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Microsoft Buys Skype

   VOA News  May 10, 2011

   U.S. technology giant Microsoft has purchased Internet communications
   service Skype for $8.5 billion.
   The deal is the biggest in Microsoft's 36-year history and is expected
   to help the company compete against rivals such as Google and Apple,
   who have each made inroads into such products as smartphones and tablet
   computers.
   Luxembourg-based Skype provides free or low-cost voice and video
   calling services over the Internet to hundreds of millions of customers
   worldwide. It has struggled to turn a profit since its founding in
   2003. Online auction giant eBay purchased Skype in 2005 for about $3
   billion, but sold most of its stake in 2009.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP Bloomberg and
   Reuters.

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