Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5 Billion: So What Happens Now?

After days of rumors, Microsoft has acquired Skype — the VoIP, instant messaging and video conferencing system — for roughly $8.5 billion. The VAR Guy has mixed emotions about the Microsoft-Skype combo. On the one hand, there are potential Skype synergies for channel partners that focus on Microsoft Lync. And Microsoft also gets a killer application for Windows Phone 7, Xbox, and other platforms. But on the other hand, The VAR Guy wonders if Microsoft will properly manage Skype’s assets. Here’s the update.

First, The VAR Guy needs to point you to some details from The Wall Street Journal, which notes:

No doubt, Skype could give Microsoft’s Unified Communications channel partners a boost. Microsoft in 2010 relaunched Office Communications Server as Lync. And more recently, Microsoft has been building Lync Online into Office 365, a cloud platform that’s expected to launch around July 2011 or so. (Officially, Microsoft says Office 365 will debut sometime in 2011.)

Moreover, Skype could be a killer mobile application for Microsoft’s fledgling/struggling Windows Phone 7 and tablet strategies.

Still, Skype’s success under Microsoft ownership is far from guaranteed. The software giant is running in so many different directions these days. Can Microsoft really integrate Skype into all of its various platforms — Windows, Windows Phone 7, Xbox, Lync, Exchange, SharePoint, Office 365…

Hmmm… The VAR Guy will be watching.

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