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"Microsoft's acquisition of Skype is official, the two have confirmed that the Redmond giant has bought\u00A0the voice-over-Internet company for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake and will include the assumption of debt.\r\n\r\nThe agreement, approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype will see the telephony company become a new business unit within Microsoft and will continue to be run by the current Skype CEO Tony Bates, who\u00A0will report directly to Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer.\r\n\u201CSkype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world,\u201D said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. \u201CTogether 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.\u201D\r\nSkype will evolve to support Microsoft products including Xbox and Kinect but also Windows Phone and a number of different Windows devices. Skype users will be connected to Lync, Outlook and Xbox Live and other Microsoft services as a result of the deal, continuing to support both the Linux and Mac versions of the software.\r\n\r\nApple device owners, you can breathe easily.\r\n\r\nThe VOIP specialist was founded in 2003 and acquired by eBay in September 2005. Early Skype executives then worked to buy the company back from Silver Lake in November 2009, increasing monthly call minutes by 150%, working closely with Facebook and other services.\r\n\r\nAs a result of the deal,\u00A0eBay International AG, CPP Investment Board, Joltid Limited in partnership with Europlay Capital Advisors; and Andreessen Horowitz will see massive returns on their original investments.\r\n\r\nThe acquisition is not complete until it passes\u00A0regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, which is expected to be cleared later this year."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2011/05/10/its-confirmed-microsoft-announces-acquisition-of-skype-for-8-5-billion/?fromcat=all>