Skype Snaps Up Group Messaging Service GroupMe

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Skype announced on Sunday that it is purchasing the mobile group messaging service GroupMe. Skype already offers voice, text and video chat services, and plans to roll GroupMe’s group text messaging for mobile devices into its offerings.

SkypeSkype buys GroupMe group messaging service

GroupMe lets users share messages an photos, supports conference calls with other GroupMe users, supports SMS, and the company offers native apps for the iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry.

The deal is good news for Microsoft since the company is already in the process of buying Skype. Assuming both deals are completed, Microsoft will be able to roll features from both Skype and GroupMe into its products more easily and will probably use that as a selling point for its desktop and mobile Windows platforms.

Skype didn’t reveal the terms of its GroupMe purchase deal, and didn’t say when it expects to complete the deal. The GroupMe app for the iPhone and iPod touch is available as a free download at Apple’s iTunes-based App Store.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

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