts the idea that Skype should make changes in its current operations. Nevertheless, the clients that use Skype as of the moment are comfortable with the way the software is presented to them and making changes to it might alienate the users from the software. In this case analysis, the research provided in this paper aims to prove that the current situation of Skype should no longer be changed because it is good as it currently is.

Mission and Vision

Since the acquisition of Skype by Microsoft, the company is now working together to bring innovative technology to its users. Through this venture, Microsoft and Skype are finding exciting future possibilities for its customers to enable them to connect in a variety of ways that will transform and enhance people’s lives (Skype, 2012).

Strategy

Goals and objectives

The objective of Skype is to allow people to share stories, celebrate events, aid in business transactions and basically help people with their communication needs. Skype also aims to be a user-friendly application by allowing its users to use the software in a variety of platforms whether with the use of a phone, a computer or a TV that has the Skype software on it. The application is free to start with,...