Core Insights - The video collaboration and hybrid work market is rapidly evolving, with Zoom Communications and Microsoft emerging as key players [1][3] - The global video conferencing market is projected to grow from approximately $8.88 billion in 2024 to around $28.26 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of about 12% [2] Zoom Communications - Zoom's video-first design offers superior quality and reliability, with Q2 fiscal 2026 revenue rising 4.7% year over year to $1.22 billion [4][10] - AI initiatives, such as AI Companion, are enhancing user experience and driving enterprise adoption, with monthly active users increasing over 4X year over year [5] - Zoom's integrated ecosystem, including Zoom Workplace and Contact Center, is contributing to competitive positioning, with significant growth in large deals and $100,000-plus ARR customers [6][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zoom's fiscal 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 3.2% to $5.77 per share, indicating market optimism [7] Microsoft - Microsoft's Teams benefits from integration within Microsoft 365, with Commercial Cloud revenues rising 18% year over year to $33.1 billion in Q4 fiscal 2025 [8] - AI features in Microsoft 365, such as Copilot, enhance functionality but lack video-specific differentiation, which may limit Teams' competitive edge in video collaboration [9][11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Microsoft's fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $15.35 per share, with a 1.9% upward revision, but market sentiment appears less optimistic compared to Zoom [12] Price Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, Microsoft shares have gained 20.1%, while Zoom shares have decreased by 0.4%, positioning Zoom for potential upside [13] - Microsoft trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.92X, while Zoom trades at 5.02X, indicating a relative discount for Zoom and greater room for re-rating [16] - Both companies are considered overvalued, but Zoom's relative discount makes it a more attractive investment opportunity [19]

Core Points - Hydro's second quarter results for 2025 will be released on July 22, 2025, at 07:00 CEST [1] - A webinar hosted by President and CEO Eivind Kallevik and CFO Trond Olaf Christophersen will take place at 08:30 CEST on the same day [1] - The quarterly report and presentation will be available on hydro.com simultaneously with the release [1] Webinar Details - The webinar will allow participants to ask questions and will be conducted in English [2] - No prior login or registration is required to join the webinar, which is powered by Zoom [2] - Dial-in options are available for participants in Norway, the UK, and the US, with specific phone numbers provided [2]

Core Points - Norsk Hydro will release its second quarter results for 2025 on July 22, 2025, at 07:00 CEST [1] - The quarterly report and presentation will be available on hydro.com simultaneously with the release [1] Webinar Details - President and CEO Eivind Kallevik and CFO Trond Olaf Christophersen will host a webinar in English at 08:30 CEST on the same day [2] - A Q&A session will follow the presentation, and there will be no physical presentation or press conference [2] - Participants can join the webinar via a link to the webcast page, with no prior login or registration required [2] - Dial-in options are available for participants in Norway, the UK, and the US [2] Investor Contact - Investor contact is Martine Rambøl Hagen, reachable at +47 91708918 or via email at martine.rambol.hagen@hydro.com [3]

Core Viewpoint - Russian President Putin expressed a strong stance against the operations of Microsoft and Zoom in Russia, suggesting that they should be eliminated [1] Company and Industry Summary - The comments from President Putin indicate a potential shift in the regulatory environment for foreign tech companies operating in Russia, which could lead to increased scrutiny and restrictions [1] - The statement reflects ongoing tensions between Russia and Western technology firms, highlighting the geopolitical implications for companies like Microsoft and Zoom [1]

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft officially ceased operations of Skype on May 5, marking the end of a once-dominant internet voice and video calling software that was founded in 2003 [1] Group 1: Historical Context - Skype was initially launched as a free online calling tool, with its name derived from "sky peer to peer," reflecting its VoIP technology [1] - By 2004, just one year after its launch, Skype had registered 11 million users [1] - User numbers grew to 54 million by 2005 [2] - Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, marking the largest acquisition in Microsoft's history at that time [3] Group 2: Peak and Decline - At its peak in 2016, Skype had over 300 million active users monthly [4] - Post-acquisition, Microsoft shifted focus from optimizing technology to introducing new features to attract users, leading to a decline in stability as the code aged [4][5] - Competing applications like Apple's iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Tencent's WeChat gained popularity, contributing to Skype's decline [5] - The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 presented a potential resurgence opportunity for Skype, but Zoom captured the market instead [5] Group 3: Current Status and Future Direction - By 2023, Skype's active user base had dwindled to approximately 36 million [5] - Microsoft Teams has grown to 320 million monthly active users, surpassing Skype's remaining user base, prompting Microsoft to shift its focus entirely to Teams [6] - The free consumer chat market is inherently difficult to monetize, and Microsoft has no intention of maintaining a product that is becoming increasingly marginal [7]

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft officially shuts down Skype, marking the end of its 20-year operation history, with core functionalities being migrated to another communication software promoted by Microsoft [1][2]. Group 1: Skype's Historical Context - Skype was initially a free online calling tool, with its name derived from "sky peer to peer," reflecting its VoIP technology [1]. - By 2004, Skype had 11 million registered users, which grew to 54 million by 2005 when eBay announced its acquisition for $2.6 billion [1]. - At the time of acquisition, Skype projected annual revenue of $60 million, primarily from user fees for calls to mobile and landlines [1]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The rise of Apple's iMessage and FaceTime, Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp, and the success of Tencent's WeChat contributed to Skype's decline [2]. - Despite a surge in video call demand during the pandemic benefiting competitors like Zoom and Google Meet, Skype's popularity has waned [2]. - Microsoft has invested heavily in Teams, which offers similar services to Skype, further impacting Skype's user base [2]. Group 3: User Metrics - In 2016, Skype had over 300 million monthly active users, but by 2023, daily active users had decreased to 36 million [2].

Core Insights - Microsoft officially discontinued Skype, transferring its core functionalities to another communication platform, marking the end of Skype's 20-year operational history [1][2] - The closure comes 14 years after Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, which was the largest acquisition in Microsoft's history at that time [1][2] - Despite a surge in video call demand during the pandemic benefiting competitors like Zoom and Google Meet, Skype's popularity has declined significantly in recent years [1] Company History - Skype was launched in 2003 in Estonia and quickly became popular for enabling free global calls, especially during a time when international calls were expensive [2] - eBay acquired Skype in 2005 for $2.6 billion, but the partnership failed, leading eBay to sell 65% of its stake for $1.9 billion in 2009 [2] - Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011, and reported that Skype had over 300 million monthly active users in 2016, but by 2023, daily active users had dropped to 36 million [2]

Group 1 - The articles focus on community guidelines aimed at fostering respectful and constructive conversations among users [1][2] - Key rules include prohibitions against false information, spam, and discriminatory comments, ensuring a safe environment for discussions [2] - Users are encouraged to stay on topic and share insights while utilizing tools to report rule violations [2]

Skype will ring for the last time on May 5 as owner Microsoft retires the two-decade-old internet calling service that redefined how people connect across borders.Shutting down Skype will help Microsoft focus on its homegrown Teams service by simplifying its communication offerings, the software giant said on Friday.Founded in 2003, Skype’s audio and video calls quickly disrupted the landline industry in the early 2000s and made the company a household name boasting hundreds of millions of users at its peak ...