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TECHNOLOGIES: Microsoft offers the Internet telephony service Skype

The U.S. software giant Microsoft said Tuesday it had signed an agreement with specialist internet telephony through Skype to purchase $ 8.5 billion in cash.

"Skype is a phenomenal service adored by millions of people around the world," he said in a statement from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer."Together we will create the future of communications in real time for people to easily stay connected to their family, friends, clients and colleagues around the world," he added.

The Internet auction giant eBay in November 2009 had ceded control of Skype to an investor group in a transaction that valued then Skype 2.75 billion.

Skype announced in the summer of 2010 his intention to go public in New York.Redemption rumors ran from the press, including the U.S. telecoms equipment maker Cisco.

EBay had retained a 30%, the rest being held by an investor group led by Silver Lake Partners funds Andreessen and Horowitz and the Investment Board of Canada Pension Plan (CPPIB).

Skype, founded in 2003, currently has some 170 million users, who have spent over 207 billion minutes of voice and video communications in 2010.

Microsoft should make the service available on its game console connected Xbos, as well as phones running the Windows Phone, and "a wide range of devices in Windows.

The Microsoft stock yielded 0.97% to 25.58 dollars in electronic trading before the opening of the NYSE.