Skype may buy Qik in video chat push

Skype may be on the verge of buying Qik in a push to hold the lead in video chat, a purported insider claimed on Thursday. The deal would reportedly be worth $100 million. The historically reliable SAI source said the a deal could be completed as soon as this week, before CES is over.

The motivations behind the deal weren't stated but would almost certainly revolve around video chat and possibly live streaming. Skype just last week made its first major effort on mobile video chat and launched video calls on iPhones, but it has yet to add support for video chat on Android, the other main platform that currently supports front video cameras. Qik has been the primary source for video chat on Android apps in the absence of an official Google solution and, on phones like the HTC Evo 4G, often comes preinstalled.

Neither Skype nor Qik has offered comment on the rumor.

By Electronista Staff