Microsoft to buy Skype for 8.5 billion dollars

     SAN FRANCISCO, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft Corp. on Monday said it will buy Internet communications company Skype for 8.5 billion U.S. dollars in cash, a bold move for the software giant to explore new business opportunities.

    "Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.

    "Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world," he added.

    Microsoft said it has agreed to buy Skype from the investor¹ group led by Silver Lake, and the deal has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

    Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Ballmer.

    The Skype deal ranks one of the biggest purchase in the 36-year history of Microsoft, which is struggling to compete in the fields of Internet and mobile phones beyond its dominance(统治优势) on personal computer software market.

    Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, Skype offers a software application that allows users to make free or cheap phone calls and chats over the Internet with additional features including instant messaging and video conferencing.

    Numbers showed that Skype's 170 million connected users made over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010.

    Skype was acquired by eBay in September 2005, and then acquired by an investment group led by Silver Lake in November 2009.

    In a press release announcing the acquisition, Microsoft noted² that the deal will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, generating significant new business and revenue opportunities, and enhancing its existing offerings of real-time communications products and services.

    Microsoft said Skype will support its devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and it will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.

    The acquisition is expected to obtain all required regulatory clearances³ within this calendar year, Microsoft said.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 clearances   

清除( clearance的名词复数 )； 许可； （录用或准许接触机密以前的）审查许可； 净空

参考例句：

• But I can't get to him without clearances. 但是没有证明我就没法见到他。
• The bridge and the top of the bus was only ten clearances. 桥与公共汽车车顶之间的间隙只有十厘米。