Skype buys GroupMe to offer Group Messaging service

San Francisco, Aug 22: World's favourite internet telephony service, Skype has announced the acquisition of New York-based startup GroupMe to provide group chat service to its users.

The GroupMe application, which allows messaging and making conference calls with circles of friends or colleagues, will boost Skype to offer group messaging service similar to BlackBerry Messenger service, Google Plus Huddle and recently announced Facebook Messenger App.

"Skype and GroupMe have a shared vision of creating applications and experiences that are the daily communications choice for a billion people. We will continue to seek the top talent and technology to make that vision a reality," said Skype CEO Tony Bates.

Skype said that the GroupMe's group messaging experience that works across mobile devices and platforms will help the company to offer this service along with other services like voice, video and text products.

Skype, which was acquired by the computer giant Microsoft for $8.5 billion, said the deal will help the company to "provide a global multi-modal and multi-platform communications experience." Company hopes that the group messaging will enable users to connect, share locations and photos and make plans with their closest ties.

"As part of the deal, GroupMe will remain in New York, team intact, working on our standalone application. The major difference will be that we will now have access to Skype"s 175 million monthly connected users. 175 million people. That"s a very big deal," GroupMe wrote on its blog.

OneIndia News