"Microsoft is switching off its Windows Live Messenger service on 15 March.
On that date Messenger log-ins will no longer work and users must turn to Skype, said Microsoft in an email sent to all Messenger users.
The email also encouraged users to update to Skype and familiarise themselves with the service before the switch-off.
The service switch is a consequence of Microsoft's acquisition of Skype in October 2011 for $8.5bn (£5.3bn)."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20984820
A few more acquisitions like this and the world could end up with what amounts to a monopoly in providing this kind of facility. Is this to be expected and welcomed?
Originally posted by johnnylongwoody So what's all the panic about?
The topic is monopoly. In a case like this, is it inevitable? Do some sort of economies of scale trump consumer choice in terms of benefits and efficiency?
Originally posted by FMF The topic is monopoly. In a case like this, is it inevitable? Do some sort of economies of scale trump consumer choice in terms of benefits and efficiency?
The short answer to that is yes, if they are big enough to dominate
the corporate world.
Originally posted by FMF The topic is monopoly. In a case like this, is it inevitable? Do some sort of economies of scale trump consumer choice in terms of benefits and efficiency?
This is an interesting case, because in social networks, messaging services etc. monopolization is driven by social reasons - people only want to use one or at most a few messaging services so they will use whatever their friends are using. Entry to the market is easy, but convincing people that it's worth switching to a different messaging service is hard.
Originally posted by FMF The topic is monopoly. In a case like this, is it inevitable? Do some sort of economies of scale trump consumer choice in terms of benefits and efficiency?
it seems the greatest irony of slavishly following the free market libertarian view, is that unbridled competition tends towards monopoly. Without a well regulated market and strong governmental agencies to police anti-trust activities, consumer needs are usually the first casualty in the war of continued market performance and growth to satisfy and maintain skittish investor confidence. There are other casualties of this approach. Justice for one. Just look at HSBC. Now we have too big to prosecute!
Originally posted by kmax87 .. unbridled competition tends towards monopoly. Without a well regulated market and strong governmental agencies to police anti-trust activities, consumer needs are usually the first casualty ...
I remember IBM's near monopoly .....
Microsoft, Google, Apple they still have to be at the top of their game.
Originally posted by Vartiovuori Google never took over Yahoo. Are you sure you don't mean something else?
Something changed some years back such that my gmail account and yahoo account could not be logged in at the same time. IDK what caused that but it really pissed me off.
Microsoft to turn off Windows Messenger
13 Jan '13 01:28
Back to Top