Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5 billion

[soybean]

Yep, they did.  Get the full scoop at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/05/microsoft-buys-skype-for-85-billion-.html

[MightySheep]

Luckily I don't use Skype, so I don't have to worry about what horrifying things Microsoft are going to do with it :]

[Quantos]

How much of that 8.5 Billion is needed for salary, benefits, and pensions?
Would any of that go to outstanding corporate debts as well?

I don't know much about accounting or business.

[rthompson80819]

Since MS owns Skype now they assume all debts and obligations that Skype had.  I'd be surprised if Skype had any pension plans.  I know all about iron workers pension plans and that's just not common in internet companies.  They want stock options more than pension plans.

I've read several articles about MSs plans for Skype and a common theme in the articles was MS bought it so Google couldn't have it.

[Quantos]

Since MS owns Skype now they assume all debts and obligations that Skype had.  I'd be surprised if Skype had any pension plans.  I know all about iron workers pension plans and that's just not common in internet companies.  They want stock options more than pension plans.

That actually makes sense.

I've read several articles about MSs plans for Skype and a common them in the articles was MS bought it so Google couldn't have it.

That's a strange way to do business, there must be something else....

[rthompson80819]

MS wants to integrate Skype into Windows live messinger which makes sense.  Skype already has a customer base for voice service.  Overall it makes sense, but I think MS overpaid for it to keep any other company from getting it.

[BC_Programmer]

this link was in one of my newsletters about a month ago.

Why is Microsoft buying Skype.

[rthompson80819]

A spammer recently posted the question, who was the previous owner of Skype, which was an interesting question, but it was definitely spam.

Skype's history from Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

[Broni]

I don't know, if Micro$oft touched it already, but: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/skype-down-problems-_n_867332.html

Skype, which Microsoft recently announced it would acquire for $8.5 billion, recently suffered some downtime, with users worldwide reporting issues accessing the service.

LOL

[Quantos]

this link was in one of my newsletters about a month ago.

Why is Microsoft buying Skype.

Thanks a lot for your post BC.

[BC_Programmer]

I don't know, if Micro$oft touched it already

Nope. Purchase is still up for review. MS doesn't own Skype just yet.

Needless to say, FOSS advocates all over the net are all over this latest bit of issues, claiming that "skype had 100% uptime before MS purchased it!" despite the fact that skype didn't have 100% uptime nor has the deal been finalized- MS has no control over skype yet, they couldn't shut it down if they wanted to, and even if they could, why would they? Wouldn't that kind of defeat the purpose of purchasing a company for 8.5 billion dollars? No doubt they plan to somehow integrate skype- or skype tech- into Live messenger, X-Box kinect, Windows Phone 7.

There are also claims that MS will make the Linux port crap.

Well, here's some news- the Linux port is ALREADY crap. The contract terms are pretty clear that MS has to "continue to respect the multi-platform nature of skype" which basically translates to "Make sure the iPhone/iPod/iPad/Android port are top notch and let the linux port continue to blow goats". There is a very good reason for that but that would be ancillary to the topic at hand.