Microsoft had bought Internet phone company Skype

When it was announced last week that Microsoft had bought the Internet phone company Skype to hit $ 8.5 billion, which made many in the technology industry to carefully place your cup of coffee on your desk, furrow her forehead bit and say, “Huh?”
The media was full of stories trying to work precisely why Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was so excited about the acquisition of a company that lost $ 7,000,000 last year and does not charge for most services.

In announcing the purchase, Ballmer spoke enthusiastically about how the companies promised “universal next-generation communications … .. [to] empower consumers [] to communicate in new and interesting ways. “And now, as more people are thinking exactly what the” new and interesting ways “could be Microsoft founder Bill Gates has appeared to lend some support to Ballmer.
According to a BBC interview to be aired on Wednesday, Gates said he argued for the purchase of Skype. Speaking to the BBC’s Stephen Sackur on Hardtalk his talk show one by one, Gates said: “I was a strong advocate in the level of the board for the deal is being done. I think it’s much, much for Skype. I think it big business for Microsoft. ”
Looking ahead, Gates said the takeover was a strategic decision, not focus on the immediate financial situation of Skype. He said: “The idea of ​​video conferencing is going to get much better than it is today.” He added: “It will be fascinating to see how brilliant research ideas from Microsoft, which comes with Skype, you can do that.”
Skype was founded in 2003 and allows its 663 million users to make voice calls and video online. Microsoft buying the company was its largest acquisition ever.

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