Skype to Purchase Messaging Service “GroupMe” – Microsoft Benefits

Skype will be acquiring the year old messaging service “Group Me”. The details of the deal have not been disclosed yet and no word for how much Slype will be purchasing the company for. For those of who who don’t really know what Group Me is:

GroupMe is a group messaging and conference calling service that lets you stay in touch with groups of people via mobile phones. It’s a free service that allows users to create and manage groups that, in effect, create an SMS-based chatroom. However, normal messaging rates apply, so make sure you have an SMS package, or awareness of the rates your carrier charges. New York-based GroupMe was founded in 2010 at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon.

Since Microsoft’s purchase of Skype is still pending, Skype’s purchase of Group Me is a definite win for Microsoft. Now when Skype finally makes its arrival to Windows Phone is will probably include group messaging as well.

They’ll keep GroupMe as a standalone brand, Bates says, and look for integration points over time. “The group messaging space in general is one of the most important markets for Skype,” he told me via a Skype video call earlier today. He added: “GroupMe creates a very sticky instant feeling. Like Skype, it is an everyday interactive form of communication. Skype’s goal is to get to 1 billion users. Mobile is the place to do that.” – TechCrunch

With Microsoft’s ecosystem across platforms getting tighter, Windows Phone will surely benefit from this move down the line.

Source: TechCrunch