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Topic: Security

Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

Summary: Skype is officially now part of Microsoft, as of October 13, with the closing of the $8.5 billion acquisition.

Mary Jo Foley

By for All About Microsoft |

On October 13, Skype became an official Microsoft division, with the closing of the Microsoft acquisition of the company.

Microsoft isn't sharing any new information about its plans for Skype or a timetable for when Skype will be integrated with products and services. Microsoft officials said previously that Skype will be integrated into everything from Xbox Live and Windows Phone, to Office and its Lync unified communications offering. I'll be interested to see how Microsoft ties Bing and Skype together, as well.

Microsoft is pledging to continue to make Skype available for non-Microsoft products, including iPads, iPhones, Android phones, Mac OS X and more. As WinRumors noted on October 14, Skype did just remove Google toolbar distribution from the latest version of Skype for Windows, however.

Microsoft announced in May 2011 that it would pay $8.5 billion to acquire Skype. U.S. antitrust authorities approved the transaction in June 2011. The European antitrust authorities approved it on October 7, 2011.

Skype will operate as a separate Microsoft division headed by now-Microsoft-president Tony Bates.

Topics: Security, Collaboration, Enterprise Software, Microsoft, Social Enterprise

About

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

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28 comments
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  • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

    So it's soon to be windows only then !

    To be headed by Mr Bates no less.
    Alan Smithie
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

      @Alan Smithie

      <i>"So it's soon to be windows only then !"</i>

      Let's hope not.
      Rich Miles
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

      @Alan Smithie

      Why would it? Microsoft is in the business of making money. I could always point to Office for Mac to prove you wrong.
      Michael Alan Goff
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

        @Michael Alan Goff
        And Bing on both iOS and Android.
        Ram U
        Reply Vote

      • I forgot about that

        Though I can't really get Bing on my Android device last time I checked. Be right back, checking again.

        *looks*

        Nope, not yet. D:

        Why must programmers continue to hate on my tablet?!
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

      • Probably because...

        @Michael Alan Goff
        MS makes more money from sales of Windows than they're likely to from Skype subscriptions.

        Historically, the biggest selling point for MS operating systems has been compatibility with "the rest of the world". If they develop for non-MS systems (other than MacOS, which is no threat, since you have to buy an Apple computer to run it), then they lose a competitive advantage for Windows. Note that MacOS X is the *only* non-MS platform for which MS develops.
        John L. Ries
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

        @John L. Ries

        Wrong about the platform thing. Microsoft makes apps for multiple platforms, such as their mobile bing app (just not for my tablet). I'm fairly certain there are other examples, it's just a bit too early for me to care.
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

    • I doubt MS is going to drop all the other platforms Skype supports

      They've said publicly they won't. Plus, as with Office and Bing: They want to maximize direct/indirect revenues so they're going to make it available on as many platforms as can be supported. MJ
      Mary Jo Foley
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

        @Mary Jo Foley <br><br>MS have said many things publicly only to do a volte-face later, silverlight for example - just ask those developers who geared up for it.
        Alan Smithie
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

        @Alan

        And they would make more money by making it Microsoft-only how? How would they get their ROI of that nice 8.5 billion?
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

    • RE: So it's soon to be windows only then !

      @Alan Smithie

      Doubtful. I mean this is not Apple Facetime. Don't be a troll and make comments based hateful assumption.
      bobiroc
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

      @Alan Smithie - try reading beyond the headline:

      Microsoft is pledging to continue to make Skype available for non-Microsoft products, including iPads, iPhones, Android phones, Mac OS X and more
      bitcrazed
      Reply Vote

    • Speaking of which, how is the Siri app working today?

      @Alan Smithie
      Oh right, today Apple killed it for everyone but iPhone 4S owners. That's what happens when Apple buys a company.
      toddybottom
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

        @toddybottom

        They have to do something to get the drones to upgrade with every iPhone revision. The same drones will do it when a 4G capable one comes out. Just because Apple says it is not ready for the masses yet they will not include LTE or other tech. They pulled this stunt with 3G too. Even though 3G was around for quite some time the first iPhone was not capable of using it. Then a year later something "magical" happened and a 3G phone came out and people broke contracts and paid extra fees just so they could upgrade.
        bobiroc
        Reply Vote

    • We'll find out

      @Alan Smithie
      MS claims that non-MS platforms will continue to be supported, but time will tell what that means in practice.
      John L. Ries
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

    Already, a new Skype update has come through the tubes removing the bundled Google garbage and fixing a few errors with Windows 8.
    The one and only, Cylon Centurion
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

    I had to laugh at the line where they removed the Google distribution. Poor Google just can't catch a break. Big things are coming for Skype, all the Microsoft integration plus Facebook. This purchase is really going to pay off. I bet we will see another blog from SJVN telling us how this is still bad.
    LoverockDavidson_-24231404894599612871915491754222
    Reply Vote

    • I certainly hope so....

      @LoverockDavidson_

      Because it IS that bad....So sorry for you.
      linux for me
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

    My experience with skype has never been that great, in regards to video chat. Constant freezes/reboots made it always seem to me a microsoft product anyway!
    kevinprov
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Skype is officially now a Microsoft division

      @kevinprov

      The key phrase there is "My Experience". I have been using Skype for years and Microsoft Products for longer than that and those symptoms are not typical so please do not classify that as a typical symptom.
      bobiroc
      Reply Vote
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