With Windows 8 now out and selling in volume, Microsoft has somewhat turned its attentions to other important software implementations. As well as beginning to sell prepaid Skype credit in outlets across Mexico and the United Kingdom, it looks as though Skype will become the Redmond outfit's primary instant messaging service, retiring the long-standing Windows Live Messenger.
With Microsoft having dug deep to find billions of dollars to acquire Skype, it was inevitable we'd be seeing a lot more from the foremost online telecommunications outfit, and to supplement the many improvements to the software and technology laid on by Skype over the past twelve or so months, the company has just launched prepaid cards in many major retail outlets across the United Kingdom.
Microsoft caused quite a stir last year when it announced the purchase of Skype for an eye-watering sum total of $8.5 billion. Some touted the sale price as grossly overvaluing of the company - one owned by eBay of course - but when one considers AOL paid 800 million bucks for Bebo, anything looks like a steal in comparison.
The tech world was in a state of shock last year when Microsoft confirmed it had purchased VoIP telecommunications outfit Skype. The move for the software and technology wasn't too surprising in itself, but the $8.5 billion price tag certainly was, especially given the company - which was once under the control of internet auction site eBay - wasn't exactly making much money.
For Skype fans, and more specifically those who lean towards the Windows Phone side of the mobile world, it seems as if the official Skype app has been hanging over our heads for quite some time now. Skype for Windows Phone was first released as a public beta at the end of February this year.
The tech world was stunned last year when Microsoft shelled out a jaw-dropping $8.5 billion to acquire VoIP telecommunications outfit Skype. While the move itself was a logical one for business expansion, the price shocked many, who couldn't see why the Redmond-based outfit had parted with so much money for a company which wasn't making much of its own.
Ah Skype, the world wide web’s voice-over-internet protocol of choice and probably the most well known brand name to offer VoIP services. When Niklas Zennström originally created the Skype service, I often wondered if he had any idea that it would become such a popular platform around the world and that the might of Microsoft would ultimately come in and acquire the company like it did last year. For those that may have been living under a rather large rock for the last few years, Skype allows registered users to make worldwide voice calls via the internet as well as offering instant messaging-type services and is available on multiple platforms.
Microsoft and its Windows Phone 7 have a big year ahead of themselves. Google and Apple currently have the mobile space all-but sewn up, and even old stalwarts like BlackBerry are struggling to compete with the new hotness that is iOS and Android.
According to a press release published earlier today, Microsoft has closed and finalized its acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion with approval from both company’s board of directors and regulation committees from around the world.
Skype has today pushed out an update for its popular iOS apps, with both the iPad and iPhone versions receiving new versions. The list of additions is a fairly short one, with two being particularly useful to many, and one being more of a pain than a feature.