Microsoft, the largest software producer in the world, bought the supplier of internet telephony service Skype, the biggest transaction in 36 years history of the company founded by Bill Gates.
Microsoft has announced that it had paid $8.5 billion for the provider of Internet phone service Skype.
“Skype will be integrated into devices such as Microsoft Xbox, Kinect system, Xbox Live, Windows Phone, Lync and Outlook”, reads a Microsoft press release. The Americans said they would continue to provide support and develop Skype for customers who use Microsoft platforms.
“Skype is a phenomenal service loved by millions of people around the world. Together we create the future of communications in real time so that people can stay in touch with family and friends, clients and colleagues around the world”, said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer since January 2000.
This is an expensive purchase for Microsoft. Besides paying 8.5 billion dollars, the largest transaction in the history of the company, Skype also has debts of 686 million dollars. Last year Skype has recorded losses of 6.9 million dollars.
The positive side is that the telephony service provider has 663 million Internet users. Of these, 170 million make regular service visits and 8.8 million are paying customers.
Those who gain most from this transaction are investors Silver Lake, Index Ventures, Andreessen and Horowitz and Canada Pension Plan who purchased the company from eBay in September 2009, for 2.75 billion dollars.