Computer technology gaint Microsoft has bought internet phone service, Skype, for $8.5 billion.

This acquisition, analysts believe, is the software giant’s largest ever deal, in its latest bid to diversify, as its core computer software business faces a growing threat from a new generation of powerful mobile devices. 

In buying Skype, Microsoft will assume the phone company’s liabilities estimated at $1bn.

 EBay Inc. the online auction site, had acquired Skype for $3.1 billion in 2005 but after failing to make a sucess of the deal, sold off most of its stakes.

EBay currently owns 30 per cent of Skype and will, no doubt, make a  good profit from the Microsoft deal.

Skype Chief Executive Tony Bates, left, Microsoft Chief Executive,Steve Ballmer, at a news conference in San Francisco on the acquisition:Reuters

According to Microsoft, the company would weave Skype’s Internet and video calling services into its Windows smartphone, Xbox gaming console, and Office e-mail and document software, allowing users to more easily call their friends and colleagues.

It also hopes to extract more revenue from Skype by showing users colorful advertising as they make calls.

Skype, as of 2010, is said to have 663 million registered users all over the world, including Nigerians.

With this new acquisition, Can Microsoft get into the consciousness of today’s web-mobile tech users like Apple and Google?