Facebook and Google considered to buy Skype

Facebook and Google are separately considering to buy or joint venture with Skype after the web video service company delayed its initial public offering.

                   

A source revealed, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckenberg, has been involved in internal discussions about options to buy or joint venture with Skype. Google has also held early talks for a joint venture with Skype.

If an agreement is reached, the transaction value can be 3 billion dollars to 4 billion U.S. dollars. This value is higher 1 billion U.S. dollars than the initial stock sales targets estimated by Skype.

Two other sources said that the talks to purchase Skype is still in its early stages. Facebook and Google declined to comment.

In August, Skype has asked permission to go-public. The Luxembourg-based company has appointed former Cisco Systems vice president Tony Bate as a major director to conduct the initial public offering. Based on the plan, Skype initial public offering (IPO) will be completed in the second half of this year.