Microsoft to Buy Skype for $8.5 Billion

12 05 2011

In one of the largest acquisitions in recent history Microsoft is set to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion.

Microsoft hopes to use the acquisition to bolster its real time communications strategy to supplement Lync, Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE

In 2010 Skype was reported to have ‘170 million connected users and over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations’.

According to Microsoft, ‘Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms‘.

While Microsoft has pledged to continue supporting non Microsoft platforms, critics have claimed that the acquisition could eventually lead to Skype only being supported on Microsoft platforms.

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