06 SLACK VS. SKYPE
FIGHTING TO BE THE TALK OF THE OFFICE
In an alternate universe, Microsoft wouldn’t have to compete with Slack—because it would own it. In March, TechCrunch reported that Microsoft applications and services chief Qi Lu had pitched his bosses the idea of paying up to $8 billion to acquire the messaging phenom. CEO Satya Nadella and cofounder Bill Gates reportedly nixed the idea, with Gates arguing that Microsoft should instead focus on turning Skype—its voice, video, and messaging service—into a formidable Slack rival.
