Microsoft today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Skype by paying $8.5 billions in cash. It means Microsoft is forking out approximately 15% of it’s cash reserves to get Skype on board. That’s a truck load of money! This is the biggest acquisition in the history of Microsoft. Last time they paid around $6 billion to acquire aQuantive, a digital advertising company.
This acquisition means a lot to Microsoft and to millions of its users around the globe. If Microsoft makes use of Skype and it’s technology properly then there is a lot of benefit to three categories of prime Microsoft customers – XBox Kinect, Windows & Windows Mobile. For a common man the XBox + Kinect + Skype is going to be a killer combination to provide amazing living room chat experience.
For a detailed analysis of this acquisition check out these blog posts
- What Does Microsoft and Skype’s Puppy Love Mean for Your PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone? – Gizmodo
- How Microsoft’s Skype Purchase Can Help Windows Phone – GigaOm
- Skype-Microsoft deal: the experts’ view – Guardian
- Skype Confirms: We’re Coming to Xbox, Outlook, Windows Phone & More – RWW
- Microsoft Buys Skype: What the Web Is Saying – GigaOm