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    To the victor go the spoils

    The death of cool talk: Microsoft buys Skype in a game of keep-away from Google& Facebook

    Fayza A. Elmostehi
    May 11, 2011 | 2:01 pm
    • We win! Or do we? Skype CEO Tony Bates and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer make theepic acquisition announcement.
      Photo by Jim Merithew/Wired.com
    • Skype's acquisition by Microsoft just lost it some major cool points. We canonly imagine what Microsoft will do to Skype after it has its way with it.
    • Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer might be charismatic, but he's certainly not thecorporate embodiment of innovation.
      Photo by Lou Dematteis/Microsoft Handout

    Brace yourself, technophiles. We have some disturbing news for you. The savior of long-distance relationships the world over — both romantic and platonic — was purchased on Tuesday like a mail-order bride.

    In one of the most unexpected arranged marriages in the modern age, dearly beloved little Skype is now betrothed to technology behemoth Microsoft. An $8.5 billion dollar price tag — Microsoft's most costly acquisition yet — was all it took to turn a pioneer of real-time communication into the bad guy's whipping boy.

    Skype, initially released in Aug. 2003, has long been the darling, go-to software of those that use the Internet for voice calls anywhere in the world — without paying exorbitant fees.

    For a notoriously cost-free service that has yet to generate a pretty penny in profit on its own, Microsoft's efforts to make Skype generate revenue ought to be interesting.

    Or incredibly damaging. Take your pick.

    Because let's be honest. Microsoft might be the leader in corporate computing, but innovative freedom doesn't exactly characterize its brand.

    So just what is Microsoft planning to do with Skype, pray tell?

    Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wants to fold it into existing Microsoft products. Windows Live Messenger and the enterprise communications client Lync stand to be the initial beneficiaries of the takeover. And maybe Xbox and Xbox Live, but that's just speculation for now.

    But still. Windows Live Messenger already has the VoIP technology down pat, not to mention the 330 million monthly users that go with it. Compared with Skype's meager 124 million per month, we're not sure we've got the whole truth.

    So it can't be that.

    You know what we think? It's the simple thrill of the hunt. Reaping the booty for the sake of the capture, if you will. Because now that Microsoft has Skype, neither Google nor Facebook ever, ever will.

    Victory!

    Skype falling prey to Microsoft: good thing or a bad thing, according to you? Tell us in the comments.

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    news/innovation

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    economic news

    Texas slides down the list of best U.S. state economies for 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 9, 2025 | 2:15 pm
    Hand of woman putting money in jar
    Getty Images
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    After riding high among the top five best state economies in 2024, Texas' robust economy may be showing some cracks. Texas now ranks as the state with the eighth best economy, four spots lower than last year's ranking, according to a new WalletHub report.

    WalletHub's experts ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 metrics to measure each state's economic activity and health and its "innovation potential."

    Massachusetts moved up two spots from last year to claim the No. 1 best state economy title for 2025, followed by Utah (No. 2) and Washington (No. 3). Texas was surpassed by No. 4-ranking California, as well as New Hampshire (No. 5), North Carolina (No. 6), and Idaho (No. 7).

    This is how Texas fared across the three major categories in the study:

    • No. 4 – Economic activity (down from No. 2)
    • No. 11 – Economic health (down from No. 7)
    • No. 24 – Innovation potential (unchanged)
    Texas ranked No. 1 with the most exports per capita in a three-way tie with Louisiana and Kentucky, the report found.
    The Lone Star State prides itself on its business-friendliness, and cities like Houston boast some of the most innovative companies in the nation. Texas also ranked 13th in WalletHub's separate study of the most and least innovative states for 2025.

    WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo says the states that have the best economies are often those that invest in new businesses, technology, and more. The report also suggests low unemployment rates and high wages are among the many factors that can help Texas residents be successful while also boosting the state economy.

    "A strong state economy doesn’t guarantee success for the state’s residents, but it certainly makes financial success more attainable," Lupo said.

    The states with the worst economies in 2025, according to WalletHub, are Hawaii (No. 49), West Virginia (No. 50), and Iowa (No. 51).

    texaseconomyinnovationwallethubreports
    news/innovation
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