Tag: Facebook

What Microsoft May Do with Skype

By Ryan Krause –

They spent 8.5 billion dollars on it, but now what?

On May 10, 2011 Microsoft bought Skype for 8.5 billion dollars in cash. According to MaximumPC, both Google and Facebook were also interested in this service.

But Microsoft won and it may be a great move by them.

Microsoft could license parts of Skype to Facebook and earn money that way. Plus buying Skype before Google keeps them from owning every big thing on the web.

Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer gave a speech on the acquisition of Skype when they released the information.

Miscosoft and Skype together. Image owned by CBSNews.com.

According to CNN the following five possibilities of Skype were discussed in his speech:

1. Integration with Xbox Live.

According to CNN, about 10 million users have a camera connected to their Xbox 360. Having Skype added to Xbox Live would open the possibility of video and voice chat support.

2. Application to Windows Phones.

Having a solid application with the Windows based phones would boost their popularity. Let’s be honest, the iOS and Droid based phones overshadow the Windows devices.

3. Addition to Facebook.

It would be great for both Facebook and it’s users to have video chat integrated into the regular Facebook chat. With Microsoft owning rights to Skype, they could easily license it to Facebook and earn a lot of money from it.

4. Beef up Hotmail.

Hotmail may have tons of users world wide, but how many are actually excited about it? Skype’s technology would allow more attractive additions to Hotmail and could potentially boost its popularity.

5. Be at a meeting without actually being there.

Cisco is known as the largest corporation for telecommunication according to CNN. And with Microsoft owning rights to Skype, Microsoft’s big name could boost the popularity of itself. Maybe even over Cisco. It’s rumored that there will be integration with Microsoft Office with this newly acquired technology.

Can Microsoft successfully pull all this off without losing money?

Is there a chance that additional fees will be introduced?

‘Old Heads’ Gumming up the Works on Facebook

By Crystal Bugner –

“Alright, fine, you can put the pictures up… but don’t tag me, my mom is a Facebook friend.”

This phrase is becoming more and more common as it seems more and more gray hair is popping up in profile pictures.

Since 2009 there have been a plethora of articles stating that the number of adults on Facebook are doubling… tripling… ever rising.

Eek, get off our Facebook, old heads!  What used to be the teen capital of the internet is now cluttered with invites to Sunday brunch from Grampy and Grammy.

Students at Penn Manor have stated, or in many cases complained, that they do, in fact, have parents on the website.

Junior Kim Blake said not only does her mom have a Facebook, but her mom has the password to her daughter’s account. And she doesn’t feel hindered by this like most teens.

“I do what I want and I post what I want,” Blake said with a nonchalant shrug. She said she doesn’t see her mother as a threat. Blake even said this makes her feel like her mother trusts her more.

Teens and adults are colliding on Facebook.

Most teens, on the other hand, do not share this sentiment.

Junior Jake Mercado gave his opinion, one that most kids with parents on the website echo.

“Old folks ruined Facebook,” Mercado said.

Not surprising coming from a kid who told his mom specifically not to add him, something many students said they wish they would have done to save themselves some shame and suffering.

He commented saying that all his mother does is play Farmville and comment too much, so he didn’t feel like having her on his Facebook… and to avoid some embarrassing situations that could pop up.

Student Alex LaFrance told one such embarrassing story. He put up on his Faceook that he was listening to Billy Idol and he put in an F-bomb. No, not THE F-bomb, but something like it, and he received a nice little talking to.

It made LaFrance think twice about using the social networking site.

“No. I wish I didn’t have a Facebook,” said LaFrance and on March 11th he deleted his Facebook.

OK, it’s a free country.  So if you’re over 40 and have kids and insist on having Facebook, here are a few helpful rules:

1.No pictures of your kids, no exceptions.  The photos you post are likely not the photos your kids would like the world to see.

2. The reverse is not true.  We teens were here first.  Realize kids will be kids, they may not post what you like.

3. Don’t expect your kids to send you a friend request.  That almost never happens.

4. Don’t expect your kids to confirm you as a friend. Awkward around the dinner table, yes, but more often than not, you will NOT be confirmed.

5. Don’t expect your kids to acknowledge you as family, either.

6.Don’t look at your kids’ friend’s profiles. That’s just weird and creepy.

7. Don’t add your kid’s friends. That makes it even weirder.

8. Stop sending Farmville requests except to your little circle of cyber farmers who enjoy them.  More than 50 requests to random associates is a little bit excessive, even if you really want to reach the next level.

9. Limit your likes, staying in contact can be okay, liking everything your kid does, is not.

10.Commenting on everything – not a good idea either.  Those comments always end up sounding lame the next day to everyone but you.

So there you have it. Now that someone’s laid the ground rules, parents, do as you will, but remember there’s some social expectations that come with this.

For extra pointers take a peek over at http://myparentsjoinedfacebook.com