Microsoft buys Skype for US$8.5 billion!

dc8900

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Microsoft has officially announced their purchase of Skype for 8.5 billion U.S. dollars; interesting move by MS or a waste of their money?

full press release:

Microsoft to Acquire Skype

Combined companies will benefit consumers, businesses and increase market opportunity.

REDMOND, Wash., and LUXEMBOURG – May 10, 2011 – Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: "MSFT") and Skype Global S.à r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.

The acquisition will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating significant new business and revenue opportunities. The combination will extend Skype's world-class brand and the reach of its networked platform, while enhancing Microsoft's existing portfolio of real-time communications products and services.

With 170 million connected users and over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype has been a pioneer in creating rich, meaningful connections among friends, families and business colleagues globally. Microsoft has a long-standing focus and investment in real-time communications across its various platforms, including Lync (which saw 30 percent revenue growth in Q3), Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE.

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.

"Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. "Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."

Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Ballmer.

"Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers," said Tony Bates. "Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate," Bates said.

"Tony Bates has a great track record as a leader and will strengthen the Microsoft management team. I'm looking forward to Skype's talented global workforce bringing its insights, ideas and experience to Microsoft," Ballmer said.

Speaking on behalf of the investor group that sold Skype to Microsoft, Egon Durban, managing director of Silver Lake, said: "We are thrilled with Skype's transformation during the period of our ownership and grateful for the extraordinary commitment of its management team and employees. We are excited about Skype's long-term future with Microsoft, as it is poised to become one of the world's most dynamic and comprehensive communications platforms."

Founded in 2003, Skype was acquired by eBay in September 2005, and then acquired by an investment group led by Silver Lake in November 2009. Skype has made impressive progress over the past 18 months under Silver Lake's leadership, increasing monthly calling minutes by 150 percent, developing new revenue streams and strategic partnerships, acquiring the intellectual property powering its peer-to-peer network, and recruiting an outstanding senior management team.

Other members of the selling investor group led by Silver Lake include eBay International AG, CPP Investment Board, Joltid Limited in partnership with Europlay Capital Advisors; and Andreessen Horowitz.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties hope to obtain all required regulatory clearances during the course of this calendar year.

About Skype
Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart.

Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free.
 
Also posted about this in the VoIP board.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/voip-internet-telephony/1454622-microsoft-buy-skype.html



It's an interesting move from MS, Skype doesn't exactly make huge money and MS are shelling out a lot for it, I'm wondering what they're planning to do for a return on this.

Is it an attempt at finally making their place in the mobile market by taking Skype to that?

Good news for those with Xboxes as well it seems :thumbsup:
 

oops, didn't realise :blush:, feel free to merge or close :thumbsup:

I was pondering that as well, I mean, Skype has what, 400 million users (that figure I got from a blog, no idea if accurate) and let's assume only 100 million max make chargeable calls or are on a call plan, while a viable and stable business, $8.5 billion seems like too high a price.

I'm guessing it's a strategic move that goes in hand with their Windows Phone strategy
 
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Two valid reasons for different threads, one is purely VoIP side the other as a piece of software that many only use as an instant messenger... the VoIP board is very quiet so unless both threads start going down the same route I'll leave them be :)

For me it has to be down to Windows phones as there's no other logic to it.

"With 170 million connected users and over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010"

That's a huge number of people and minutes of voice/video, but there's no mention of premium users or calls for profit, I know Skype has never made huge profit so I wonder what MS have in store.
 
This quote from the statement is interesting and probably gives the strongest hint for the strategic reasoning behind it:

Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Ballmer.
 
BBC's Hardtalk had an interview with Bill Gates: BBC iPlayer - HARDtalk: Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft

he talks about Skype and says that "it's a great purchase that a lot of innovation will come out of." while noting that video conferencing is going to be very important and 'better and bigger'
 

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