Bill Gates: I Encouraged Microsoft to Acquire Skype
Bill Gates, the co-founder and chairman of Redmond-based software giant Microsoft, is no longer the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Microsoft, that position is now taken by Steve Ballmer. Just because Gates is no longer the CEO of Microsoft doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some influence in the company he founded.
Gates confirmed he still plays an important role in decision making at Microsoft during an interview for the BBC. During that interview Gates said that he advocated the acquisition of Skype.
"I was a strong proponent at the board level for the deal being done," Bill Gates said in the interview for the BBC. "I think it's a great, great deal for Skype. I think it's a great deal for Microsoft. The idea of video conferencing is going to get so much better than it is today. Skype actually does get a fair bit of revenue. It'll be fascinating to see how the brilliant ideas out of Microsoft research, coming together with Skype, what they can make of that."
Microsoft announced earlier this month that in entered a definitive agreement to acquire Skype, the company behind the popular instant messaging and VoIP client that has more than 30 million concurrent users at peak times. As part of the aforementioned definitive agreement, Microsoft will pay $8.5 billion in cash to acquire Skype. Microsoft’s and Skype’s board of directors both approved the acquisition.
"Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers. Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate," said at the time Skype CEO Tony Bates who will become President of the Microsoft Skype Division and will report directly to Steve Ballmer once the acquisition goes through.
Gates confirmed he still plays an important role in decision making at Microsoft during an interview for the BBC. During that interview Gates said that he advocated the acquisition of Skype.
"I was a strong proponent at the board level for the deal being done," Bill Gates said in the interview for the BBC. "I think it's a great, great deal for Skype. I think it's a great deal for Microsoft. The idea of video conferencing is going to get so much better than it is today. Skype actually does get a fair bit of revenue. It'll be fascinating to see how the brilliant ideas out of Microsoft research, coming together with Skype, what they can make of that."
Microsoft announced earlier this month that in entered a definitive agreement to acquire Skype, the company behind the popular instant messaging and VoIP client that has more than 30 million concurrent users at peak times. As part of the aforementioned definitive agreement, Microsoft will pay $8.5 billion in cash to acquire Skype. Microsoft’s and Skype’s board of directors both approved the acquisition.
"Microsoft and Skype share the vision of bringing software innovation and products to our customers. Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype's plans to extend our global community and introduce new ways for everyone to communicate and collaborate," said at the time Skype CEO Tony Bates who will become President of the Microsoft Skype Division and will report directly to Steve Ballmer once the acquisition goes through.
