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.Microsoft Near Deal to Acquire Skype
Software Giant Could Pay Nearly $8 Billion for Company
By ANUPREETA DAS And NICK WINGFIELD
Microsoft Corp. is close to a deal to buy Internet phone company Skype Technologies SA for between $7 billion and $8 billionthe most aggressive move yet by Microsoft to play in the increasingly-converged worlds of communication, information and entertainment.
A deal could be announced as early as Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said, though they cautioned that negotiations aren't yet final and a deal could still fall apart. Including Skype's long-term debt, the total value of the deal is about $8.5 billion.
Representatives for Microsoft and Skype declined to comment.
Buying Skypea service that connects millions of users around the world via Internet-based telephony and video would give Microsoft a recognized brand name on the Internet at a time when it is struggling to get more traction in the consumer market.
Microsoft has invested heavily in marketing and improving the technology of its Bing search engine. While it has made some market share gains over the past year, Google Inc. still dominates the search market with more than 65% of U.S. searches going through its site..
