Aug 07
Skype – the company that got popular by letting people make calls over the Internet for free – is looking to cash in.
The provider of Internet telephone services plans to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering.
The move is seen as a bid by Skype’s private equity firm owners, who purchased the Luxembourg-based company in November, to recoup some of their investment of more than $2 billion.
The IPO effort also could mean Skype’s owners want to entice other technology or telecom companies into a deal.
Skype provides free online video and text conversations that are popular with users such as college students who are studying abroad.
The company has drawn a large number of customers by offering free computer-to-computer services.