Skype and Funnelback: What Is the Microsoft Deal Impact?
May 13, 2011
I saw a tweet from Funnelback pointing out that Skype was using Funnelback technology for search. Funnelback is part of Squiz, an Australian vendor anchored in open source. Here’s a question for you: “Will Skype abandon open source Funnelback for one of Microsoft’s search systems?”
The question is easily answered for the next few months. Not much change. A big deal like this is going to take time to complete. However, once the dust settles, then the question becomes a more important one.
I would recast the question is, “Can Microsoft use the Fast Search & Transfer technology for Skype search?” The answer is, “Yes.” However, there may be some work to do. Let’s assume that Skype is running on Linux and other non-Microsoft goodness. If you want to brush up on Skype plumbing, you may find “Learnings from Five Years as a Skype Architect” a useful read. The diagrams are quite useful as well.
Fast Search & Transfer, circa 1998 to 2002, was mostly a Linux centric system. After 2002, Fast Search supported other platforms. After 2008, Microsoft jettisoned the Linux version of Fast Search. There are integrators and some consulting shops like Comperio.com, which support the non Windows’ licensees of Fast Search. For normal organizations, however, Fast Search means Windows.
My hunch is that Microsoft’s slotting Skype into another division is a graceful way of leaving Skype what Skype is. The thought of recoding the plumbing of Skype may be unappetizing to the Redmond crowd. So, Fast Search does not seem like a snap in for Funnelback.
Will Funnelback keep the Skype deal once Microsoft envelops the company? Based on my watching the machinations of the big search outfits, I think Funnelback has a 50-50 shot of keeping the account. However, Microsoft executives often get the revolving door treatment. As the door spins, the original managers and engineers exit and new humanoids flow into the acquisition. At the time of a buyout, Skype is pretty much 99 percent Skype. After 18 months, Skype may be 40 percent Skype goodness. As the Skype part of Skype becomes smaller, then the likelihood of search engine change increases.
My hunch is that other search vendors with some open source flags flying from their marketing tankers will be steaming toward Redmond. In short, Funnelback will have to work overtime to keep the account. Maybe Microsoft will acquire Squiz and get an open source CMS plus a Skype search engine. The months will fly by, and then we will know.
Stephen E Arnold, May 13, 2011
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2 Responses to “Skype and Funnelback: What Is the Microsoft Deal Impact?”
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Hi Stephen,
Interesting article, just to point out that Funnelback is not Open Source.
Cheers, Matt
Matt Taylor,
Is Squiz open source? Can you help me understand how the university technology migrated to Squiz and to its present status of commercial, proprietary software? When I hear Squiz, I associate the outfit with open source. Is this also incorrect?
Stephen E Arnold, May 15, 2011