Facebook Considering Buying Skype

Skype is suddenly the prettiest girl in school now that it’s pushed back its IPO. Google is in talks for a joint venture with the online calling company, and Facebook is considering buying it outright, sources tell Reuters. Skype is expected to rake in about $1 billion if it goes public, but Facebook could pay $3 billion to $4 billion for the company, according to someone with “direct knowledge of the discussions.”

“This is very synergistic,” says one analyst of the Facebook deal. “It puts Facebook two steps ahead of Google because of the number of Skype users.” Google has less to gain from a deal with Skype, since it already has Google Voice, but Skype’s user base and international popularity might be boons in themselves. (More Google Voice stories.)