Skype Officially Belongs to Microsoft Now
All t's have been crossed and all i's are dotted.
Microsoft announced that its acquisition of Skype, which was first announced five months ago, has been finalized. Microsoft revealed plans to purchase Skype way back in May of this year. At the time, the two companies said they hoped to obtain all the required regulatory clearances before the end of this calendar year, and it looks like they got their wish.
In a press release sent out Friday morning, Microsoft confirmed that it had closed the deal, and revealed that Skype CEO Tony Bates will now report directly to Steve Ballmer in his new role as president of the new Skype Division of Microsoft. Skype employees will continue to be located around the world in offices including Estonia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States.
"Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world," said Steve Ballmer. "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."
Speaking via a post on the Official Microsoft Blog, Tony Bates said:
"Joining forces with Microsoft is the best way to accelerate this mission and capitalize on our position at the intersection of social, mobile and video communications. Simply put, we want to transform communications. We will do this by building the best products in the world that allow all of us to do things together whenever we’re apart and by creating teams who work faster and smarter across the globe building those world-class products."
He also appeared in a special video uploaded to Microsoft's YouTube channel. Check it out below.

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Many people like me need both programs to communicate with most people which is quite some trouble
They are the biggest problem for the internet community and other internet companies as they are representing the wroung way to do business. Rape from the poor, overcharge for a product that takes them 100k to create and they make billions in profit while the poor people still can not afford to buy anything.
I worked at Microsoft TEN times. 10 time Microsoft worker and I never could afford to buy their own PC! Did I tell you that I have stood in line at the foodbank while working at Microsoft! Did I =tell you I could never afford gasoline to make it to work. I starved when working at microsoft, I could never afford to use the the products I helped create! I have worked on the biggest products released the past ten years. I could never afford to buy their products. They even give workers a discount for their stuff, but this was a discount I could get looking online for the same stuff. Again they provided me with a discount, touted around and promoted that employees get this wonderful discount at their shop on campus. NOT. This discount can be found just doing a simple search online. They are the biggest PROFITEERS and have HURT the evolution of the computer age. They represent the wrong way of life for everyone. People living just a few miles from their offices CAN NOT afford XP. Yet they would rather put XP intot he trashcan and let more people starve. There are people holding signs up on corners surrounding their offices. THese are people who have worked for them, after they are done, its back to the street. They do not care, only PROFIT is their main concern. Money is all they want. They have no purpose in the new world. They should be eradicated when the banks go. All the profiteers should be brought to real justice. The CRIMES they commit are silent and they pay others to keep quiet. They use lawyers and sideshow companies to do their dirty work. They worst company in the land that breeds business practices for the indu=stry for other to follow. They are evil and their profits display the need for reform and imprisonment. Greed kills, its just that never makes the news....
Sounds like a personal problem to me bro.
Either you were part of the cleaning crew or you just don't like them. (Though I respect those people and I've done the same thing, unfortunately they are one of the lowest paid for their hard work) Don't worry. For every action there is a reaction. sooner or later all those greedy bastards will pay for their actions, maybe not with money, but with their life, not getting killed but with situations that will make them suffer. That's how life teaches. In spanish there is an idiom that says: "La vida no enseña ni con palo ni con rejo, si no con el pellejo" it's something like: life doesn't teach with stick or a whip, but with your skin (or one's neck) hope you get it.
after skype 4.2 the UI went downhill
Less info on the screen but it took more screen space. it was also harder to monitor levels and adjust volume and on top of that, if you go through the steps needed the microphone levels and settings window covers the chat area and other info while with 4.2 everything has it's own space and is more friendly to screen space.
Dude, youve gotta be kidding me. I purchased my first copy of the full office suite on the employee discount, total price: $33. If you cannot afford $33 for a $500 product then you have some much bigger problems than your place of employment.
So if all profiteers should go, who will make anything?
Will you go out and work for free? From your rant it doesn't sound like it. In fact it sounds like you are angry you aren't given any of that money (given being the operative word).
And explain how they hurt the evolution of the computer age? Computing technology has exploded since the late 70's/early 80's since Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and others have been around.
Oh yeah, that profit motive you complained about, that is a HUGE reason why they, and other entrepeneurs do what they do. Go to any socialist country where profit is not allowed and see how innovative they are. You can't because they aren't.
Not to mention Bill Gates and his wife are some of the most philanthropic people in the world. He retired from Microsoft in order to work on his charitable organization.
An entity's main existence is to make a profit.
Whether that entity is a person, or a company.
We do business to make money. If you believe they dont pay you enough, negotiate or leave and go somewhere else. You accepted the terms of the agreement.
In your logic i should be in jail because all i've ever worked for is for a profit. a profit so i can buy things for myself. Actually, you should be in jail because you are working for a profit too. You complain they make too much money, yet you imply you want some of that money, which in turn would get you a profit. therefore you should go to jail for wanting that profit too.
You're right! Profit is their main concern, why would i set up a business if i cant make money? We live in a capitalist society. Dont like it? North Korea will set you up with a command economy, making the exact same as everyone else.
I dont think you will work for free. Well... Neither will microsoft, Suck it up.
So you learnt after the 10th time or you lining up for another hardy meal?
First time shame on you...
...Second time shame on me...
...Tenth time rant on Toms?!