TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said it would add a Skype Web phone function to its PlayStation Portable later this month in Japan in a bid to boost the appeal of the handheld machine, which is running behind Nintendo Co Ltd's DS in sales.
Skype is a unit of eBay Inc, the world's largest online auctioneer.
Sony's game unit had said in January it was delaying the introduction later that month of the Skype service for PSP users in Japan, as a microphone it planned to start selling for the new service did not meet Skype specifications.
But the same microphone has managed to pass the Skype requirements on condition that it is sold with the recommendation that it be used within 10 centimeters of the mouth of a user.
Sony Computer Entertainment now plans to start selling the microphone on March 19 in Japan for 2,500 yen ($24), enabling PSP users to make free Web-based phone calls to other PSP users and to users of PCs equipped with Skype software.
It started offering the Skype service on the PSP earlier this year in overseas markets.
Oprah Skype and Reuters News
An excellent development occurred for Ebay on Monday March 3rd. Skype has teamed up with Oprah and bestselling author Eckhart Tolle for an exclusive, Skype-sponsored, worldwide online class. For starters, this is huge news as it allows Skype to enter the US household. Oprah appeals to many viewers in the United States. Although Skype is well known in Europe and Asia it is virtually unknown in the United States. Oprah wouldn't team up with Skype if she felt it was a fly by night outfit. Thus I believe this is ground breaking news. One of those little cracks that fall through and barely create a whimper until millions of households throughout the U.S. begin to familiarize themselves with Skype.
On a side note why was it necessary for Reuters to issue a press release stating Ebay's mention of their risks in their annual report. Every company lists their risks in their reports. For example a company goes out of its way to list every possible risk. One wonders why they didn't add the following: if a meteor was to strike earth, this may hurt Ebay's chances of doing business or in the event of a nuclear war Ebay may have difficulty operating. Thus Reuters took it upon itself to dedicate an entire article to this common annual report news of potential risks. A novice investor upon viewing this report would have alarm bells going off in his/her head. Reuters should take more responsibility in their actions or else they may have many angry people on their hand who sold on this news which was very biased indeed. Shame on you Reuters
On a side note why was it necessary for Reuters to issue a press release stating Ebay's mention of their risks in their annual report. Every company lists their risks in their reports. For example a company goes out of its way to list every possible risk. One wonders why they didn't add the following: if a meteor was to strike earth, this may hurt Ebay's chances of doing business or in the event of a nuclear war Ebay may have difficulty operating. Thus Reuters took it upon itself to dedicate an entire article to this common annual report news of potential risks. A novice investor upon viewing this report would have alarm bells going off in his/her head. Reuters should take more responsibility in their actions or else they may have many angry people on their hand who sold on this news which was very biased indeed. Shame on you Reuters
Ebay’s settlement with MercExchange
After several years of battles in the media and the courts, Ebay has finally settled with MercExchange. Originally, MercExchange’s founder, patent lawyer and engineer, Thomas Woolston argued in court that Ebay was illegally infringing on various patents that he had created. One of the patents in questions was the very popular “Buy it Now’ technology prominently featured on many Ebay auctions. Woolston promised to do everything in his power to have the courts issue an injunction against Ebay. His goal was an immediate injunction to prevent Ebay from using the “But it Now” feature until they promised to pay for the license. Spokesmen for MercExchange argued in court that Tom Woolsten invented this patent before Ebay was a twinkle in investor’s eyes. Ebay countered that Woolsten was jumping on the bandwagon and trying to rob the company for as many millions as the legal system allowed. Woolsten wasn’t going to stop there, if his “Buy it Now” patent successfully held up in court he was going to go after Ebay and others for additional patents. He mentioned first Ebay, then Amazon and who knows how many. It is debatable if Woolsten actually did invent these patents as Ebay’s lawyers argued that long before Woolsten patented this feature some people were using this technology on the internet for their business. Thus the major question was is Ebay telling the truth or Woolsten. After many trials the courts came to the conclusion that Ebay was to pay MercExchange $30 million which was further reduced to $25 million. Ebay was in the process of appealing this decision and stated they believed they had owed MercExchange the lump sum of zero dollars.
Thus on February 28th we were greeted with the news that Ebay has finally decided to purchase these patents and has settled with MercExchange. Why the sudden change of heart? Perhaps President to be Donahue would like to start off fresh and wipe away any old headaches from the past. One can only wonder. Additionally if MercExchange was very disappointed with the $25 million they received what would it have taken to acquire all three patents? 50 million? 75 million? 200 million? Had Ebay acquired all three patents for $25 million you can be sure to have seen a press release stating that “Ebay has prevailed in court by receiving all 3 patents for $25 million. Thus my guess would be the figure Ebay paid was $100 million.
Know that Ebay has possession of the 3 patents will they up their fight against Amazon and take them and other to court for infringement? One can only wonder?
If it did cost $100 million Ebay still came out of the deal way ahead as they know hold the patent technology and can sue other companies at will. Additionally MercExchanges’s goal from the start was to shut down Ebay’s Buy it Now feature and Ebay prevailed. However what happened to all of the work around patent technology that Ebay was promising us if they had lost the court ruling?
Thus on February 28th we were greeted with the news that Ebay has finally decided to purchase these patents and has settled with MercExchange. Why the sudden change of heart? Perhaps President to be Donahue would like to start off fresh and wipe away any old headaches from the past. One can only wonder. Additionally if MercExchange was very disappointed with the $25 million they received what would it have taken to acquire all three patents? 50 million? 75 million? 200 million? Had Ebay acquired all three patents for $25 million you can be sure to have seen a press release stating that “Ebay has prevailed in court by receiving all 3 patents for $25 million. Thus my guess would be the figure Ebay paid was $100 million.
Know that Ebay has possession of the 3 patents will they up their fight against Amazon and take them and other to court for infringement? One can only wonder?
If it did cost $100 million Ebay still came out of the deal way ahead as they know hold the patent technology and can sue other companies at will. Additionally MercExchanges’s goal from the start was to shut down Ebay’s Buy it Now feature and Ebay prevailed. However what happened to all of the work around patent technology that Ebay was promising us if they had lost the court ruling?
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