Well, there have been rumors circulating about Facebook purchasing the internet telephony company Skype and recently Microsoft rumors of the same ilk, but nothing official until this fine Tuesday morning.
Software giant Microsoft is in talks to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cold hard cash. Of course, Xbox and Kinect support have been mentioned as part of the agreement, as well as Windows Phone integration.
A new Microsoft Skype Division will now be opened up to accommodate the newcomers, with current Skype CEO Tony Bates becoming president of that operation and reporting directly to Ballmer. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year.
This should not effect current Skype holders at all this year, but look for changes in the early start of 2012. Coincidentally the year the Mayans said the world would end? We think not.
