Microsoft has reportedly paid a huge amount of phone bill worth $8.5 billion! That is, upon acquisition of the leading internet voice/video service, Skype.
Reported as the biggest deal they had yet since the $6 billion deal they made with an online advertising company called aQuantive, the software giant paid thrice the amount other bidders gave Skype 18 months ago.
Rife speculations include Facebook, Cisco Systems and Google vying for the acquisition but fell short with the huge deal offered by Microsoft. On the other hand, Analysts have generally been optimistic about the deal but some are wary if it is actually worth the price.
Skype played a big role as one of the top applications to grace Apple’s iPhone and other smartphones that uses Android as platform. Now owned by Microsoft, it is expected to be integrated in Windows-powered phones, Xbox game consoles, even in their premier office products an easier interactivity among its users. The deal gives Microsoft a big boost in the collaboration market to be on par with top players like Cisco and Google. Thanks to Skype’s free and low-cost video and voice sharing capabilities.
Founded in 2003, Skype was bought by ebay in September 2005 and was sold to an investment group called Silver Lake in November 2009 with a reported value of $2.75 billion.
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Tags: microsoft and skype deal, microsoft bought skype, skype bought by microsoft price
