14/10/2011 10:54 | By Matt Farrington-Smith, editor, Tech & Gadgets

Skype now officially part of Microsoft

Microsoft has officially announced that the $8.5 billion deal to acquire Skype has closed.

On 13 October 2011 Microsoft closed its aquisition of Skype, meaning the deal is now finalised. Skype has officially become part of Microsoft.

Skype is now officially part of Microsoft. Image Microsoft, Skype

The deal was worth a massive $8.5 billion and will mean both companies can work together to transform real-time communications with their combined technology.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said this of the deal: "Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world... We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues - anytime, anywhere."

Following the deal, Skype's CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Skype Division of Microsoft.

Will the Skype experience change?

In this recently-posted video, Tony Bates responds with an emphatic "no". Watch him talk about why he's excited to work with Microsoft, and compare video communications to Star Trek and The Jetsons.

From Microsoft's press release: The Skype division will continue to offer its current products to millions of users globally. Longer term, Skype will also be integrated across an array of Microsoft products to broaden Skype's reach and accelerate its growth as a fundamental way people communicate online.

If this editor were to speculate we'd look to the possibilities of integrating Skype's technology with Windows Live Messenger, Xbox LIVE and Windows Phone.

What is Skype?

Skype allows users to make free video calls over the internet. What's more you can make free calls to other Skype users (from anywhere in the world), and hold group video calls.

You can also call phones and mobiles (for a small charge).

Read more about Microsoft and Skype

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8Comments

Newest

24/02/2012 10:47

I am really hoping that Skype will replace Windows Live Messenger and allow us to log on just with email addresses as I can't get a decent name on Skype. Just let us use email addresses, please!

Previous replies

basil ekotson

22/10/2011 12:20

Wisdom has two parts:

(1)-Having a lot to say

(2)-Not saying it

Previous replies

Tony Adams

15/10/2011 12:19

Perhaps now Skype will appear with video on Android systems!!!!

Previous replies

ROB greenhill

15/10/2011 09:10

a good deal for both parties and myself a user of skype

Previous replies

romka155

14/10/2011 21:30

Fantastic !...Jest good news.Changes ? what kind of changes !... Let us see what's happens next.

Previous replies

Sally Curry

14/10/2011 19:20

have been a skype user for a while now and really enjoy using it lol

Previous replies

Steven Rowan (steven9761)

14/10/2011 14:32

I don't really cares who owns Skype, so long as they start to address issues such as REPORT ABUSE, etc. The amount of Ghanaian spammers I get are phenomenal, and when I block them and report the abuse, there is absolutely no feedback whatsoever, meaning that I've amassed tons of blocked members, and would like to clear the clutter, but am afraid to do so in case these same people return. Another thing Skype needs to clamp down hard on (no pun intended) is the members (I'm beginning to sound like Benny Hill!!!...) that post profile photos of their genitalia! I'd also like to be able to selectively block users from specific countries (Ghana being a case in point) even attempting initial contact with me. I'm sure there are lots of nice Ghanaians out there in WWW-land... But they cannot get a word in because of the dodgy ones getting their fellow countrymen (and women) a bad reputation....

Over to you, Microsoft/Skype (or will you now be known as MICROSKYPE..??)