Facebook and Google were each considering a tie-up with Skype that could be worth $US4 billion ($A3.76 billion) after the VoIP and video conferencing service delayed its initial public offering.
A source close to discussions said Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg was angling to buy Skype and another said he was interested to form a joint venture with the VoIP provider.
And Google was in the first stages of talks for a joint venture with Skype, the second source said. A Skype deal could be valued at $US3 billion to $US4 billion.
Securing Skype as a partner would expand Facebook's user base, help it grow in international markets where Skype was popular, and give its half-billion users another reason to stay active online.
Analysts said a tie-up between Facebook and Skype would make more sense than one with Google, which already has a similar service in Google Voice.
Skype and Google declined to comment. Facebook was not immediately available to comment. The information was not public and the sources declined to be named.
With a partnership, Facebook could tack another service on its ever-expanding menu, a crucial feature given that many mobile devices, including tablets, now come equipped with front-facing cameras.
"This is very synergistic," said Trip Chowdhry, an analyst with Global Equities Research. "It puts Facebook two steps ahead of Google because of the number of Skype users."
"In your social network, you will now have another very compelling service - Skype."
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