It is the largest Internet communications company, but has had difficulty being profitable.

Skype was founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, and it has about 124 million registered users. According to statistics released recently by Microsoft, about 42 percent of all Skype-to-Skype minutes were video calls, and there were 1.8 billion hours of Skype video calls made in the year ending in August. Video is a growing part of communications, and of Skype. On the first matter, the commission found that Microsoft would have no incentive to diminish Skype's interoperability, since it's to the advantage of the Skype brand that it be available via as many partners and platforms as possible.Ĭoncerning whether Microsoft could integrate Skype with Windows, as it had been accused of doing with its Internet Explorer browser, the commission reasoned that most users could readily download a version of Skype if they wanted, and that most users who buy a PC with Skype installed were already registered Skype users.īrad Shimmin of Current Analysis described the Skype acquisition as 'a big deal for Microsoft.' The purchase, he said, will allow the company to offer 'more complete communications and collaboration packages, not just for consumers, but for midmarket businesses.' For large businesses, he said, Microsoft will probably continue to offer video conferencing through its partnership with Polycom. One of the questions had been whether Microsoft would hinder Skype's interoperability with other companies, or if it would integrate Skype with its widespread Windows operating system, creating market advantages others could not match. In a statement, commission official Joaquin Almunia said the 'deal would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area.' Last week, Microsoft cleared its last major regulatory hurdle when the European Commission approved the purchase. In May, Microsoft said it intended to buy Skype for $8.5 billion. In a video message, Bates said both Skype and Microsoft are 'disruptive, innovative, software-oriented companies.' The envisioned world, he said, is one of 'complete, pervasive video communications, something that's across all parts of your life.'

Skype ceo parody