Skype

Microsoft acquires Skype for $8.5B in cash

by Dave Warner on May 12, 2011

In a landmark deal, Microsoft Corp. has acquired internet phone company Skype Technologies SA, reps for both the companies announced Tuesday. Placing its biggest bet yet, the Redmond software giant paid $8.5 billion in cash to buy VoIP provider Skype Global. Rumors were rampant recently that Skype was in the sights of search engine mammoth Google and Facebook--a popular online social network site, as an acquisition target.

Microsoft acquires Skype
Eventually, the once-dominant software company Microsoft appeared as a prime bidder for Skype, which has 663 million people across the world registered to use its voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) communications.

A once cutting-edge technology company, Microsoft, confirmed Tuesday it had "entered a definitive agreement" to acquire VoIP provider Skype Global for $8.5 billion in cash. Apparently in an attempt to catch up with Apple and Google, Microsoft has acquired the online telephony and video...Read More >>