Skype to Acquire Group-Based Text Messaging Service GroupMe

Yesterday, Skype announced that it is acquiring group messaging service GroupMe. Though the terms of the deal were not made public, AllThingsD reports that Skype will pay in the ballpark of 85 million bucks for GroupMe, a company that was founded only around one year ago in 2010. GroupMe allows users to create phone groups with other people and send text messages throughout the group, so the acquisition makes sense for Skype, a service that has been recently focused on video-based services, but with the acquisition of GroupMe, can now shore up its text-based services.

Skype CEO Tony Bates feels Skype and GroupMe “have a shared vision of creating applications and experiences that are the daily communications choice for a billion people.”

“The GroupMe team has created an incredibly sticky group messaging experience that works across mobile devices and platforms, making this a perfect addition to the voice, video and text products in the Skype family.”

Jared Hecht, GroupMe co-founder, seems to agree:

“There is a natural affinity between Skype and GroupMe and our goal is to continue developing tools that make it easier for people to communicate, share, and stay in touch with their close and important ties.”

As does GroupMe co-founder, Steve Martocci:

“Integrating GroupMe into the Skype experience is an amazing opportunity for us and accelerates the execution of our vision tenfold.”

For a company founded only one year ago, it must be fairly thrilling to be acquired by a company that was acquired by Microsoft.

(Skype Blog via GigaOM)

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James Plafke