Microsoft acquires Skype for $8.5 Billion

Binh Nguyen 10 May, 2011 at 1:17pm ET Article published in Tech

According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft is going to announce as early as Tuesday morning that they are going to acquire Skype, a communication program that connects millions of users.

What does this mean for end-users?

Skype would give Microsoft a big boost in the hotly contested enterprise collaboration market places, thanks to Skype’s voice, video and sharing capabilities. It would be particularly useful for competing against Cisco and Google, two of its main rivals in the collaboration business.
It would give them a must-have application/service that can help with the adoption of the future versions of the Windows Mobile operating system.
It would give Microsoft an outside chance of working with carriers, many of them looking to partner with Skype as they start to transition to LTE-based networks.

You think this is a good start for Microsoft to attempt yet again to dominate the mobile world with their new smartphone partner Nokia? Or is this more bells and whistles for Microsoft?

Comments

10 May 2011 ~ 1:22pm Thrax Google Voice: Microsoft Edition.
10 May 2011 ~ 1:50pm Jay Monteclaro Skype is brilliant for anyone who travels internationally and has a stable internet connection. As a paying customer of skype I really hope that microsoft donâ€™t ruin this service like they do with so many other products. Keep it simple, efficient and everyone will be happy. Hopefully, they don't let it go to waste.
10 May 2011 ~ 1:52pm the_technocrat

Thrax wrote:

Google Voice: Microsoft ME TOO Edition.

ftfy
10 May 2011 ~ 2:00pm Kwitko Microsoft is adding a new feature called "Skyppy."

It looks like you're trying to make a call. Would you like help?
10 May 2011 ~ 2:07pm BuddyJ Microsoft just got cross-platform Facetime. Hopefully this will spark competition with Apple.
11 May 2011 ~ 12:36am RootWyrm One, Microsoft has had a voice+IM product. It's called Lync. Skype will not be replacing it.
Two, Microsoft just paid $8.5B for a company that has yet to ever turn a profit for anyone but those selling it. Hence why everyone gets shovelware ads in Skype 5 (especially paying customers! They get to beta having huge ads in their Skype windows!) I guess Microsoft decided they weren't losing enough money in the online division yet?